Who We Are
The Iowa Association for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IA-IECMH) is a committed group of professionals who understand and value the role of mental health among young children and their families and who actively strive to deliver quality services to professionals supporting children’s social, emotional, and behavioral development.
Our Strategic Goals:
- Enhance the quality and capacity of Iowa’s early childhood workforce to meet the social, emotional, and behavioral needs of young children and their families.
- Increase public awareness of the need for high quality, nurturing relationships during infancy and early childhood.
- Promote comprehensive and integrated services for professionals who are helping children achieve their full social and emotional potential.
Preventive and Promotive Efforts
Advocacy for preventive and promotive efforts are crucial in the context of early childhood development due to the significant brain growth and neuroplasticity that occurs from birth to age 5. During this critical period, a child’s brain is at its most malleable and responsive to the environment and experiences in relationships.
HERE’S WHY OUR EFFORTS ARE SO IMPORTANT:
OPTIMAL BRAIN DEVELOPMENT:
In the first five years, the brain develops rapidly, forming neural connections at an unprecedented rate. Advocacy for enriching environments and positive experiences during this time can significantly influence a child’s cognitive, emotional, and social development.
FOUNDATION FOR LIFELONG LEARNING AND BEHAVIOR:
The experiences and interactions a child has in these early years lay the foundation for their future learning, behavior, and health. Preventive and promotional advocacy can ensure that children are exposed to stimuli that promote healthy brain development, setting them on a path for success in later life.
EARLY INTERVENTION:
Advocacy plays a key role in identifying and addressing developmental delays or emotional challenges early. Since the brain is most adaptable during these early years, interventions can be more effective, potentially reducing the need for more intensive support later in life and these concerns resulting in mental health disorders.
SHAPING RESILIENCE:
Early experiences, both positive and negative, can shape a child's resilience. Advocacy for supportive, nurturing environments helps in building a resilient framework in the brain, enabling children to better cope with stress and adversity as they grow.
SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT:
Advocacy for emotional and social support systems is crucial during this period as these elements are integral to a child's overall development. Healthy social and emotional development leads to better outcomes in terms of mental health and interpersonal relationships.
LONG-TERM SOCIETAL BENEFITS:
Investing in infant and early childhood mental health not only benefits individual children but also yields long-term societal benefits. It can lead to a healthier population, reducing societal costs in health care, education, and social services.
Members
Thank you to our organization level memberships.
Upcoming Events
DC: 0 – 5 Clinical Training
March 9 - March 11The DC:0-5™ training provides professionals with a comprehensive understanding of the Diagnostic C...
Babies, Trauma & Attachment: Explore how early adversity impacts infant mental health, attachment, and lifelong relationships.
March 17 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pmThis training explores the profound impact of early adversity on babies’ mental health and attachm...
Why Won’t Parents Do What I Tell Them to Do?
April 10 @ 10:00 am - 12:00 pmWorking with infants and young children means working with their parents and caregivers—but what h...
Want to learn more?
Our goal is to enhance the quality and capacity of Iowa’s early childhood professionals to meet the social, emotional, and behavioral needs of young children and their families. Contact us to learn more about us, our services or how you can get involved.