Background & History
In Washington State, it can be hard for families to get mental and behavioral health care for their children—especially for very young children. Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) includes many types of professionals, like home visitors, doctors, therapists, and early childhood specialists. These providers work with children from birth to age five. Their goal is to make sure children grow up in safe, loving homes and healthy environments.
To help more families get the care they need, we wanted to better understand the experience of people who work in this field and to find ways to expand, diversify, train, and retain these workers.
In July 2024, the Barnard Center at the University of Washington received $250,000 from the Washington State Legislature to help with this important work. Over the course of one year, we hosted 31 focus groups and had 71 hours of conversations, with 139 individuals from 22 counties. Participants from all walks of life shared their diverse experiences working in the field of IECMH. The story of what we learned is captured in this report.
Proviso Language
$250,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for the Barnard center for infant and early childhood mental health, within the University of Washington, to identify existing infant and early childhood mental health workforce initiatives and activities. In consultation with the health care authority, the center must identify and provide stakeholder connections, including tribes, to assist with workforce strategic planning. A report of findings and recommendations for expansion, diversification, training, and retention within the infant early childhood mental health workforce must be submitted to the appropriate committees of the legislature and to the children and youth behavioral health work group as established in RCW 74.09.4951, pursuant to RCW 43.01.036 by June 30, 2025.
A Living History of Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health
Long before formal programs existed, communities already knew how to care for and raise healthy babies. Today, policies and programs work best when they support, not replace, family and community traditions. Below is a living history that informs what we now call Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health.