Infant Mental Health Certificate

Our hybrid certificate program prepares students and professionals to address the social-emotional and mental health needs of very young children and their families through the promotion of high-quality interactions and environmental experiences.

Infant Mental Health is a cross-disciplinary field of study and practice. This certificate will provide you with specialized knowledge and skills that will allow you to practice within your discipline with very young children and families from an evidence-based infant and early childhood focus.

Our program is organized to meet the Alliance for the Advancement of Infant Mental Health set of core theoretical principles of infant and early childhood development and mental health practice: that all work with children, families, and the individuals who work with them should be relationship-based, culturally sensitive, grounded in an understanding of developmental theory and research, and supported by reflective practice.

Program Facts

Program Type

Certificate in Infant Mental Health

Enrollment Term

Summer or Fall

Format

Online and/or Hybrid

Credits

18

Application Deadline

Rolling Admissions

Admissions Requirements

GRE exam not required

Duration

3 semesters (Fall, Spring, and Summer)

Time Commitment

Part-Time

Program Overview

The Certificate in Infant Mental Health (IMH) provides the academic and skills developmental necessary for Endorsement for Culturally Sensitive, Relationship-focused Practice Promoting Infant Mental Health® through the Pennsylvania Association of Infant Mental Health at the Infant Family Specialist (Prevention/Early Intervention), Infant Mental Health Specialist (Treatment/Intervention), and Infant Mental Health Mentor (Clinical, Faculty, or Policy Leadership) levels.

Curriculum

You will learn:

  • Principles of infant and early childhood mental health.
  • Develop skills to support the social-emotional development of very young children and their families.
  • Learn about the scope of infant-mental health practice and opportunities for advocacy and action.
  • Learn with researchers and community-based faculty engaged in the early childhood workforce.
  • Learn how to apply infant mental health theory into practice.
  • This certificate does not lead to licensure.

View Curriculum

Prerequisites

  • BA/BS

Upcoming Info Sessions

General Info Session (Virtual)

April 29, 2024 | Noon-1 PM

Register now

General Info Session (Virtual)

May 13, 2024 | Noon-1 PM

Register now

General Info Session (Virtual)

June 3, 2024 | Noon-1 PM

Register now

Career Pathways

Infant Mental Health is a multidisciplinary field of study and practice. IMH knowledge and skills are applied across all disciplines that serve very young children and their important people.

  • Early Intervention
  • Community-based program Administrators, Directors and Supervisors
  • Home Visitors
  • Pediatrics
  • Child Life Specialists
  • Behavioral Health Specialists
  • Early Education
  • Health Sciences
  • Public Policy
  • Research Associates
  • Faculty in Community and 4-year Colleges
  • Child Protective Services