The Ohio Department of Children and Youth (DCY) provides cross-system leadership for the Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) initiative, which supports evidence-based training to equip parents and caregivers with the skills needed to help young children develop into mentally healthy individuals. Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC) is a prevention-based approach that pairs a mental health consultant with adults who work with infants and young children in various learning and care settings. You might find an IECMH consultant in child care centers, preschools, home visiting programs, early intervention services, and other community environments.

Mental health consultation is not about "fixing kids," nor is it therapy. Instead, it empowers caregivers to support children’s healthy social and emotional development. IECMHC helps build strong foundations for infants and young children that will last a lifetime.

What makes IECMHC unique is its focus on strengthening adult caregivers' capacity to foster positive social and emotional development in young children. Rather than following a prescribed training or intervention package, IECMH consultants use their clinical expertise, mental health training, and knowledge of evidence-based strategies to assess and address individual or program needs. They work collaboratively with caregivers and other adults to create supportive environments. The consultant’s role is distinct from but complementary to a broader continuum of early childhood supports and services. Take a look at this short video that discusses what IECMH is. 

What is IECMHC?

Child or Family-Centered Consultation

The primary goal of child- or family-centered consultation is to identify and address factors that affect a child's or family's ability to function well in an early childhood setting. This type of IECMHC is typically provided to staff and families and is often initiated in response to concerns about a child's challenging behavior.

For example: Robert frequently cries and disrupts other children during naptime. He eats very little and does not seem to enjoy classroom activities. The consultant meets with Robert’s parents and teachers and learns that his mother’s new work schedule has caused frequent disruptions to the family routine. To support Robert, the consultant helps both his parents and child care staff understand his behavior and develop strategies at home and in the classroom to create a greater sense of predictability for him.

Programmatic Consultation

The primary focus of programmatic consultation is the overall quality of the program or agency and/or assisting the program to solve a specific issue that affects more than one child, staff member, and/or family. This type of ECMHC is typically provided to program staff and administrators.

For example: A month ago, there was a serious fire in the building next to the ABC Head Start Center. Although no one was hurt, it was a scary experience for the children, who had to be quickly evacuated from the Center. In the days following the fire, children were clearly shaken by the experience and some parents reported that their children had nightmares. Mrs. Vernon, the program director, enlisted the help of the mental health consultant, who conducted a training for teachers and parents on how to support children who experience trauma, assisted teachers in developing lesson plans incorporating opportunities for children to express their feelings, and recommended books and activities that parents could do at home.

Classroom Consultation

The foundational focus for classroom consultation is to address classroom challenges in ways that will benefit all children in the early learning environment. Consultants work with child care providers, teachers, and home visitors to improve care offered to all children by helping to identify and address attitudes, beliefs, practices, and conditions that may be impacting the ability to form quality relationships between adults and children.

For Example: Many children in Classroom A at Little Blessings Preschool are having difficulty transitioning after drop off each morning. The children cry after their family members leave, and it takes a lot of time to console them and help them transition into their day. Miss Mary is feeling overwhelmed and just wants to help the children separate more easily each morning. An ECMH Consultant is enlisted to help Miss Mary set up routines that help the children transition into the classroom in the morning. The ECMH Consultant assists Miss Mary in constructing a “greeting apron” that gives children choices for how they would like to be greeted each morning, a feelings board to “check in” with how children are doing when they arrive, and breathing exercises to practice during morning meetings. 

Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development

Much of the Ohio IECMH Consultation Program has been built upon the research and resources provided by the Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development’s Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Center of Excellence. A primary goal of this initiative is to ensure children thrive by addressing their behavioral health care needs, which in turn enhance school readiness and later academic success. Together, we can build protective factors in young children and increase the skills of those who care for or work with young children, both personally and professionally. Even in the face of challenges, we can positively impact the trajectory of our youngest Ohioans.