September 2025 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 Date.
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 offerings and stay tuned for their next session in the coming weeks!
Advanced Clinical Training Program at the Barnard Center.
The Advanced Clinical Training (ACT) Program in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health has added more open house dates for the program!
September 9, 2025 4pm – 5pm – Registration link
September 24, 2025 9am – 10am – Registration link
October 2, 2025 12pm – 1pm – Registration link
October 16, 2025 4pm – 5pm – Registration link
October 21, 2025 9am – 10am – Registration link
October 29, 2025 12pm – 1pm – Registration link
**all times in PST
The ACT Program in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health is a 15-month, community learning structured, professional development program designed for professionals who support families caring for children during the prenatal period to age 5 years. The program strives to expand the availability of and access to infant and early childhood mental health (early relational health) services throughout Washington and neighboring states.
ACT was developed utilizing a framework and foundational principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Our curriculum attends to the lived experiences of children (prenatal to 5 years) and their caregivers as whole persons living in social, cultural, economic, and political systems built on settler colonization, genocide, enslavement, and their legacy of interlocking and interacting systems of oppression including but not limited to racism, sexism, classism, ableism, homophobia, transphobia, and xenophobia.
The program curriculum, implementation, and administration strive to explicitly and equitably address systemic barriers and gaps in professional development in content and approach. By centering the lived experiences of families and professionals from Black, Indigenous, communities of culture, and communities historically and currently targeted for oppression, we make possible the experience of inclusion and belonging to deepen the program’s community relationships and facilitate respect, compassion, relational safety, and healing. When the diversity of professionals is representative of the communities we serve, children and families from those communities are better served and the profession benefits as a whole. We invite you to learn more about the ACT Program’s Core Values.
Shining a light on Alison Hinson.
This month, ORIMHA would like to feature Alison Hinson an endorsed provider, and express our gratitude for her significant contributions to early childhood mental health (ECMH).
(Q) Where do you practice?
(A) I am the CEO/Founder of Juniper Tree Counseling in Roseburg, Oregon
(Q) How long have you been in practice?
(A) I have been in the field of behavioral health since 2002 in a variety of roles and specifically practicing as a mental health therapist since 2007.
(Q) How long have you been endorsed?
(A) I have been endorsed since 2016 when the first Oregon kick off for endorsement began.
(Q) Do you provide Reflective Supervision?
(A) Yes , both locally and for organizations.
(Q) Do you have any special training?
(A) I hold a masters in mental health counseling, a graduate certificate in marriage and family counseling, a graduate certificate in Infant Toddler Mental Health, and an Educational Specialist (EdS) degree. I am also currently attending the Advanced Clinical Training through Barnard Center for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health out of the University of Washington, I am also FAN trained and Promoting First Relationships trained.
(Q) How do you work with young children and families (what roles)
(A) I am a direct therapy provider, reflective supervisor and consultant for organizations, and I provide clinical supervision to my group practice clinicians who also serve children and families at Juniper Tree.
(Q) How can people get in touch with you?
(A) Email is best - director@junipertreecounselingservices.com
Thank you Alison, for your contributions to the development of Oregon's system of mental health consultation!
Every Child Belongs.
Teachers/providers seeking support need a quick and flexible way to reach out, particularly in responding to a child’s behavior that puts them at risk for suspension or expulsion. To meet this need, DELC created ECB Connect, an online form that teachers, providers, program staff, and families can use to request support in Chinese, English, Russian, Spanish, or Vietnamese. The form is accessed on the newly launched website for Every Child Belongs.
This option is not yet available statewide. It is currently being piloted in three regions: Central (Crook/Deschutes/Jefferson counties), Marion-Polk-Yamhill, and Washington. As of August 26, 18 requests for support have been submitted and responded to. The initial response comes from regional staff who reach out by phone to determine what type of support would be most helpful. Most requests will receive either preventive services via technical assistance ortertiary services via infant & early childhood mental health (IECMH) consultation. Both options are delivered by providers in that region. Stay tuned to learn when other regions will begin using ECB Connect.
Endorsement.
Did You Know?
ORIMHA’s IECMH Endorsement® now follows a fixed three-year renewal cycle, with the next renewal window running October 1–December 31, 2027. Renewal requirements include 45 hours of training focused on infant and early childhood social-emotional development and relationship-based IMH principles (for Endorsed Reflective Supervisors and Mentor-Clinical, 9 of the 45 hours must be specific to providing RSC), active AIMH membership, and (for Family Specialist, Mental Health Specialist, and IMHM-C) 36 hours of reflective supervision/consultation. Requirements are prorated if you are endorsed mid-cycle: 2 years = ⅔ of the requirement, 1 year = ⅓ of the requirement, and less than 1 year = exempt until the next cycle.
***Do you have questions about Endorsement? ORIMHA’s endorsement coordinator offers one-on-one support. Click here to find a date and time.
Job Openings.
MountainStar is looking to hire a new part time (20-hour) position to work throughout the Warm Springs Reservation. Click here to find out more about the Outreach Coordinator position. Contact hr@mtstar.org with questions or interest.
MountainStar Family Relief Nursery is recruiting an Early Childcare Specialist to join their team in Bend, Oregon. Click here for more information about the Early Childcare Specialist position. Contact hr@mtstar.org with questions or interest.
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.
Congratulations are in order!
Congratulations to our new endorsee:
Deborah K. Kirby
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.
