IECMH Consultation

Advancing Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation in Tennessee

The Association of Infant Mental Health in Tennessee (AIMHiTN) is leading the development of a comprehensive, aligned, and sustainable strategy to support early relational health across Tennessee through Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC).

In 2021, AIMHiTN, in collaboration with the TNIECMH Financing Policy Team and Consilience Group LLC, supported the development of an advisory document outlining key strategies and recommendations for building a sustainable statewide framework for IECMHC.

In January 2022, AIMHiTN convened the IECMHC Coordinating Council, a cross-sector collaborative group dedicated to advancing these recommendations and strengthening Tennessee’s IECMHC infrastructure.

What Is Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation?

According to the Center of Excellence for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation:

IECMHC is a prevention-based approach that pairs a mental health consultant with adults who support infants and young children in various learning and care settings, including child care, preschool, home visiting, early intervention, and the home environment.

Mental health consultation is not about “fixing” children, nor is it therapy. Instead, it equips caregivers with the knowledge and tools to foster healthy early relationships and support optimal development.

IECMHC services span a continuum of support, including:

  • Promoting strong relationships and nurturing environments

  • Collaborating with families and caregivers to understand behavior and develop supportive strategies

  • Providing training and resources to equip caregivers with tools for fostering developmental well-being and healthy behaviors

  • Ensuring early identification of needs through developmental screenings

  • Facilitating referrals to specialized services when necessary

  • TN IECMH ECHO

    The TN IECMH ECHO for Home Visiting is a collaborative learning community for home-visiting professionals focused on building best practices in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health topics, including collaborative case consultations.

    Click Here to Learn More About IECMH ECHO

  • TN IECMH WARMLINE

    The TN IECMH Consultation Warmline offers support to professionals seeking assistance for working with infants, young children, and their families, who present with behavioral or mental health challenges.

    Click Here to Learn More About IECMH WARMLINE

Why Is IECMHC a Critical Support for Tennessee’s Children?

It’s Effective

Research shows that Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC) helps to:

✔ Strengthen children’s early relationships and promote developmental well-being
✔ Improve social skills and emotional development
✔ Reduce challenging behaviors
✔ Lower rates of suspensions and expulsions
✔ Enhance classroom quality
✔ Decrease provider stress, burnout, and turnover

It’s a Smart Investment

Supporting families with young children is not only the right thing to do—it also makes economic sense. Strategic investments in IECMHC can significantly reduce long-term public costs by supporting early relational health and well-being.

According to the National Forum on Early Childhood Policy and Programs, high-quality early childhood programs can generate a $4–$9 return for every $1 invested (Source). By prioritizing early investments in well-being, public systems can reduce costly interventions later in life. Some economists suggest that investments beginning in the earliest stages of life, including prenatally, offer the highest long-term return.

How Is AIMHiTN Advancing IECMHC in Tennessee?

Recognizing the opportunity to strengthen Tennessee’s support for young children while also generating long-term cost savings, AIMHiTN conducted a comprehensive research initiative in FY 2021. This effort led to the creation of an IECMHC Advisory Board, which launched in 2022 to focus on:

  • Systems alignment

  • Public awareness and education

  • Workforce development

  • Financial sustainability

By bringing together professionals across disciplines, AIMHiTN is working toward a coordinated, sustainable IECMHC framework that benefits children, families, and the workforce that supports them.

How Can You Get Involved?

To learn more about IECMHC in Tennessee and how you can advocate for this essential service, or to access the full IECMHC Advisory Document, contact:

📧 katherineb@aimhitn.org

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