IECMH-WC
Washington State's
Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Workforce Collaborative
About the IECMH-WC
The Infant-Early Childhood Mental Health Workforce Collaborative (IECMH-WC) is a professional development initiative to support mental health assessment and diagnosis best practices for young children enrolled in Apple Health (Medicaid). The initiative is funded by the Washington State legislature, through both state and federal Medicaid funding. WA-AIMH is leading the coordination of statewide training and additional workforce supports, alongside the Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) and our Regional Advisor Steering Committee.
IECMH -WC Quick Links
IECMH
Resources
Explore a range of tools and resources to support your work with children prenatal to five and their families.
DC:0-5 Training & Supports
Learn about the DC:0-5 and related state policy, and register for free training or a community of practice for Medicaid providers.
IECMH
Workshops
Find upcoming free workshops on IECMH topics for Medicaid providers - most offer CEUs and/or STARS hours.
Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health in Washington State
Mental Health Assessment in Young Children
The IECMH-WC is the professional development component of a larger effort to support mental health assessment and diagnosis best practices for young children enrolled in Apple Health (Medicaid), including training in the DC:0-5, an internationally-accepted system for developmentally appropriate assessment and diagnosis of young children’s mental health. Additional components include updated reimbursement allowances and other billing supports for Apple Health providers (like the Apple Health DC:0-5 Crosswalk), which are available through the Health Care Authority’s webpage on mental health assessment for young children.
Washington State's IECMH Workforce
Babies, toddlers, preschoolers, and their families – including expecting families – are supported by professionals with a variety of backgrounds in multiple systems of care. Professionals who promote and support early mental health and social-emotional well-being include not only mental health providers, but a range of allied professional in fields such as early learning, home visiting, intervention, pediatric healthcare, and others. Learn more about how training in the DC:0-5 can benefit providers, agencies, and the families they support, and register for a training.
IECMH Workforce Supports
A strong IECMH system that best supports young children and families in Washington requires partnerships between highly trained infant and early childhood professionals in a variety of roles, organizations, and systems of care.
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The IECMH-WC, coordinated by WA-AIMH, offers free trainings and additional workforce supports - including DC:0-5 training and communities of practice as well as additional IECMH workshops - for professionals serving expecting families and children birth-5 enrolled in Apple Health (Medicaid). Goals of the IECMH-WC include:
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​Increase the number of professionals in Washington State who can better understand, assess, and diagnose infant and early childhood mental health issues.
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Ensure that the professional development opportunities offered are equitable and accessible to all IECMH professionals, particularly those who have been historically underserved.
The Health Care Authority supports infrastructure needs for professionals and agencies providing Apple Health IECMH services, including Medicaid billing, the Apple Health DC:0-5 Crosswalk, and more.