Infant and Early Childhood Special Programs

While many adults may not have thought about babies and young children having mental health needs, they do!  In fact, as early as conception our emotional and mental well-being is impacted by our environments, relationships, and experiences, so addressing mental health for infants and young is critical and why ADMH is doing so through Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) Services.

IECMH is the developing capacity of the child from birth to 5 years old to form close and secure adult and peer relationships; experience, manage and express a full range of emotions; and explore the environment and learn- all in the context of family, community, and culture.

Since 2020, ADMH has been addressing the mental health needs of infants and young children by employing master’s level licensed therapists who receive specialized training to support the mental health and wellbeing of children ages birth-5 years and the adults who care for them through IECMH Consultation, which is a prevention-based service that pairs a mental health consultant with families and adults who work with infants and young children in the different settings where they learn and grow, such as childcare, preschool, the home, or even in pediatric primary care settings  and their home.

The aim of IECMH Consultation is to build adults’ capacity to strengthen and support the healthy early relational development of children ― before intervention is needed.

ADMH IECMH Consultants support children and adults who care for them in a variety of sectors, such as First Class PreK, Part C Early Intervention, pediatric primary care, and others.

IECMH Services at ADMH also partners with other agencies to increase workforce capacity within the direct mental health services field. These efforts are happening both at the university level and in-service level, to improve access to and quality of mental health services for children birth-5 and their families to prevent or lessen more serious mental health concerns from developing when children are older.

Check out this video from the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University to learn more about the importance of infant and early childhood mental health. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L41k2p-YRCs

For more information specifically about ADMH Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health services, contact Sarah-Ellen Thompson, IECMH Services Coordinator at 334-544-9213 or email us at iecmh.services@mh.alabama.gov

As a key state partner in the Alabama Early Intervention System (AEIS) through Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), ADMH provides the following state-wide supports to EI providers and families enrolled in EI:

• Two full-time staff who provide technical assistance, program monitoring, and personnel training to community EI providers. These staff help to ensure that services provided to eligible infants and toddlers and their families follow the 7 Core Values of the AEIS, which are:
  • Family-Centered
  • Developmentally Appropriate
  • Individualized
  • Provided in the Child’s Natural Environment
  • Focus on Training and Equipping the Parent/Caregiver
  • Collaborative, and
  • Routines-Based
• Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation and training for any EI provider and/or family enrolled in EI.

For more information about early intervention services for Alabama’s infants and toddlers with developmental delays and/or medical diagnoses that may lead to delays, visit https://www.rehab.alabama.gov/services/ei  or call 1-800-543-3098 (English) or 1-866-450-2838 (Spanish).

PPEER is a project funded by a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) grant since Oct 2024.  PPEER seeks to create and sustain a culturally sensitive system of mental health care that promotes positive early experiences through collaborative partnerships, empowering families, and building capacity across communities. PPEER serves children birth -12 who are at risk for or currently engaged with child protective services and who are identified as needing mental health support across the promotion, prevention, and treatment continuum.  PPEER currently serves these children and their families in Jefferson, Jackson, and Mobile Counties but will likely expand to additional counties before the end of the grant period (September 2028).

Through PPEER, ADMH strives to improve equitable access to mental health intervention, strengthen caregiver/child relationships, and reduce maltreatment. This is achieved through Circle of Security Parenting training, parent/caregiver training, screening for children/families, and referrals for intervention services – all through a children’s mental health team identified for each child.

For more information about PPEER, contact PPEER Project Director, Beth Jones, at 334-430-2576 or Beth.jones@mh.alabama.gov

IECMH Support Request Form
IECMH Training Request Form

IECMHC - Module 1 Course Information
ADMH IECSP Consultation Flyer
IECHM Training Events Calendar
Changing the Course booklets -
Preschool/Kindergarten:
When a Parent or Loved One Goes to Prison
1st-5th grade:
When a Parent or Loved One is in Prison
6th-12th grade:
When Your Parent or Loved One is Incarcerated