Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health

Infant Family Specialist (IFS)

Infant Family Specialist Requirements

Education	Minimum 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), PhD, EdD, PsyD, official transcript
Training	Applicants will include as many hours 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 IFS applications include an average of 50 or more hours of specialized training unless the applicant has completed coursework specific to IMH competencies
Work Experience	Minimum two years of paid, post-Bachelor’s, professional work experience providing prevention and/or early intervention services that promote infant mental health. Work experience meets this criterion as long as the applicant has: 1. Served a minimum of 10 families of infants/toddlers (birth to 36 months), and 2. A primary focus of the services provided is the social-emotional needs of infant/toddler, and 3. Services include attention to the relationships surrounding the infant/toddler
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 infants, very young children, and families. Provider of reflective supervision/consultation must have earned Endorsement® at IMHS or IMHM-C. For Bachelor’s-prepared IFS applicants, RSC that meets criteria for Endorsement® may come from a Master’s-prepared professional who has earned IFS.
Professional Reference Ratings Please note: At least one rating must come from someone Endorsed at IFS, IMHS, or IMHM.	Total of three ratings: 1. One from current program supervisor 2. One from person providing reflective supervision/consultation 3. One from another supervisor, teacher, trainer, consultant, colleague, or parent/recipient of service (paid or volunteer)
Code of Ethics & Endorsement® Agreement	Signed
Documentation of Competencies	Application will document that competencies have been adequately met through course work, work/volunteer experience, in-service training, and RSC experiences. Written examination not required for applicants seeking IFS Endorsement®
Professional Membership	Membership in MI-AIMH or another infant mental health association

Annual Endorsement® Renewal Requirements (IFS)

Education & Training	Minimum of 15 clock hours per year of relationship-based education and training, pertaining to the promotion of social-emotional development and/or the practice of infant mental health (eg, regional training, related course work at colleges or universities, infant mental health conference attendance, participation in IMH association-sponsored activities such as book club, mentorship group). Documentation of training hours submitted with membership renewal. For those who earn Endorsement® at IFS and provide RSC to others, at least three of the hours of specialized training must be about RSC.
Professional Membership	Annual renewal of membership in MI-AIMH or another infant mental health association
Reflective Supervision/Consultation (RSC)	MI-AIMH requires that all professionals endorsed at IFS receive a minimum of 12 hours of RSC annually.

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