Washington Association for Infant Mental Health is now a part of the Center for Early Relational Health. To learn more, please visit our About page.
What Is Endorsement?
In 2015, Washington’s AIMH (formerly WA-AIMH) began offering Endorsement for Culturally Sensitive, Relationship-focused Practice Promoting Infant Mental Health (IMH-E®). In 2025, the Center for Early Relational Health is excited to add Endorsement for Culturally Sensitive, Relationship-focused Practice Promoting Early Childhood Mental Health (ECMH-E®) for professionals across sectors that work with preschool-aged children and their families.
Endorsement provides recognition of specialized knowledge and expertise in professionals working with expecting families, babies, and young children, prenatal through five, and their families. Endorsement validates the real-world experience and specialized training you’ve accumulated throughout your career, recognizing that expertise in infant mental health develops through multiple avenues of learning and practice. It is an internationally recognized credential offered by states and countries that are part of the Alliance for the Advancement of Infant Mental Health.
Endorsement recognizes training and experience gained over your career. It does not require specific courses or adhere to a rigid curriculum. Instead, this flexible credentialing system acknowledges the diverse pathways professionals take to develop expertise in infant and early childhood mental health.
Who Is Endorsement For?
Endorsement is for anyone who works with or on behalf of young children and their families in settings such as early care and education, prevention and early intervention, home visiting, the medical and behavioral health professions, perinatal services, child welfare, policy and advocacy, research and more. It means that a professional has demonstrated a set of competencies by:
- Working professionally with or on behalf of children prenatal through five and their families
- Participating in competency-based training
- Engaging in reflective supervision or consultation
Endorsement is in addition to and does not replace other licensure, certification, or credentialing. However, any credentialing you have previously obtained may satisfy competencies for Endorsement.
Why Get Endorsed?
- Supports You: Demonstrates your expertise in working with infants, young children and their families.
- Supports Babies, Young Children, and Families: Supports babies, toddlers, preschoolers, families, and professionals in a culturally responsive, reflective and relationship-based way.
- Supports Communities: Provides assurance to families, agencies, employers and the public at large that the endorsed professional meets high standards of knowledge and experience.
- Supports Employers: Verifies that professionals have attained a specified level of expertise and understanding about the promotion of IECMH and relationship-based approaches.
- Supports Professional Identity: Creates visible pathways for career growth and collaboration which can elevate professional identities and create a culture of recognition and continuous development.
- Supports the Field: Informs professional development and career planning within an organized framework and supports a ready and responsive workforce leading to child, family, and community well-being.
Learn More
Watch our Endorsement 101 webinar to learn about Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Endorsement. This free webinar explains Endorsement, Endorsement benefits, and the Endorsement process.
Scholarship Opportunities
Want to see if you qualify for Endorsement scholarship opportunities? Learn more by clicking the link below.
