ECD 209 - Introduction to Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health

Students must have three current clearances: FBI Fingerprint Clearance, a Pennsylvania State Police Criminal History Clearance, and a Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare Child Abuse History Clearance and meet the local requirements of the field placement site, including the National Sex Offender Registry (NSOR) Verification Clearance.

A weekly field observation in infant/toddler and/or early childhood programs is required, based on the student’s course of study.

1. Identify the role of relationships in promoting brain development.
2. Describe how attachment, separation, trauma, grief and loss impact the social and emotional development of young children.
3. Compare the characteristics of trauma-sensitive schools with the characteristics of developmentally appropriate practice as described in National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) position statements and I/ECMH best practice literature.
4. Develop resources that support families in their efforts to provide safe, healthy and stable environments for their children.
5. Identify ways that best practices for early childhood mental health can be integrated into home, classroom, agency and community settings.
6. Analyze case studies involving a wide variety of child and family challenges impacting social and emotional development by using the NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct.
7. Relate NAEYC’s position statement on equity to the social and emotional development of economically, culturally and linguistically diverse children and families.
8. Research the Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Endorsement process in Pennsylvania.
9. Compile a portfolio that aligns with the NAEYC Standards and the I/ECMH Competencies.

1. Attachment theory
2. Brain development and stress
3. ACES (Adverse Childhood Experiences)
4. Resilience theory
5. Trauma-sensitive schools
6. Family substance use disorder’s impact on young children
7. Early childhood mental health consultation
8. Home visitation programs
9. The role of federal, state and local laws and regulations in promoting mental health
10. Infant/young child centered practices
11. Relationship-based pedagogy
12. Early childhood professional organizations, e.g., Zero To Three, Pennsylvania Association for Infant Mental Health (PA-AIMH), NAEYC, etc.
13. Professionalism, including confidentiality
14. Advocacy

• Communication
• Information Literacy

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