Project Description:
The Irving B. Harris Graduate Certificate Program in Infant Mental Health is a seven-quarter, part-time, interdisciplinary graduate certificate program with its academic home in the School of Nursing. The program addresses the increasing need for professionals with expertise in clinical and consultation services in infant mental health. This expertise includes promoting awareness about the importance of infant mental health, practicing in diverse settings servicing infants and families, and conducting assessment and parent-infant psychotherapy with caregivers and infants experiencing significant distress. Cornerstones of the program include relationship-based practice, culturally sensitive practice, reflective practice and supervision, and leadership training. Trainees develop a knowledge base in infant mental health through coursework during the first year as well as complete an intensive clinical/capstone training in community-based direct service and consultation in the second year. Students in the second year enroll in either the Promoting First Relationships Pathway or the Infant-Parent Psychotherapy pathway, depending on their background and professional goals. The program welcomes enrollment of community professionals as well as advanced graduate students from a variety of training backgrounds, including education, medicine, nursing, occupational/physical therapy, post-partum support, psychology, social work, and speech and hearing sciences. Students must possess a graduate degree (or be in the process of obtaining one) to apply. Applications for this two year certificate program are accepted every other year in odd years only (2009, 2011, etc.). Participating cohorts include approximately 10 trainees.
