August 29, 2025 RSP Newsletter
To the Regional Service Providers and IECMH Consultants:
In the spirit of the back to school season, this newsletter offers opportunities for learning, as well as several essential updates. And please note: The information in this newsletter is critically important for you to know! Because we will not host a CoP in September, this is your best source for these updates. Please read carefully and completely.
Important Information and Updates
ECB Connect is live in three regions!
Teachers, providers, and programs have access to ECB Connect to request support in Central, Marion-Polk-Yamhill, and Washington. As of Aug 26, a total of 18 requests for support have been submitted across the three regions. Once received, a Welcome Consultation is conducted by a designated professional (usually a TA provider or an IECMH consultant). This conversation with the teacher/provider who requested support is used to determine whether TA or IECMH consultation support is the next best step and then the appropriate professional receives the handoff. We are immensely grateful to these three regions for participating in this “early access” trial and are eager to learn from them!
Follow up on your feedback regarding the model for IECMH consultation
A huge thanks to those who responded to the survey to provide feedback on the proposed IECMH consultation model! The “model” includes job requirements, the professional development pathway for consultants (Emerging, Standard, Advanced), elements and activities of IECMH consultation, and dosage recommendations (frequency, intensity, & duration). Some common themes and questions were noted in survey responses:
Q1. Now that the job requirements have been updated, are RSPs required to re-do the job postings that were already approved by HR and/or posted?
A1. No, there is no need to change your postings if they have already been approved by your HR or are actively in use. We offer the change because a) it lays out a simplified and more accurate representation of ORIMHA’s recommendations as a “final product,” and b) an updated resource for RSPs who are not yet hiring and for all RSPs if additional positions need to be filled in the future. You can download an updated Sample Job Posting for IECMH Consultation from the top of the RSP Resources section of the ORIMHA website.
Q2. Some responses expressed confusion about why training is included as an activity of IECMH consultation.
A2. Training is included in the IECMH consultation activities as an optional “tool in the tool box.” It is not required AND we know that CCR&Rs already have trainings available to teachers/providers. However, it is listed as an option with these situations in mind: a) There is a region from which there are few or no ECB Connect requests for support. Offering a training to providers in that region might be a way to introduce the IECMH consultant and begin building relationships with teachers/providers and/or the families they serve, b) There may be a teacher/provider in a center who requests support, but the IECMH consultant’s case load is currently full. The option of a training could be used to provide a degree of support while waiting for an opening for more regular IECMH consultation, or c) An IECMH consultant may be working with a teacher/provider and notices that other staff in the same setting are struggling with similar issues. Offering a training to all the staff in that setting can broaden the support and stretch the consultant’s expertise across more teachers/providers.
Q3. ORO-approved trainings are noted in the activities. Some survey responders noted that getting ORO approval could be a barrier.
A3. We expect that providers would appreciate receiving credit for their own ORO applications. And because ORIMHA is a DELC partner, we can now review and provide ORO approval on training proposals, which will hopefully expedite the process. That said, getting ORO approval is not required, particularly if it delays meeting a teacher’s/provider’s or program’s needs.
Professional development on deck
We do not yet have firm dates on the opportunities listed below, but we wanted you to have a heads up about the opportunities headed your way.
New plans for Communities of Practice
First, while ORIMHA will not be hosting our usual CoP on Thursday Sep 4, many of you responded to DELC’s offer that you were in support of using that time for a meeting with them to hear updates and ask questions. ORIMHA will remove our hold on your calendars for that date after DELC has sent a separate meeting invite for that time. In lieu of a CoP, Nichole and Sondra are offering 1:1 optional meeting sots. You can sign up here.
Second, DELC and ORIMHA wish to announce that future CoPs for RSP Leaders will be held separately from meetings with DELC. Starting in October, the standing CoP time on the first Thursday from 9-11a will be dedicated to a CoP format with more opportunities for peer learning in small and large groups. ORIMHA will continue to host and facilitate these. DELC tells us that you can expect to hear more directly from them about their plans for regular meetings.
Third, our CoP agenda is moving to a more traditional community of practice format with a peer-led agenda and more opportunities for peer learning. So we are asking YOU what topics you would like to be addressed each month. Submit agenda suggestions for Oct 2, 2025 here.
Lastly, the first Thursday 9-11a CoP is intended for RSP Leaders. There will be a separate CoP for IECMH Consultants. Once the IECMHC CoP is up and running, we ask that only RSP program administrators attend the CoP dedicated to them and only IECMH consultants attend the CoP that will be dedicated to their needs.
Big Picture
Save the Dates
Save the Date
Northwest Early Learning and Pyramid Summit
November 19-20, 2025
Riverside Hotel, Garden City, Idaho
Plus:
Online Pre-Conference Workshops: November 12, 13, & 14
In-Person Pre-Conference Workshops: November 18
Virtual CoPs for RSP Leaders
9-11a, First Thursday of the month
October 2
November 6
December 4
Resources
Consider viewing this recorded webinar from Zero to Three: “Discover the Crosswalk Defining Best Practice for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) Consultation.” It helps provide context for the intersection of IECMH consultation competencies and Endorsement competencies. And leaders from Hawaii describe their innovative approach to preparing an IECMH workforce that is reflective of and culturally responsive to their diverse population.
Your IECMH Consultation Implementation Support Team,
Nichole Paradis, nichole@or-imha.org
Sondra Stegenga, sondra.stegenga@utah.edu
Erin Kinavey Wennerstrom, erin@or-imha.org