Submission Type: Practice-Based
Final Rating: Best Practice
Focus Area: Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health
Focus Population: Other
Date Submitted: Fall 2024
Contact Information:
Sunbeam Family Services
grants@SunbeamFamilyServices.org
Sunbeam Family Services, Inc.
1100 NW 14th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73106
Goals and Outcomes:
The overall goal of this project is to expand the IECMH Workforce in Oklahoma. The project categorizes the workforce into three main groups: high school students, college students, and current practitioners.
High School Students
• Awareness and Interest: Increase awareness about careers in IECMH and the importance of early childhood mental health.
• Educational Pathways: Provide information on educational pathways and necessary qualifications for careers in IECMH.
• Skill Development: Offer introductory information on basic mental health concepts and child development.
• Mentorship Opportunity: Establish relationships that connect high school students with professionals in various community-based settings.
• Increase IECMH Practitioners: Increase the number of students enrolling in undergraduate degrees related to the IECMH field.
College Students
• Hands on Experience: Create opportunities for hands-on IECMH experience in various communitybased settings.
• Specialized Training/Onboarding: Develop and offer specialized training in IECMH with relevant degree programs (early education, psychology, social work, etc.).
• Increase knowledge: Increase knowledge of best practices in the integration of mental health services into early childhood settings among undergraduate and graduate students.
• Expand Endorsed Practitioners: Increase the number of Infant and Early Childhood Family Specialist Endorsed practitioners in Oklahoma.
Mental Health Practitioners
• Expand Endorsed Practitioners: Increase number of individuals pursuing clinical endorsement in IEMCH in Oklahoma.
• Increase Reflective Practice: Promote Reflective Supervision and peer support groups to ensure continuous professional development and evolution of practice.
• Enhanced Therapeutic Skills: Equip practitioners with Internal Family Systems training to have a framework for working with families with young children.
Brief/Executive summary of program:
This project will serve individuals currently pursuing or interested in pursuing mental health certifications with a focus on IECMH. It is designed to strengthen the continuum of practitioners able to provide infant mental health support and consultation in community-based settings. To build a strong and diverse workforce, the project will offer various opportunities, including paid internships, financial assistance for endorsements, reflective supervision, and Internal Family Systems training, to a wide range of individuals—from high school students to clinical practitioners. The initiative is aligned with Oklahoma’s Preschool Development Grant (PDG) goals and the values of the Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness (OPSR), aiming to improve access to high-quality mental health services for children and families.