Early Childhood and Family Mental Health Competencies for NH

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Early Childhood and Family Mental Health
Competencies for NH
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Why?

• Establishes a common ground for Early Childhood
  and Family Mental Health Competency at different
  levels across a multiple disciplines

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Uses

• Self evaluation
• Guides professional development
• Evaluate and develop curricula
• Assess the strengths and weaknesses of a
  training/educational program/experience
• Tool for people hiring staff
• A tool to support supervision and mentoring
• Tool for families wanting to assure competence in
  their providers

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Work group includes representatives from

• Child Development Bureau
• 2 and 4 year educational programs (NHTI, PSU,
  UNH)
• Community Mental Health
• Early Supports and Services
• Child Development Bureau
• Department of Education
• Division of Children Youth and Families
• Private Practice Therapists
• Early Childhood Mental Health Specialists

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Process

• The group defined use of competencies and guiding
  principals
• Carefully evaluated the relative strengths and
  weaknesses of the 5 most widely accepted
  competency standards
• Michigan
• Connecticut
• California
• Wisconsin
• Vermont

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Why Vermont?

• Levels are not tied to a field or degree
• Translates well between fields
• Flexible-
• Addresses all relevant fields
• Equal attention to child and familycompetencies

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Why Vermont cont.

• Addresses professionalism/ethics
• Emphasizes reflective practice
• Recognizes and respects cultural differences
• Systems perspective
• Ecological perspective
• Well organized
• Can easily be adapted for multiple uses

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The Vermont ECFMH Competency System

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The Vermont ECFMHC System

• Domains
• Philosophy and Professional Orientation
• Family System
• Child Development
• Assessment
• Addressing Challenges
• Systems Resources

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The Vermont System Cont.

• Four levels
• Foundation
• Intermediate
• Advanced
• Specialist

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NH recommended modifications

• More emphasis of reflective practice
• Screening and Assessment
• Philosophy, Professionalism and Ethics includes
  supporting the field
• Community resources

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Where are we now

• Drafting changes
• Producing tools
• Promoting

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Next steps (little and big)

• Disseminating and Promoting tools
• Web site, forums, presentations, printing
• Partnering with Behavioral Health re Mental
  Health Competency development
• Partnering with Early Childhood Competency
  revisions
• Partnering with Vermont
• other potential partners?

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And.

• Seeking funding to support the exploration of the
  of developing a credentialing system
• Make recommendations regarding a proposed system
  of credentialing, maintenance and management

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Many thanks to

• Family Centered Early Supports and Services for
  supporting the NHAIMH and the funding this work
  group through Federal Economic Stimulus Funds
• and the dedicated, talented and hard working
  individuals participating in the work group

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Thank-you!!!

• Sandy Brallier- coordinator
• Patty Ewen- Department of Education
• Helen Fitzgerald- Family therapist, NHAIMH Board
  Member
• Gale Hall, New Hampshire Technical Institute- E.
  Ch. Ed.
• Kerry Kazura, UNH- Family Studies
• Gail Mears - Plymouth State University
• Pat Cantor- Plymouth State University
• Eileen Mullin-DCYF
• Ellyn Schreiber- Early Supports and Services-
  NHAIMH Board Member
• Jackie Sparks- Child Care, Early Supports and
  Services
• Anne Tenney, Community Mental Health
• Karen Welford, PSU, Early Supports and Services,
  facilitator
• Ellen Wheatley, Child Development Bureau

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