WISCONSIN ALLIANCE FOR INFANT MENTAL HEALTH INC

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: WI-AIMH'S WORK IS CENTERED ON DEVELOPING PROFESSIONAL CAPACITY FOR ALL THOSE WHO WORK WITH OR ON BEHALF OF INFANTS, TODDLERS, AND THEIR FAMILIES. WI-AIMH IS THE ONLY AGENCY IN WISCONSIN TO HOLD AN INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED LICENSE (I/ECMH ENDORSEMENT) TO CREDENTIAL PROFESSIONALS TO ENSURE THEY MAINTAIN HIGH STANDARDS OF PRACTICE. I/ECMH ENDORSEMENT VERIFIES THAT A PROFESSIONAL HAS ATTAINED UNIQUE KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND EXPERIENCE WITHIN THEIR ROLE TO SUPPORT OPTIMAL DEVELOPMENT OF INFANTS, YOUNG CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES AND DO SO WITHIN THE CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE AND EQUITABLE LENS. WI-AIMH DEVELOPED AND LAUNCHED FIRST INFANT AND EARLY CHILDHOOD MENTAL HEALTH CONSULTATION PROGRAM IN 2023. THE PROGRAM IS CALLED HEALTHY MINDS HEALTHY CHILDREN AND OFFERS ON-SITE MENTAL HEALTH CONSULTATION TO CHILDCARE IN MULTIPLE REGIONS OF THE STATE. THIS WAS OUR FIRST YEAR OF PLANNING, BUILDING, AND IMPLEMENTING. WE COLLABORATED WITH A NUMBER OF STATE AND NATIONAL PARTNERS. WE BUILD PROCEDURES AND PROCESSES. WE DEVELOPED A REFERRAL PROCESS AND A WEBSITE: HTTPS://WWW.HEALTHYMINDSWI.ORG/ IN 2023, WE SERVED OVER 2,048 CHILDREN IN 34 PROGRAMS AND PROVIDED OVER 350 HOURS OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR THE MENTAL HEALTH AND EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION WORKFORCE.WI-AIMH COORDINATES WISCONSIN PYRAMID MODEL FOR SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL COMPETENCE. PYRAMID MODEL, FUNDED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, IS AN EVIDENCE-BASED MULTI-TIERED SYSTEM OF SUPPORT FOR PARENTS AND PROFESSIONALS TO PROMOTE OPTIMAL SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF INFANTS AND YOUNG CHILDREN AND PREVENT CHALLENGING BEHAVIORS. IN 2023, 1062 PRACTITIONERS ATTENDED 65 PYRAMID MODEL TRAININGS. IN 2023, NINE NEW PROGRAMS EMBARKED ON THE PROGRAM-WIDE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PYRAMID MODEL FRAMEWORK. THESE PROGRAMS JOINED 67 EXISTING PROGRAM-WIDE SITES AROUND THE STATE. OVERALL, IN 2023 WI PYRAMID MODEL PROGRAM SERVED 11,410 CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF FIVE. SPECIFICALLY, WI PYRAMID MODEL SERVED 1,602 CHILDREN WHO ARE BIRTH TO THREE YEARS OF AGE, 5,988 PRESCHOOL AGE CHILDREN (THREE- AND FOUR-YEAR-OLD) AND 3,814 SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN (FIVE-YEAR-OLDS). WI-AIMH CONTINUED THE WORK PROMOTING THE POWER OF CONNECTION - THE WEB EXPERIENCE FOR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES. THE POWER OF CONNECTION IS AN INTERACTIVE WEBSITE THAT INVITES PARENTS, CAREGIVERS, FAMILY AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE EMOTIONAL WORLD OF BABIES AND TODDLERS. THE SITE OFFERS RICH CONTENT ABOUT CHILD DEVELOPMENT WITH FOCUS ON THE SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DOMAIN: HTTPS://THE-POWER-OF-CONNECTION.ORG/.IN 2023, WI-AIMH LAUNCHED ITS SIXTH COHORT OF THE REFLECTIVE SUPERVISION LEARNING COLLABORATIVE. TWENTY INFANT AND EARLY CHILDHOOD PROFESSIONALS ENROLLED AND ATTENDED A YEAR-LONG OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT, EXPERIENCE, AND PRACTICE REFLECTIVE SUPERVISION 82% OF PARTICIPANTS STRONGLY AGREED THAT THE COLLABORATIVE ADEQUATELY PREPARED THEM TO PROVIDE REFELCTIVE SUPPORT TO STAFF WITHIN THEIR AGENCY OR PROGRAM.WI-AIMH CONTINUED A STRONG COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE WISCONSIN OFFICE OF CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH, WISCONSIN CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS, AND WI PROFESSIONAL DELOPMENT SYSTEM. WI-AIMH JOINED "RAISING WISCONSIN" - A MULTI-AGENCY COLLABORATIVE TO BRING ATTENTION AND RESOURCES TO SUPPORT INFANTS, TODDLERS, AND THEIR FAMILIES. WI-AIMH HAS BEEN ASKED TO PROVIDE FACILITATION AND LEADERSHIP FOR THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING COMMITTEE OF THE RAISING WISCONSIN.WI-AIMH IS AN AFFILIATE OF THE WORLD ASSOCIATION FOR INFANT MENTAL HEALTH AND A MEMBER OF THE ALLIANCE FOR ADVANCEMENT OF INFANT MENTAL HEALTH. WI-AIMH IS A MEMBER OF THE PYRAMID MODEL CONSORTIUM.