Endorsement Categories
There are five categories of Endorsement. They are designed to target different professional areas within the infant-family field. See the Endorsement designations outlined below, and click on each one for a corresponding chart of specific requirements and competencies.
- Infant Family Associate: This designation is intended to target individuals working in child-care settings, child care directors, advocates, professionals without an advanced degree working on policy change, case managers, intake specialists, Head Start and Early Head Start*
- Infant Family Specialist : This designation is intended for ECI, CPS, therapists, nurses, social workers, and other providers*
- Infant Family Reflective Supervisor: This designation is intended for individuals who provide Infant Family Specialist services AND provide Reflective Supervision/ Consultation to Infant Family Specialists.
- Infant Mental Health Specialist : This designation is intended for graduate level mental health providers who provide therapeutic services*
- Infant Mental Health Mentor: There are 3 additional designations listed within the Infant Mental Health Mentor designation: Clinical (C), Policy (P), and Research/Faculty (R/F). These designations target professionals with advanced degrees who have experience providing infant mental health reflective supervision and other leadership (C), who are leaders in policy and/or program administration related to the infant-family field (P), or are leaders in university-level teaching and/or published research related to the infant-family field (R/F).*
*Please note that these are only examples of the types of jobs a provider may have at this designation. This is not an exhaustive list. Moreover, these designations are not meant to act as a hierarchy, but rather as categories to organize the wide range of occupations that exist in this field. Providers are encouraged to contact First3Years’ Endorsement coordinator with questions Endorsement@first3yearstx.org
| Infant Family Associate | Infant Family Specialist | Infant Family Reflective Supervisor | Infant Mental Health Specialist | Infant Mental Health Mentor | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Work Experience |
Any academic degree OR minimum of 2 years of infant/ early childhood-related work or volunteer experience in an applicable role | Minimum of 2 years of prevention and/or early intervention service to 0-36 month olds & their families; served a minimum of 10 families | Minimum of 2 years of prevention and/or early intervention service to 0-36 month olds & their families; served a minimum of 10 families AND provider of IMH RSC for 1+ years |
Minimum 2 years post Master’s, infant mental health practice working on behalf of the caregiver-infant relationship | Minimum 3 years post Master’s, paid, as a practice leader in the infant mental health field in one of the 3 designation areas Clinical only: also meet the IMHS work requirements |
| Educational Experience | No degree required | No degree required | No degree required | Masters or post-graduate degree | Masters or post-graduate degree |
| In-Service Training |
Minimum 30 hours, average 40 hours |
Minimum 30 hours, average 50 hours |
Minimum 48 hours, average 75 hours Minimum of 15 hours must be about the provision of RSC AND Minimum of 3 hours must be about diversity, equity, and inclusion in IMH |
Minimum 30 hours, average 75 hours |
Minimum 33 hours Clinical only: Minimum 48 hours, average 75 hours Clinical only: Minimum of 15 hours must be about the provision of RSC |
Reflective Supervision |
Not required | Minimum 24 clock hours while providing IFS services to infants, toddlers & families |
Minimum 24 clock hours while providing IFS services to infants, toddlers & families and/or while providing supervision to staff who are providing IFS services to infants, young children and their families |
Minimum 50 clock hours while providing IMHS services to infants, toddlers & families |
Clinical only: Minimum 50 hours while providing IMHS services to infants, toddlers & families. A minimum of 25 hours of the RSC received should be about the RSC that the applicant provides to others |
| Reference Ratings | Three | Three | Three | Three | Three |
Code of Ethics |
Signed | Signed | Signed | Signed | Signed |
Endorsement Agreement |
Signed | Signed | Signed | Signed | Signed |
Membership in First3Years |
Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Professional Application |
Candidate will submit a professional application on EASy (Endorsement Application System) that demonstrates that he/she has met both the requirements and the competencies specified at each level. | Candidate will submit a professional application on EASy (Endorsement Application System) that demonstrates that he/she has met both the requirements and the competencies specified at each level. | Candidate will submit a professional application on EASy (Endorsement Application System) that demonstrates that he/she has met both the requirements and the competencies specified at each level. | Candidate will submit a professional application on EASy (Endorsement Application System) that demonstrates that he/she has met both the requirements and the competencies specified at each level. | Candidate will submit a professional application on EASy (Endorsement Application System) that demonstrates that he/she has met both the requirements and the competencies specified at each level. |
Written Exam |
No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Application Fee |
$15 | $15 | $20 | $25 | $25 |
Processing Fee |
$25 | $50 | $60 | $200 | $300 |