Consultation is a collaborative, relationship-based intervention to  support and build the capacity of the adults, such as educators, social workers, coaches and technical assistants. Infant and early childhood mental health consultation is not about “fixing kids,” nor is it therapy. IECMHC prepares adults to help healthy social and emotional development in infants and young children. Consultation services aim to promote awareness of social and emotional development, prevent mental health crises, and treat challenging behaviors. 

An infant and early childhood mental health consultant  is a mental health professional with specialized knowledge of social, emotional and relational development  who: 

Uses his or her training and knowledge to highlight the psychological experiences of young children, often translating the 
unique ways children communicate their needs. 

Forms supportive relationships with adults working with young children. 

This strength-based approach pairs a mental health consultant with adults who work with infant and young children, from birth to age five, in the settings they learn and grow such as early childhood education centers, preschools, early intervention programs or even at home. The consultant brings together a team with a common goal and helps them problem solve about concerns related to to a specific child, classroom or early childhood education program. 

NOTE TO PARENTS/LEGAL GUARDIANS AND EARLY CHILDHOOD PROFESSIONALS: 
We are transitioning SCIMHA's referral and resource connection to our centralized access point, Help Me Grow (HMG) SC. HMG not only provides free developmental screenings but connects caregivers to early childhood services and resources in the community. These services may include but are not limited to: SCIMHA's Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC) - PEAR Network program, Attachment-Biobehavioral Catch-Up (ABC), Circle of Security-Parenting (COS-P). or other infant mental health services.

If you are looking for supportive services for a child or group of children, please make an online referral/service request via Help Me Grow SC's website: https://helpmegrowsc.org/referrals/

Please specify on the HMG Online Referral Form the following: concerns related to your child(ren); services you are interested in (such as IECMHC); and that you heard about Help Me Grow through this PEAR Network's Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation. 

For individual child cases, parents must consent to services prior to consultant’s involvement.