Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Program (IECMHC)
IECMHC is a prevention-based approach that focuses on providing specialized support to the adults that care for young children in settings such as preschools, childcare, HeadStart programs, community-based home visiting programs, and their homes. Mental health consultation provides caregivers with skills and knowledge to effectively facilitate children’s healthy social and emotional development. IECMHC is nationally recognized by the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs (AMCHP) as a best practice.
IECMHC Consultants are highly trained professionals with a clinical background and specialized knowledge in child development, the effects of stress and trauma on families, the importance of attachment for young children, and the impacts of adult mental health on developing children. Consultants do not provide direct mental health treatment to children or their caregivers, but instead provide a prevention-based approach by developing relationships with their caregivers to build the capacity to support children’s health social and emotional development. The goal of consultation is preventing the need for formal mental health treatment or identifying the need for treatment early and improving outcomes.
Program-Level Consultation
Consultants work with early childcare and education staff in HeadStart, Early HeadStart, childcare centers and home childcare settings. Consultants provide staff training and development regarding general early childhood social, emotional, and behavioral issues, as well as support for managing early behavioral challenges in preschool children. Program-Level Consultation also provides teacher assessments and coaching, using evidence-based models to build early care and education staff’s capacity to improve classroom practices.
Child and Family Consultation
Child and Family Consultation is a service that screens children and consults with parents, early childhood care and education staff, and other providers about plans to support individual children. Consultants make referrals to appropriate services and provide warm hand-offs to providers in the community.
Workplace Wellness Consultation
The primary objective of infant and early childhood mental health consultation is to increase the capacity of caregivers to support the social emotional development of young children. With that goal in mind, Morrison’s Infant & Early Childhood Consultation Program supports the early care and education and home visiting workforce through professional development activities including a specific focus on Workplace Wellness and Reflective Supervision/Consultation. These professional development activities enhance well-being and service quality through increased reflective practice and skill development.
Last year through site consultations and direct services
Consultants worked with 76 staff across 14 Early Childhood Sites
Total mental health consultation hours last year
Reported an increase in their effectiveness and skills in responding to the needs of young children after working with Morrisons consultants
Report overall satisfaction with the parenting class provided
Locations
Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Program’s office is located at the Airport Business Center
7820 NE Holman Street, Suite B5
Portland, OR 97218
Phone: (503) 258-4528
Community-based early childhood mental health consultation is provided at community childcare-education centers or other community-based sites.
Language Accessibility
Services are provided in English. For selected Early Care and Learning Programs, consultation services are provided in Spanish.
Referrals
Morrison’s Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Program is primarily funded by the Portland Children’s Levy. Additional funding is provided by Health Share of Oregon, CareOregon, and Multnomah County. The program is available to Early Care and Learning Programs and enrolled children and families within the City of Portland.
All direct services referrals are made by staff in the programs served by Morrison consultants. The program does not take direct referrals from caregivers, teachers, or other providers.
More Information
For more information about Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Program, please contact Jacque Serrano at (503) 314-4517 or email us.