October 30, 2025 RSP Newsletter
Dear Regional Service Providers and IECMH Consultants,
We hope you are all finding time for some fall fun and enjoyment with the changing of seasons. We cannot emphasize enough the importance of finding time for care of self in ways that bring you joy and rest. Leading and providing new services is a big change and we need all of you to sustain. This requires intentional reflection on care of self and also the care of colleagues and friends in this work. Therefore, we challenge you to think intentionally about your self-care plan for the coming week and/or month.
Burnout and secondary trauma of providers and leaders in mental health fields can lead to impairment of ability to optimally deliver services (Johnson et al., 2018). Yet, trying to mitigate burnout and secondary trauma is much less effective than prevention strategies. Therefore, it is critical you practice self care REGULARLY. AND, that you prioritize this for your own health as well as for the communities you serve. Self care is necessary and demonstrated in the research to help you sustain in the field and ensure you are able to provide the optimal services to families and your communities (Posluns & Gall, 2019).
Thanks to recent research, we know there are specific research-based strategies we can use to prevent burnout and secondary traumatic stress. A systematic review in 2019 by Posluns & Gall identified five key strategies! These include:
Awareness of one’s personal state (attuning to your emotions and regulation)
Balance of important facets of one’s life (e.g., work, family, recreation)
Flexibility with change
Regular attention to physical health such as ensuring sleep, rest, exercise
Social supports
We realize that these things are easier said than done due to busy schedules, unexpected health or family needs, changes in systems beyond your control, etc. However, what we do know is that even small moments devoted to self-care strategies can have broader impact. Small but brief strategies throughout the day can have cumulative effects on your well-being.
We encourage you to take a few moments to identify at least two ways you can embed regular self-care strategies into your current routines.
Ok - but how can we do this??? Here are some ideas to get you started:
Related to strategy 1, one idea is to regularly participate in reflective consultation (RC). RSP leaders will have group RC opportunities available beginning in Jan 2026. RC has been shown to help with awareness and identifying potential risk factors of burnout and stress as well as reflect on and plan strategies to mitigate burnout and stress (Merriman, 2015).
For strategy 2, you can reflect on your work/life balance. Do you put your work devices to bed at the end of the day? If you work from home, consider covering up your 'work gear.' Add some recreational, social, spiritual activities on your calendar.
To address strategy 3, you can practice reflecting on what you can control and what you cannot control about a situation. Focus your attention and efforts on those you can control.
For strategy 4, plan a time for exercise, even if just a 10 minute walk during a break or before the work day begins in order to attend to your health.
Even better, and related to strategy 5, take that walk break one or two times per week with a colleague or friend to enhance your social support.
Overall - we plan to talk more about this and the research behind it as part of our next RSP Leader CoP along with other topics you would like to address or need support with. In addition, for IECMH consultants, Caroline will be supporting this work of caring for self throughout your CoP and 1:1 times. Please know we see and feel the amount of time and care you are putting into standing up the systems of IECMH consultation as part of Every Child Belongs. We are here to support you!
To suggest topics for the November CoP for RSP Leaders, use this QR code:
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Save the Date
DC:0-5 Overview Training
Live Web Event on January 28, 2026 at 9a PT
ORIMHA has coordinated with Zero to Three to bring this important training to IECMH consultants, their supervisors, and RSP program administrators. The overview of DC:0-5™ Diagnostic Classification of Mental Health and Developmental Disorders of Infancy and Early Childhood is designed for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) allied professionals who work with infants and young children. This overview helps administrators and allied professionals gain a foundation for understanding this diagnostic system. The training provides an overview of the background, approach, and content areas of DC:0-5™. It is particularly geared to support allied professionals (like IECMH consultants) in understanding the importance of developmentally informed, relationship-based, and contextually and culturally competent diagnostic practices.
Step 1: Download the details about registration
Step 2: Link to register at the Zero to Three website
Well wishes for a wonderful week! Reach out to us anytime if there are more ways we can help in your journey in the delivery of infant and early childhood mental health consultation. Otherwise, we look forward to seeing you soon!
-The ORIMHA Implementation Supports Team: Erin, Nichole, Sondra, & Caroline