Reflections on the Infant Mental Health Endorsement® process in Virginia

Abstract

This study was conducted to gather information to inform key stakeholders in Virginia's Early Childhood Mental Health workforce who are involved in the Infant Mental Health Endorsement^®. An “Endorsement^® indicates an individual's efforts to specialize in the promotion and practice of infant or early childhood mental health within his/her own chosen discipline” (Virginia Association for Infant Mental Health, 2021). The following research questions guided this study: (1) who is part of the infant mental health endorsed workforce in Virginia; (2) what are the benefits and barriers to the Endorsement^® process. A total of 115 individuals who were or are involved in the Endorsement^® as endorsees or advisors were participants in the study. Participants cited many benefits of obtaining their Infant Mental Health Endorsement^®, including general professional development and connecting to other professionals in the field. Barriers to obtaining the Endorsement^® included time and financial restraints related to obtaining reflective supervision from a qualified Reflective Supervisor. Results from the study will be used to inform the Infant Mental Health Endorsement^® process, and applied to the Early Childhood Mental Health Endorsement^® in 2023.