The California Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC) Network is a professional development project funded by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS), and is coordinated by WestEd. The IECMHC Network delivers consultation services, resources, and training activities for early learning and care center-based program staff, family child care providers, and family, friend and neighbor caregivers. IECMHC Network services are offered at no cost for early learning and care center-based programs and home-based care providers in California.
The IECMHC Network’s services are designed to build the capacity of program staff and care providers to foster the developmental, social, and emotional health and well-being of young children in their care. IECMHC Network IECMH specialists and consultants use reflective practice approaches to support program administrators, teachers and providers while exploring problem-solving strategies within the context of infant and early childhood mental health. IECMHC Network services provide an opportunity to consider all relationships influencing the social, emotional, and relational health, and well-being of young children and the adults who care for them.
- Promoting positive mental health and social and emotional development.
- Addressing behavior that providers find challenging or concerning.
- Focusing on relationships and practices that buffer against stress and trauma.
- Developing a program culture that promotes the well-being of providers, young children, and families.
Our History
California Department of Education funds WestEd to establish the California Inclusion & Behavior Consultation (CIBC) Network to provide services to California State Preschool Programs to support the inclusion of children with developmental delays, disabilities and challenging behavior
Pilot CIBC Network consultation services with Family Child Care (FCC) providers to increase support for infants and toddlers; alignment of forms and processes with California’s Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS)
Add delivery of consultation services to programs participating in Quality Counts California (formerly QRIS); alignment of forms and processes with preschool suspension & expulsion (AB752) and mental health consultation services (AB2698) legisltation
Expand FCC pilot to delivery of consultation services statewide; establish Emergency Response system with mental health consultants available for crisis intervention in communities that may experience natural disasters or traumatic events
CIBC Network sunsets as the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) funds WestEd to establish the California Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC) Network. Using a tiered system of support framework, access to an expanded suite of infant and early childhood mental health consultation services, supports and resources across the continuum of promotion and preventive intervention. IECMHC Network services now available to all child care and early education providers across the state, including family, friend and neighbor caregivers. State systems efforts include capacity building of a diverse workforce of qualified personnel who are adequately trained and supported to deliver infant and early childhood mental health consultation services across the state. Continuation of Family Child Care Home consultation and center-based consultation
Establish partnership with Georgetown University to support California cohorts of their IECMHC Certificate Program
Launch of Helpline
Launch of Communities of Support
Launch of Open-Door Sessions
Launch of IECMHC Network website
Launch of California’s IECMHC Consultant Training Program
Launch of Family, Friend and Neighbor consultation services
