About the IECMH Workforce Collaborative
The Infant-Early Childhood Mental Health Workforce Collaborative (IECMH-WC) is a professional development initiative to support mental health assessment and diagnosis best practices for young children enrolled in Apple Health (Medicaid). The initiative is funded by the Washington State legislature, through both state and federal Medicaid funding. The Center for Early Relational Health (CERH) is leading the coordination of statewide training and additional workforce supports, on behalf of the Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) and with guidance from our Regional Advisor Steering Committee.
IECMH-WC Quick Links
DC:0-5 Training & Supports
Learn about the DC:0-5 and related state policy and register for free training or a community of practice for Medicaid (Apple Health) providers.
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IECMH Workshops
Find upcoming free workshops on IECMH topics for Apple Health providers – most offer CEUs and/or STARS hours.
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IECMH Resources
Explore a range of tools and resources to support your work with children prenatal to five and their families.
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Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health in Washington State
Mental Health Assessment in Young Children
The IECMH-WC is the professional development component of a larger effort to support mental health assessment and diagnosis best practices for young children enrolled in Apple Health (Medicaid), including training in the DC:0-5, an internationally-accepted system for developmentally appropriate assessment and diagnosis of young children’s mental health. Additional components include updated reimbursement allowances and other billing supports for Apple Health providers (like the Apple Health DC:0-5 Crosswalk), which are available through the Health Care Authority’s webpage on mental health assessment for young children.
Washington State’s IECMH Workforce
Babies, toddlers, preschoolers, and their families – including expecting families – are supported by professionals with a variety of backgrounds in multiple systems of care. Professionals who promote and support early mental health and social-emotional well-being include not only mental health providers, but a range of allied professional in fields such as early learning, home visiting, intervention, pediatric healthcare, and others. Learn more about how training in the DC:0-5 can benefit providers, agencies, and the families they support, and register for a training.
Goals of the IECMH-WC
A strong IECMH system that best supports young children and families in Washington requires partnerships between highly trained infant and early childhood professionals in a variety of roles, organizations, and systems of care.
The IECMH-WC, coordinated by CERH, offers free trainings and additional workforce supports – including DC:0-5 training, communities of practice, and office hours as well as additional IECMH workshops – for professionals serving expecting families and children birth-5 enrolled in Apple Health. Goals of the IECMH-WC include:
- Increase the number of professionals in Washington State who can better understand, assess, and diagnose infant and early childhood mental health issues.
- Ensure that the professional development opportunities offered are equitable and accessible to all IECMH professionals, particularly those who have been historically underserved.
