Early Childhood Family Specialist (ECFS)
Early Childhood Family Specialist Requirements
Education | Official transcripts from all degrees earned and from any college credits earned are required. Minimum requirement of Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Science (BS), Bachelor of Social Work (BSW), Bachelor of Nursing (BSN); and including Master of Arts (MA), Master of Science (MS), Master of Social Work (MSW), Master of Education (MEd), Master of Nursing (MSN), Master of Applied Studies (MAS), Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Doctor of Education (EdD), Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) |
Training | Applicants will include as many hours of training and/or continuing education as necessary to document that competencies (as specified in Competency Guidelines®) have been met. Minimum 30 clock hours of relationship-based education and training pertaining to the promotion of social-emotional development and/or the practice of infant mental health. Typically, successful ECFS applications include an average of 50 or more hours of specialized training unless the applicant has completed coursework specific to ECMH competencies |
Work Experience | Minimum two years of paid, post-Bachelor's, professional work experience providing prevention and/or early intervention services that promote early childhood mental health. Work experience meets this criterion as long as the applicant has: 1. Served a minimum of 10 families where the target of services is a child aged 3 up to 6 years old, and 2. A primary focus of the services provided is the social-emotional needs of the child 3 up to 6 years old and their families/caregivers, and 3. Services focus on the promotion of the relationships surrounding the 3 up to 6 year olds |
Reflective Supervision/Consultation (RSC) | Minimum 24 clock hours within one- to two-year timeframe; post-Bachelor's, relationship-based, reflective supervision or consultation, individually or in a group while providing services to children 3 up to 6 years old and families. Applicants for Early Childhood Family Specialist (ECFS) Endorsement® will receive reflective supervision/consultation from someone who is endorsed as an IMHS, ECMHS, IMHM-C or ECMHM-C or will be vetting and approved as meeting criteria for ECMHS or ECMHM-C. A bachelor’s prepared ECFS applicant should receive RS/C from someone who is endorsed as an IMHS, ECMHS, IMHM-C or ECMHM-C and may seek reflective supervision/consultation from a master’s prepared person who has earned IFS or ECFS Endorsement® if there is no one available who is endorsed as a IMHS, ECMHS, IMHM-C or ECMHM-C to provide this. The master’s prepared IFS or ECFS RS/C provider must receive reflective supervision/consultation while providing supervision to others |
Professional Reference Ratings Please note: At least one rating must come from someone Endorsed at IFS, ECFS, IMHS, ECMHS, IMHM or ECMHM. | Total of three required: 1. One from current program supervisor 2. One from person providing reflective supervision/consultation 3. One from another supervisor, teacher, trainer, consultant, or colleague Reference raters must be familiar with the applicant’s capacity to implement infant and early childhood mental health principles into practice |
Code of Ethics & Endorsement® AgreementCode of Ethics & Endorsement® Agreement | Signed |
Demonstration of Competencies | Application will document that competencies have been adequately met through course work, in-service training,work/volunteer experience, and reflective supervision/consultation experiences. Written examination not required for applicants seeking Early Childhood Family Specialist Endorsement® |
Professional Membership | Membership in the Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health Association |
Annual Endorsement® Renewal Requirements (ECFS)
Education & Training | Minimum of 15 clock hours per year of relationship-based education and training pertaining to the promotion of social-emotional development in the context of family and other caregiving relationships, of prenatal up to 6 year olds, including the principles and practices of infant and early childhood mental health (eg, regional training, related course work at colleges or universities, infant early childhood mental health conference attendance participation in competency- based activities such as professional reading group, community of practice, mentorship group) Documentation of training hours submitted with membership renewal. For those who are Master’s prepared and earn Endorsement® as an Early Childhood Family Specialist and provide reflective supervision/consultation to others, at least three of the hours of specialized training must be about reflective supervision/consultation |
Professional Membership | Annual renewal of membership in the Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health Association |
Reflective Supervision/Consultation (RSC) | It is required that all professionals endorsed as an Early Childhood Family Specialist receive a minimum of 12 hours of reflective supervision or consultation annually |