As a result of the program’s early success, the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) funded a statewide implementation of IECMH Consultation to continue to support the early childhood system workforce in supporting the social and emotional development of infants, toddlers and very young children. Over the course of the past 14 years, the program has had continued support and sustainable funding from the state as a result of continuous quality improvement efforts, evaluation (internal and external) strategies, program outcomes that reduce expulsion risk, as well as demonstration of the large demand for these supports by childcare programs across the state. While originally implemented in collaboration with OCDEL’s regional business partners (formally the Regional Keys), beginning in FY 2019-2020 the Pennsylvania Key added the talented consultants to our staff complement.  This strategy has created a single point of referral for the entire state, has improved our ability to consistently triage requests, manage a wait list, monitor equitable distribution of services, and maximize our ability to identify gaps in coverage and reallocate staff assignments.  As a result of this change, we have expanded our staff complement to a total of 29.  Our team is regionally based across the Commonwealth to serve and support childcare programs participating in Keystone STARS, including center, family and group-based care.

Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) Consultation is a free resource that supports children’s social- emotional development from birth through age 5 within early learning programs participating in Keystone STARS.

How the IECMHC Program can Help Children, Families, and Early Child Education Providers

Through a reflective, collaborative, problem-solving and capacity-building relationship, mental health consultation encourages adults to build stronger relationships with infants and young children so that they feel safe, supported, and valued.

IECMH Consultants Help Caregivers of Infants and Young Children To:

• Recognize every child’s strengths and potential
• Reflect on the power and impact of nurturing relationships
• Figure out what’s really going on when a child is “challenging”
• Respond to problem behaviors in an nurturing and positive way
• Help children develop important skills, like sharing, getting along with others, and resolving conflict
• Connect with children in ways that promote their growth and development
• Create supportive environments for children
• Build relationships with families
• Share about supportive services and resources in the community.

IECMH Consultants Offer

IECMH Consultants specialize in early childhood development and mental health and well-being. They work with parents and caregivers in the early care and education setting to provide:

• Onsite or virtual classroom observations
• Screening/assessment strategies for children and classrooms
• A process to identify strengths and opportunities for growth
• Facilitate the creation of an action plan to support children and classroom staff
• Referrals for additional supports if need is identified

Mental health consultation is not about “fixing kids.” Nor is it therapy. Mental health consultants’ partner with adults to facilitate healthy growth and development for infants and young children.  Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health consultation provides support for parents and childcare professionals who work with children experiencing persistent or puzzling challenges.

Benefit of IECMH Consultation

• Stronger relationships between children and the adults who care for them
• Increased resiliency for children
• Increase in caregiver reflective practice skills
• Reduced caregiver stress
• Improved school readiness for children
• Fewer incidents of challenging behaviors
• Reduction in expulsion and suspension practices

To Find Out More or Request IECMH Consultation:

• Download and share our program brochure. (PDF)
• Request IECMH services by completing the Pennsylvania Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Program Request for IECMHC Services Full Application (Fillable PDF). Submit the form via email PAIECMH@pakeys.org or fax 717-213-3749.
• Contact program leadership directly. Programs and families email PAIECMH@pakeys.org with questions or concerns.
• Subscribe our enewsletter and read past editions.

The Pennsylvania Key IECMHC Virtual Office Hours

The Pennsylvania Key Infant-Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC) Program is offering a new service: IECMHC Virtual Office Hours. IECMHC Virtual Office Hours is currently being piloted in ELRCs 11-19, with plans underway tomake the service more widely available to other ELRCs in the future. IECMH Consultants are available by appointment to provide IECMH Virtual Office Hours consultation via telephone or video conference. IECMHC Virtual Office Hours is a short-term, collaborative, problem-solving conversation to help you find next steps for: Child Social-Emotional Concerns, Child Behavioral or Developmental Concerns, Emotional Well-being of Teachers and Caregivers, and Partnering with Families. See the brochure for additional details.

• Our IECMH Consultation model is grounded in The Pyramid Model. The Pyramid Model was developed by applied researchers who used scientifically anchored practices to create a functional and adaptable framework to assist early care and education programs, teachers, and families to enhance social and emotional learning of young children with confidence and competence in the real world.  Learn about the Pyramid Model for Promoting the Social Emotional Competence of Young Children (Center on the Social-Emotional Foundations for Early Learning).
• Meet our IECMH team in Pennsylvania! The Pennsylvania Key now boast 29 regionally based team members to support a single point of referral for the entire state, which has improved our ability to consistently triage requests, manage a wait list, monitor equitable distribution of services, and maximize our ability to identify gaps in coverage and reallocate staff assignments.
• Learn about Ages and Stages Questionnaire. The tool is quick and easy to administer and score.  The ASQ was designed to be completed by parents. This system is being used across various state and county programs, such as Early Care and Education, Early Head Start and Head Start, Early Intervention for developmental monitoring and OCYF.
• Learn more about the Infant-Toddler Temperament Tool. The Infant Toddler Temperament Tool (IT3) was developed for the Center for Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation, an Innovation and Support Project funded by the Office of Head Start.
• Obtain more IECMH resources and references from the Resources page.