July 31, 2025 RSP Newsletter
To the Regional Service Providers (and IECMH Consultants):
It is the beginning of the new biennium and there is much to celebrate! Many RSPs have hired IECMH consultants (WELCOME!) and many others are in the process of hiring. ECB Connect is launching in three regions at the end of July. This month’s newsletter includes LOTS updates and resources. Please take some time to review.
Important Information and Updates
Supports RSP leaders can expect from ORIMHA in this biennium
Continuation of monthly communities of practice (CoPs) specific to RSP leadership roles
Access to 1:1 support, as needed
Training and technical assistance on implementation of IECMH consultation
Help with equitable and inclusion-centered interviewing and hiring activities
Guidance regarding retention of IECMH consultants
Support for using data to drive consistency and quality improvement of service delivery
Access to group reflective consultation for program supervisors
Equity dialogues
Endorsement application support
Development of an IECMH Consultation Standards & Guidelines document
Training on ECB Connect and conducting Welcome Consultations
Planning and facilitation of ECB Advisory Committee and its sub work groups and interest groups
Etc. - let us know what you need and we will continue to work on supports to meet those needs!
Supports IECMH consultants can expect from ORIMHA in this biennium
Onboarding Manual for IECMH consultants
Competency-informed and equity-centered training on IECMH and IECMH consultation
Endorsement application support
Monthly group reflective consultation
Access to monthly 1:1 reflective consultation
Monthly communities of practice (CoPs) specific to the IECMH consultant role
Equity dialogues
ORIMHA’s new Statement of Work no longer includes regional service network support. This means that supports from Susan Fisher-Maki and her team will no longer be available surrounding this. However, the resources on the dashboard Susan created remain available and if you have questions relevant to ECB Connect and supporting the referral and response process, please reach out to Nichole Paradis at nichole@or-imha.org. We want to be sure you still feel supported and will work to get you connected with the right people and/or resources.
Mentor Consultant Update
In the process of analyzing our new statement of work (SOW) and deliverables for ECB, ORIMHA found that this biennium requires some reorganization on our part to do our work in the most optimized way. As a result, the SOW supports two Mentor Consultant positions, one full-time, and one part-time.
What does this mean for you (RSP leaders and consultants)? The full-time Mentor Consultant has been hired (see introduction below). We begin interviewing for the part-time position this week. We anticipate that reflective consultation groups will be starting up again in September.
Mentor Consultant Introduction
Hello! My name is Caroline Falcone (caroline@or-imha.org) and I am delighted to join the ORIMHA team to support this incredible project. I have been in the field of Early Childhood for thirty-three years, eight of those years as an Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant. I truly believe that working in the early childhood field is one of the most impactful and meaningful careers a person can pursue. Professionals who work with young children and their families play a vital role in shaping not only individual futures but also the well-being of entire communities and societies. I am excited to join you on this journey as a Mentor Consultant.
I will be the contact for IECMH Consultants, supporting the onboarding process, coordinating and facilitating training and coaching and providing reflective consultations. Please look for an invite from me to meet in August to reconnect.
In the meantime, we are working to schedule a foundational training for all IECMHC’s. Starting in November, we will be offering a virtual training which is twenty 3-hour sessions! A big and necessary undertaking. The title of the series is “Foundation for Culturally Sensitive Relationship-Focused Infant Mental Health Practice. I’ll be talking directly to the consultants to discuss the timing of the training in an August consultant meeting (not yet scheduled).
In-Person Gatherings
Some weeks ago, we sent a poll about the timing and location of in-person gatherings. Thank you to those who responded! Since that time, ORIMHA has finalized its ECB budget and concluded that there isn’t currently enough funding to host an in-person event. Which is disappointing as we have heard from many of you that there is great value in being in the same physical space. We feel it too! But we also know that RSP budgets are limited to personnel costs (for the most part) and paying for travel expenses might also be a burden for many RSPs. And it is important to acknowledge that we have a lot of (virtual) onboarding material for new IECMH consultants over the next 10-12 months, which will take up a significant amount of their time. For now, we are proceeding with planning virtual CoPs and trainings, and will prioritize an in-person event if funding changes.
Big Picture
Save the Dates
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 plus DELC Updates
9-11a, First Thursday of the month
August 7
October 2
November 6
December 4
Resources
Virtual Webinar: Rooted in History, Grounded in Growth: Exploring the Foundations of Early Childhood Education with Dr. Evandra Catherine (Early Childhood Consultant, Research Professor, Professional Development Provider)
Click here to register
Buzzwords Explained from Zero to Three
This series of brief videos provides simple and succinct explanations of terms like reflective practice, equity, child trauma, compassion fatigue, trauma-informed care, and more!
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