Harris Early Childhood Mental Health Program

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Harris Early Childhood Mental Health Training Program

Recruitment 2011-2012

Post Graduate Training Program: Early Childhood Mental Health

Who Should Attend: Early childhood mental health clinicians and professionals who provide relationship-based services for children up to age 5.

Curriculum:

Aligned with the California Training Guidelines and Personnel Competencies for Infant-Family and Early Childhood Mental Health Providers.
Trainees who complete the program requirements will be eligible for endorsement under
this system.

When: 2010-2011 training year: 10/04/11 - 06/26/12

How to Apply: To obtain a copy of the recruitment letter and application form, or for additional information, email Lorraine Watts or call (510) 428-8424.

Application Deadline: 5 PM, May 13, 2011

Administered by:

Early Intervention Services’ Early Childhood Mental Health (ECMH) Program, Children's Hospital & Research Center Oakland
First 5 Alameda County—Every Child Counts (ECC)
Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services Agency

Description:
The Irving B. Harris Early Childhood Mental Health Training Program is an innovative post-graduate training program for early childhood mental health clinicians and other professionals who provide relationship-based services to children 0-5 and their families.
The training program was established in 2000.

The program provides in-depth, foundational training for individuals who are committed to providing a continuum of relationship-based services to infants, young children and their families. The program has been developed as an applied training program for new and experienced mental health clinicians, along with other practitioners from a variety of disciplines who are working with infants, young children and their families. Our mission is to support the knowledge and skill development of a diverse group of providers and leaders dedicated to the needs of infants, young children and families.

Our curriculum is aligned with the California Training Guidelines and Personnel Competencies for Infant-Family and Early Childhood Mental Health Providers. Trainees who complete the program requirements will be eligible for endorsement under this system.

Goals of the Harris Early Childhood Mental Health Training Program

To provide specialized training in infant and early childhood mental health to licensed or license-eligible mental health professionals who are working with children 0-5 and their families in a variety of settings, including home and community, Training is for those providing direct services or supervision and program direction.
To provide training to practitioners such as social workers, nurses, early care and education providers, early interventionists, and others providing services to children 0-5 and their families who want more in-depth knowledge about children’s social-emotional development and parent-child interaction, as well as to build skills in relationship-based approaches and reflective practice.
To provide a curriculum that build a solid foundation of knowledge and skills based on current knowledge and best practices for those interested in working with infants, young children and their families.
To promote a diverse and skilled workforce. We actively seek to include and support both men and women from a variety of disciplines, racial, linguistic, and ethnic groups in this training.
To support agencies that wish to develop, enhance or expand their capacity to provide preventive intervention and infant and early childhood mental health treatment services to children 0-5 and their families.
To contribute to the development of well-informed supervisors and leaders by supporting them to develop reflective practice and facilitation skills.

Agency Commitment and Involvement
Enrollment in the training program requires sponsorship by the trainee’s agency and a commitment at the agency level to enhance or expand infant and early childhood mental health services.

Year 1 Program
Provides trainees with a combination of interactive didactic instruction and clinical process training. Year 1 program includes:

A three-hour seminar that meets twice a month. Community conclaves with experts in various aspects of the infant and early childhood mental health field are scheduled throughout the training year
Bi-monthly individual reflective supervision (1 hour session)
Bridging Theory-to-Practice group sessions (2x per mos/2 hour session)

Fee:

Staff from Alameda County: $650.00
Out-of-county participants: $850.00

Year 2 Program
Provides opportunities to expand knowledge and skills, as well as deepen connections and professional relationships that serve to build a strong infant and early childhood mental health community. Year 2 requires less time commitment than Year 1. Year 2 includes:

Three “All-Year 2” sessions
- Mandatory training sessions for all second year trainees; the trainee’s program supervisor and/or administrator are encouraged to attend. All-Year 2 sessions are scheduled during the regular Tuesday time slots.
- All-Year 2 programs are designed to bring new content to the participants and provide opportunities to come together as a continuing group.
Bi-monthly small group meetings
(2 hours/per session, Tuesday afternoons.)
- Small learning groups provide in-depth focus on infant and early childhood mental health. There will be a core set of readings and individualized readings for each specific group.
- Trainees will present and discuss examples from the work, integrate past and present knowledge and readings.
Bi-monthly individual supervision
(1 hour/per session)
- Each participant will receive two hours of individual supervision per month related to their work with the 0-5 population. Individual supervision is mandatory for participants. Supervision will include discussion of the direct service or supervisory work done by the trainee and discussion of individual competency. New supervisors will be assigned in some cases.
- Trainees are expected to bring progress notes or video material to the superviser. The supervisor will revisit the competency instrument and the supervisee will do a self-assessment at the end of the year. The supervisor will discuss individual growth and goals.
- The twice-a-month individual supervision will begin in October 2011 and continue through June 2012.
- The supervision/consultation about work with families and young children is provided to the trainee for their professional development. The legal supervision of the trainee on cases remains with the agency.
Conclaves

Conclaves are open sessions of the Year 1 Harris ECMHTP that bring in expert guest presenters on topics related to the Harris curriculum. These meetings are held from 1:30–4:30 p.m., on scheduled dates on Tuesday afternoons. Several of these conclaves will be a required part of the Year 2 program and some will be optional.

Project
- Each second year trainee will develop and present an individual project that will be presented at the third “All-Year 2” session. This project can be something that the trainee has developed in his/her agency that reflects the skills and knowledge that he/she gained from the Harris training program.
  
  Examples might be:
  
  (1) A training presentation to staff on relationship-based work
  
  (2) A revision of procedures to help an activity be more supportive of children or parent-child relationships
  
  (3) A detailed presentation of how infant mental health principles have been integrated into a system or service in a way that is new for the agency
  
  (4) A revision of agency materials or procedures
  
  (5) A summary of a conference presentation

Fee:

Staff from Alameda County: $500.00
Out-of-county participants: $700.00

Additional Harris Training Program

Reflective Facilitators-in-Training Program (RFIT)
The RFIT program is an opportunity for Harris ECMHTP graduates and others with equivalent training in infant and early childhood mental health to build skills in reflective facilitation, reflective supervision and leadership. The program emphasizes skills and approaches useful in working with diverse populations. Emerging leaders from and working with underrepresented communities are encouraged to apply.

This training meets the requirements for the Reflective Facilitator training outlined in the California Training Guidelines and Personnel Competencies for Infant-Family and Early Childhood Mental Health Providers. Participants receive training in facilitation and supervision, regular mentorship, and opportunities for practice.

Requirements: Participation in this program requires 10-12 hours of time per month and a full day of availability for the initial orientation and training activities. Some outside reading is required.

When:

Thursday, September 22, 2011 - All-day sessio
Thursday, September 29, 2011 - 2-hour group meeting

Fee: $200.00

Goals

Continuing Education Units

California Board of Registered Nursing – Every Child Counts-First 5 Alameda County Public Health Nursing Department is a provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, provider #1639 for 30 contact hours per course. No refunds on courses given with or without a fee.
Psychologists Mandatory Continuing Education Units – We plan to apply to MCEP for continuing education units.
Certified Addiction Specialists Continuing Education Credit – We plan to apply to the American Academy of Health Care Providers in the Addictive Disorders for continuing education credits and do not anticipate any problems with being authorized to offer these units for Certified Addiction Specialists.

Fee: For psychology licensees, an additional $7.00 will be collected at the end of the training year if the course receives MCEP approval. There is no charge for other CEUs.