XMED-600 - Clinical Track in Infant Mental Health
Course Description
The course is comprised of nine modules.
Module 1: Welcome, Orientation and Perspectives in Infant Mental Health and Early Childhood
The module will be an orientation for participants. The "cultural perspectives" frame for the certificate program which will be introduced as well as overall structure of certificate program. The course will highlight the importance of infant and early childhood mental health and its dividends over a person's lifetime.
Module 2: Theory in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health
This module will introduce learners to the main theories related to infant and early childhood mental health. Readings will include articles and chapters authored by Selma Fraiberg, Donald Winnicott, John Bowlby, Jean Piaget, Ed Tronick and others. Participants will gain a firm knowledge of infant and early childhood lays the foundation for mental health and the importance of the parent child relationship in fostering mental health.
Module 3: Development and Attachment
This module will provide participants with an overview of social emotional milestones and typical and atypical social emotional development. Participants will consider the impact of attachment and non-Western values on young children’s social emotional development. The course will explore the impact of adversity, historical oppression, and racism on young children’s social emotional development and young children’s capacity for resilience and growth.
Module 4: Assessment and MH Disorders in Infancy and Early Childhood
This module will introduce participants to tools and approaches used in assessing young children’s mental health. Participants will explore the meaning of children’s behavior in the context of their family, history and environment. Participants will leave with a comprehensive knowledge of mental health disorders applicable to young children and will explore the intersection and impact of mental health disorders on the family system. Finally, participants in this course will walk away with strategies and treatment approaches to assist young children and their families. Treatment approaches will be explored with a lens of equity, disparity, and cultural relevance.
Module 5: Evidence-Based Practices
This module will review the evidence-based practices that serve children 0-6 years old. There will be an emphasis on intervening at the level of caregiver-child relationships as well as ways to implement interventions in an equitable and culturally sensitive fashion.
Module 6: Trauma and Resilience
The module will provide an overview of trauma. The course will share strategies for promoting resilience in infants, toddlers, preschoolers and their families. Participants in this course will explore the intersection of ACES, social determinants of health, racism, poverty and historical oppression. This course will identify strategies for sharing information about trauma and resilience with families and community stakeholders.
Module 7: Neuroscience and the Developing Brain
Neuroscience and the Developing Brain will delve into the science of early childhood brain development. Students will understand how the developing brain is primed by early relationships and play. Topics will include the effects of early adverse experiences on brain development and the interplay between environment, genes and brain growth.
Module 8; Equity, Disparity, Diversity, Inclusion
This module will support participants to explore how past policies and systems have perpetuated inequities in providing mental health services to historically marginalized young children and their families. Participants will benefit from identifying strategies to increase equity in the infant early childhood mental health field. Topics will include: implicit bias; disproportionate expulsion of black boys in early care and education; critical race theory; liberation psychology; access and disparities in mental health promotion and treatment for young children and their families; harsh discipline; and needed modifications and approaches to infant early childhood mental health research, promotion and treatment.
Module 9: Early Childhood Ecology
Early Childhood Ecology will broaden the student's perspective beyond the caregiver and child relationship. Families develop within multiple nested ecologies which affect a child's development. This course will highlight Urie Brofenbrenner's Ecological Systems Framework and discuss the real world contexts that promote a child's development and mental health. Evidence-based interventions that are systems oriented will be reviewed. Topics will also highlight how systemic inequities foster vulnerability and the importance of clinicians to address structural vulnerabilities in the context of infant mental health.
Course Objectives
The learning outcomes include:
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Understand history, theory, and critical concepts in infant and early childhood mental health
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Understand child development from birth to five; symptoms that emerge during this time period; risk factors for atypical development
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Identify assessments and screeners available to use during early childhood; learn the diagnostic categories for 0-5 year olds and how to apply them through case discussion and real-world experience
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Identify opportunities for prevention of mental and neurodevelopmental disorders and interventions that are used in early childhood to mitigate outcomes with an emphasis on the early effects of trauma
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Recognize areas of need and how to deliver culturally competent care, gain insight into multiple systems that interact with infants and young children
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Recognize how parent child interactions and ecological systems shape brain development
Notes
The Certificate in Infant Mental Health for Clinicians is a cohort-based, competitive program with a selective admission process. An application is required to enroll in the program. A completed application will include the following documents:
- Completed application form
- Resume/CV
- Statement of Purpose
Program Pre-requisites
- Education
o A minimum of a Master's Degree in Mental Health Field (e.g., psychology, counseling, social work) OR Enrolled in a Mental Health Field graduate program
Mental Health Licensed or License-Eligible (e.g., enrolled in graduate program with prior clinical experience)
- Experience
o Minimum of 2-3 years of supervised clinical experience (during mental health graduate training or post-graduate)
Currently working in the mental health or related field
Application to the certificate is free. The applicant is not obligated to pay tuition at the time of submission. Approved applicants will be contacted to discuss scholarship availability and payment options.
Course Registration
Enrollment in this course is restricted. Professional learners must submit an application and be accepted into the program in order to register for this course.
Current Georgetown students must create an application using their Georgetown NetID and password. New students will be prompted to create an account.
Course Schedule
Virtual class gatherings via Zoom will occur on Tuesdays,12:00 - 2:00 p.m. EDT.
It is important that registered professional learners attend all virtual class gatherings with the instructor and other students. In cases where the learner cannot attend a live Zoom class meeting, they should contact the instructor and make arrangements to access the information and complete any assignments.
Class learning modalities will include:
- Synchronous Zoom lectures
- Synchronous Zoom Group discussions
- Asynchronous Canvas discussion boards
- Reading assignments
- Presentations
Scholarship Availability
The School of Continuing Education Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health Certificate in partnership with Medstar Georgetown Department of Psychiatry and Center for Child & Human Development will award full and partial scholarships to deserving and highly motivated students. Aligned with our mission to diversify the infant and early childhood mental health workforce, scholarships are prioritized for individuals belonging to historically marginalized groups. Upon acceptance in the certificate program, qualified students will receive a separate email and be asked to submit a 250-500 word essay OR a 3-5 minute video video clip explaining how this certificate program will support your career goals.