Endorsement involves a standardized process to determine that a professional has accumulated specialized experiences in the infant/early childhood field and has signed a Code of Ethics. All Endorsement applicants receive a copy of the Code of Ethics. Experiences are documented by the submission of an application that details competency-based training, specialized work experiences, and for most, reflective supervision/consultation (RSC) experiences. The application also includes submission of reference rating forms on behalf of the applicant. Endorsees as Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist and Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health Mentor have passed an exam that includes measures of theoretical knowledge, direct service skills, and their capacity to apply these principles into practice.

Maintaining Endorsement requires ongoing training and, in the cases of Infant/Early Childhood Family Specialist, Infant/Early Childhood Family Reflective Supervisor, Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist and Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health Mentor-Clinical, ongoing RSC. Endorsees are required to recommit to upholding the Code of Ethics annually. Beginning in January of 2023, this commitment includes signing an attestation that the endorsee is not currently sanctioned by a licensing board. However, the AIMH Endorsement does not offer monitoring for ethics violations.

Endorsement is not a professional license or a certificate. AIMH Endorsement cannot guarantee the quality of service of any endorsed professional. AIMH Endorsement does not include a process by which complaints or concerns regarding ethics can be filed.

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