August Newsletter
Updates From Us
We're thrilled to share some exciting updates on all the great things happening at Oregon Infant Mental Health Association (ORIMHA) this month.
Save the Dates.
The Northwest Early Learning & Pyramid Summit dates have been set! Please click here to view the flyer. Registration opened May 30!
Indigo Cultural Center is a member of a growing movement within IECMH committed to Healing Justice, which integrates individual healing alongside collective healing at broader societal and system levels. Indigo Cultural Center is excited to introduce their new ‘Indigo's Visionary Speakers Series’ to elevate this shared wisdom more broadly. Click here to learn more about the first offering and stay tuned for their next session in the coming weeks!
Job Openings.
ORIMHA is seeking a Bilingual Bicultural Endorsement Coordinator who will be responsible for the coordination and expansion of an infant and early childhood mental health Endorsement® system with a specific focus on supporting bilingual, bicultural families and professionals. Click here for more information and email Dona at dona@or-imha.org with resume, interest & questions.
Educational Service District 112 is starting a new behavioral program for children ages 3-5. District 112 is currently recruiting for a Supervisor/Therapist position which will both lead the new program and provide therapeutic services. Click here to view the position.
Important Information.
The University of Wisconsin is accepting applications for the 2025-2026 UW Infant, Early Childhood and Family Mental Health Capstone Certificate Program! The program will be held virtually this year to increase access across the state (the first and last session will be in-person to facilitate relationship development and closure). The UW Infant, Early Childhood and Family Mental Health Capstone Certificate Program is an excellent opportunity for professionals to gain knowledge and develop skills in parent-infant and early childhood mental health screening, assessment, diagnosis and supportive and therapeutic interventions to promote the mental health and well-being of infants, young children and their families. View the application.
Every Child Belongs.
Every Child Belongs is launching in a small number of communities at the end of July. So this seems like a good time to remind everyone: What exactly is Every Child Belongs? From the Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC): "Every Child Belongs (ECB) supports Oregon early childhood educators in building nurturing and responsive early learning environments for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. It brings together early learning and care programs, support specialists, and community based resources to collaboratively implement strength-based strategies for promoting social emotional development and handling challenges (or: challenging situations) when working with young children. This new service aligns with a new law effective July 2026 that prohibits suspensions and expulsions in early learning settings. Every Child Belongs aims to foster a more equitable, fair, inclusive, and professionally supported early education system.”
And ORIMHA’s role? There are important professional supports that currently exist to support early educators and care providers, such as trauma-informed training, anti-bias and anti-racism training, coaching, and technical assistance. These services are typically delivered via regional Child Care Resource and Referral organizations or CCR&Rs. A new, complementary service is being added: Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) Consultation. DELC selected ORIMHA as the Central Entity to support the implementation of IECMH consultation in every region of the state. For the last 15 months, ORIMHA has guided regional service provider organizations (RSPs) in successful implementation of this new service. This includes building an understanding of what IECMH consultation is, who is qualified to provide it, how to recruit and hire a qualified workforce that reflects the identitites of the communities served, and how to adjust interviewing and hiring practices to be more equitable and inclusive. Moving into the next 24 months, ORIMHA will continue supporting RSPs and the IECMH consultants that they hire with training, reflective consultation, and the development of standards and guidelines for impactful IECMH consultation service delivery.
This is systems-change work. As services get underway, we expect to learn a lot! Looking forward to sharing with ORIMHA’s membership the important lessons, barriers, and successes we gain along the way.
Scholarship Opportunities.
Did you know you may be eligible for scholarships to help pay for professional development opportunities? Check out the Portland State University scholarship page for more information.
Do you have questions about Endorsement?
ORIMHA offers virtual support office hours! Click here for more information and to complete the Zoom registration form or email our Endorsment Coordinator for Endorsement Support: endorsement@or-imha.org
Be a voice for babies, families, and the community.
Make a donation today.
Are you in need of reflective supervision?
ORIMHA has a Reflective Supervision Registry where you can find a list of Infant Mental Health Mentors and Infant Mental Health Specialists. Click below to access the registry. AND ORIMHA is offering low-cost group sessions. If you are interested, please email andrea@or-imha.org for more information.
