This course category houses all the professional development courses made available only for Illinois Mental Health Consultants. You will have to obtain an Enrollment Key for each course you want to enroll in.

This course is part of a larger series of sessions that combine to make up the Orientation to the Illinois Model of Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC).  There are four sections to this course that must be complete prior to the start of the live zoom sessions:

  • Vignette Assessment (assesses the familiarity with the competencies in the Illinois Model of I/ECMHC and an individual plan on how to increase knowledge of those competencies)
  • Introduction to the Illinois Model of I/ECMHC
  • Introduction to the Pyramid Model
  • Community Systems Partnerships & Early Childhood Systems.

It is estimated to take approximately 3-4 hours to complete this online course.

 

All portions of the Orientation to the Illinois Model must be finished (this online course and all live Zoom sessions) for full credit of completion to be given.

Contact Hours: 4 hours     Gateways Content Areas: PPD (4 hours)     CDA Content Areas: PRO(4)


A Systems Framework: Understanding the Process of  I/ECMH Consultation

This module addresses the systems that I/ECMHC interfaces with. Participants will learn about system’s perspectives generally and begin to understand the settings that I/ECMH consultants work within, both formal and informal. The module explores how learning and change take place and supports consultants toward understanding their role and their relationships as change agents toward better child and family outcomes within a systems context.

Contact Hours: 2 Hours  Gateways Content Area: PPD (2hours)  CDA Hours: 6(2 hours)


Attachment Theory: Recognizing Patterns and Behaviors

This module will introduce the learner to attachment theory and its history. Attachment patterns and how they are assessed will be reviewed.  The learner will have the opportunity to observe children with both secure and insecure patterns of attachment through video recordings.  Characteristics of infants and young children with each of the four primary attachment patterns will be described as well as characteristics of caregivers of children in the four primary attachment categories.

Contact Hours: 3 Hours  Gateways Content Area: Personal and Professional Development (2 hours) and Observation and Assessment (1 hour)  CDA Hours: 6- Professionalism (2 hours) and 7-Observing/Recording Behavior (1 hour)


Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Considerations

This module is an extension of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion module of the Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant orientation and to further explore Competency 3 of the IL Model of I/ECMHC, an Ability to Work Effectively Throughout Diverse Cultures and Communities. This module will investigate what diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) mean for the I/ECMHC and how to put these considerations into practice. This module places a heavy emphasis on self-reflection and journaling.


Contact Hours: 3 Hours  Gateways Content Area: PPD (3 hours)  CDA Hours: 6(3 hours)


Exploring the Types of I/ECMH Consultation

This module will introduce the learner to the key types of infant/early childhood mental health consultation services and the various settings and contexts to which they apply.  The learner will gain strategies for discerning the level and type of service appropriate for specific referrals for I/ECMHC in different settings to be most effective. The learner will have the opportunity to look at consultation through a varying lens of services by observing a child/classroom setting through video recording.

Contact Hours: 2 Hours  Gateways Content Area: PPD (2hours)  CDA Hours: 6(2 hours)


Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant’s Way of Being

The “Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant’s Way of Being” training offers an individual instruction in providing consultation to early childhood professionals in home visiting, center-based, family child care homes, and school-based early childhood programs.  This training describes the set of competencies required by I/ECMH Consultants that are based on Georgetown University’s Center of Excellence for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation.  Participants will also explore the Consultative Stance adopted for use by I/ECMH Consultants using the Illinois Model for Consultation. 

Contact Hours: 2 Hours  Gateways Content Area: PPD (2hours)  CDA Hours: 6(2 hours)

The Role of the Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Professional

This module will discuss the services offered by infant and early childhood mental health informed professionals as well as the skills and strategies used by infant and early childhood mental health professionals in working with infants, young children, and families. 

Contact Hours: 2 Hours  Gateways Content Area: PPD (2hours)  CDA Hours: 6(2 hours)


What is Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation?

This training will define Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (/IECMHC), and explore various aspects of the history, components, and effects.  This module will explain how I/ECMHC operates through a systems perspective, providing a range of services and strategies to create, strengthen, and maintain a supportive environment that enhances the social and emotional development of all infants and young children. I/ECMHC works within and across all child-serving settings (e.g., early care and education, home visiting, child welfare, child care, and at times primary care settings.)

Contact Hours: 2 Hours  Gateways Content Area: PPD (2hours)  CDA Hours: 6(2 hours)