History and Development of the Training Guidelines
During the last 15 years, professionals in California have worked to clarify the knowledge, skills, and competencies needed to provide effective infant-family and early childhood mental health services. An initial set of recommendations and personnel competencies were identified in 1996 through a leadership training grant funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Maternal and Child Health Bureau, under the direction of the University of Southern California University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. Based on initial recommendations, a State workgroup was established in 2001 in association with California’s Infant, Preschool, and Family Mental Health Initiative. This statewide special project, funded by First 5 California through the Department of Mental Health, and coordinated by the WestEd Center for Prevention and Early Intervention (CPEI) in partnership with eight county teams, provided a new venue and renewed interest in personnel competencies and staff development in the field of infant-family and early childhood mental health. An interdisciplinary workgroup reviewed materials and recommendations from other states, consulted with field leaders, and gathered information from organizations to address the need for training guidelines and personnel competencies as they relate to study, research, and clinical practice between 2001 and 2003. The workgroup developed training guidelines that were published in 2003 and disseminated through the California Early Intervention Technical Assistance Network (CEITAN) at WestEd CPEI.
In 2007, a new interdisciplinary workgroup was formed to update and make revisions to the original Guidelines. In 2009, the Revised Training Guidelines and Personnel Competencies for Infant-Family and Early Childhood Mental Health were completed, endorsed by the California First 5 Association, and disseminated statewide. Three groups with different concentration areas are addressed: infant-family and early childhood mental health core providers, infant-family and early childhood mental health specialists, and infant-family and early childhood mental health reflective practice facilitators. For each concentration area, the Guidelines delineate key concepts, personnel competencies, and the hour requirements of didactic knowledge, clinical experience, and reflective practice facilitation. An Endorsement Process was instituted in late 2009 through WestEd CPEI. This process is being unfolded gradually to allow for adjustments and additional clarity as the field moves forward.
In 2007, a new interdisciplinary workgroup was formed to update and make revisions to the original Guidelines. In 2009, the Revised Training Guidelines and Personnel Competencies for Infant-Family and Early Childhood Mental Health were completed, endorsed by the California First 5 Association, and disseminated statewide. Three groups with different concentration areas are addressed: infant-family and early childhood mental health core providers, infant-family and early childhood mental health specialists, and infant-family and early childhood mental health reflective practice facilitators. For each concentration area, the Guidelines delineate key concepts, personnel competencies, and the hour requirements of didactic knowledge, clinical experience, and reflective practice facilitation. An Endorsement Process was instituted in late 2009 through WestEd CPEI. This process is being unfolded gradually to allow for adjustments and additional clarity as the field moves forward.
