The materials supporting the NMAIMH Endorsement for Culturally Sensitive, Relationship-focused Practice Promoting Infant Mental Health are copyrighted by the Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health (MI-AIMH). The NMAIMH is able to make these materials available to our membership through a licensing agreement with the MI-AIMH.
Copyright law does allow individuals to print out or make ONE copy of copyrighted material for personal, non-commercial purposes only. None of the copyrighted, endorsement documents included here may be reproduced, displayed, distributed or otherwise used in any format, including electronically, without the express written consent of MI-AIMH. Legal action will be taken against those who violate the copyright.
To understand the relationship between the NMAIMH , the Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health (MI-AIMH) and the 13 other states using this same process for Endorsement for Culturally Sensitive, Relationship-focused Practice Promoting Infant Mental Health, you can read theBackground and Introduction to the Competency Guidelineshere.
For a Glosssary of Terms related to the endorsement process, click here.
To learn more about how Endorsement makes a difference to babies and their families please look over the Impact Maps at the links below. The Impact Maps help define how the NMAIMH competencies are expected to help practitioners fulfill key responsibilities to babies and their families. The maps also delineate the expected results, service objectives and overall goal expected to be achieved.
Providers of Culturally Sensitive, Relationship-based Practice Promoting Infant Mental Health all share the following common goal:
Optimal social, emotional & cognitive development of infants/young children within the context of strong, nurturing parent-infant/young child relationships.
When working on your Endorsement Portfolio, remember to work closely with your Endorsement Advisor from the first draft of your portfolio until you are ready to submit the portfolio for review. As you and your advisor work together, please refer to:
Infant Mental Health Specialist (Level 3) and Infant Mental Health Mentor (Level 4) candidates whose Portfolios have been reviewed and accepted by the Review Team, may want to refer to the following information:
Infant Mental Health Specialist (Level 3) and Infant Mental Health Mentor (Level 4) candidateswho have submitted a completed portfolio that has been approved by NMAIMH will be required to pass a written examination before being awarded endorsement. To learn more aboutPreparing for the Endorsement Exam, click here.
The written endorsement exam takes place each spring and fall. Those taking the written exam will be notified in writing of the Endorsement Test Review Team findings within 6-8 weeks of the exam date.
Candidates who intend to re-take one or both sections of the exam are required to inform the Endorsement Coordinator of their intention in writing at Endorsement Coordinator no less than 8 weeks prior to the scheduled exam date. Exams can be retaken after one full year has passed from date exam was initially taken.
Appeal of an Examination Decision
An applicant has 30 days after receiving official notification about the outcome of the examination to request a review of the decision and recommendations regarding endorsement. The request for review must be in writing and directed to the attention of the Endorsement Coordinator at endorse@nmaimh.org. The letter must include a detailed description of why the applicant believes he/she should be reconsidered for endorsement. Additionally, the applicant may submit a letter of support from his/her provider of reflective supervision/consultation. The Endorsement Coordinator will meet with two members of the Endorsement Test Review Team to discuss the request and respond to the applicant in writing within 15 days.
Endorsed members who submit their documentation after the 12/31 deadline and before 3/31 (each year) must pay a $15 late charge along with any delinquent membership dues. If a Member fails to submit the required documentation by March 31 his/her name will be removed from the Endorsement Registry. Please read below or contact the Endorsement Coordinator (endorse@nmaimh.org) for information about how to have your endorsement reinstated if this occurs.
You may return your documentation in the following ways:
If a Member fails to submit the Professional Development Update form and membership dues before March 31, his/her name will be removed from the Endorsement Registry. Once a Member is removed from the Registry, he/she will need to do the following in order to be re-instated:
1) Update the endorsement portfolio to include15 hours of competency-specific continuing education;
2) Renew their NMAIMH(or other IMH Association) membership, including membership fee;
3) Pay a $50 endorsement-processing fee.
The above is a NMAIMH Policy that was approved by the NMAIMH Board of Directors on September 1, 2010.
Changing from One Type of Endorsement to Another
As NMAIMH members develop more specialized competencies,and/or achieve more formal education, they may also find that they have the opportunity to engage in different work expeiences related to infant mental health practice. For example, someone who was working as an Infant Family Specialist and had earned that endorsement, may go on to develop more specialized competencies through spcecialized, supervised work experiences, more specific inservices that help address the Infant Mental Health Specialist competencies and might want to pursue endorsement as an Infant Mental Health Specialist (Level 3). The procedures for changing endorsement levels are described below.
Procedures for Changing Endorsement Levels
Intent to Apply
The burden of responsibility is on the endorsed member to inform the NMAIMH Endorsement Coordinator endorse@nmaimh.org, in writing (e-mail is acceptable), of the intent to apply for endorsement at the next level of professional development. This should be done at least 6 months before intending to complete the process. This is particularly important to ensure that all of the requirements are understood, that there is adequate time for preparation for the Endorsement Examination at Levels 3 and 4, and that the professional portfolio is updated with new information pertinent to the applicant’s portfolio, including contact information.
The NMAIMH Endorsement Coordinator will reassign an Endorsement Advisor to answer questions, assist the applicant in the process and review a draft of the updated Portfolio form. The applicant must demonstrate competency and meet all of the requirements as indicated for endorsement at that next level. The Endorsement Advisor must review the updated Portfolio form at least 9 weeks before the portfolio submission deadline. Portfolio submission deadlines and examination dates are posted at http://www.nmaimh.org and e-mailed as an announcement to NMAIMH Members through the NMAIMH Members’ listserv.
