Association of Infant Mental Health in Tennessee

Aimhitn was born out of a 7+ year grassroots initiative which brought together individuals and agencies interested in Infant and early childhood Mental Health (iecmh). Aimhitn continues to work to develop relationships across departments and agencies, identify existing resources and opportunities, and work to identify what is needed to address the Mental Health needs of infants, young children, and their families. The community engagement work of the agency brings together partners across disciplines and across the sectors and strives to advance iecmh through building awareness, promoting professional capacity, fostering partnerships, and supporting policies which are in the best interest of infants, young children, their families and communities.

Infant and early childhood Mental Health is rooted in the science that asserts that a child's early experiences have lifelong consequences. We know that responsive and consistent relationships from caregivers support the development of healthy social-emotional skills, which become the foundation of a young child's Mental Health. Therefore, it is crucial that caregivers for young children have the necessary knowledge and skills to promote healthy development and be able to identify and appropriately address early signs of risk and delays. Aimhitn training & technical assistance programs focus on a broad array of topics and encompass the Infant Mental Health competencies, and include concepts such as: understanding the importance of healthy relationships and attachment; understanding the importance of healthy social and emotional development; understanding the importance of brain development and the impact of early adverse experiences; how temperament affects children's responsiveness to social and physical environments; the importance of play; how to identify social and emotional developmental delays; and how to effectively engage with parents and caregivers and their young children.

Infant and early childhood Mental Health (iecmh) is the developing capacity of children birth to age 5 to experience, regulate, and express emotions; form close, secure interpersonal relationships; and explore the environment and learn, all in the context of relationships with their families, communities and cultures. Aimhitn supports the iecmh workforce as they support infants, young children and families. The professional development work of aimhitn includes Infant Mental Health (imh) endorsement for culturally sensitive, relationship-focused practice promoting Infant Mental Health (imh-e). Imh-e is an internationally recognized credential that supports and recognizes the development and proficiency of professionals who work with or on behalf of young children, ages birth to three, and their families. It is based on a set of competencies designed to support and enhance culturally-sensitive, relationship focused practice within the framework of Infant and early childhood Mental Health. Establishing these standards leads to a more capable workforce and raises the expertise of those providing care and education for infants and very young children.