The UW Infant, Early Childhood and Family Mental Health Capstone Certificate Program is an interdisciplinary, graduate credit one-year academic program for practicing professionals who provide services for families in the perinatal period and to families of children ages birth through five years, supervisors, consultants and policy makers. Following a cohort model, enrolled participants are provided with three days of class each month during the course of the program.
Courses are taught by nationally recognized leaders and state specialists in the field of parent-infant/early childhood mental health. In addition to extensive and integrated content, Mindfulness Sessions and Reflective Mentoring Groups are embedded in the program to cultivate presence, reflective practice, self-awareness and cultural humility. Participation in the program provides an excellent opportunity to network and build relationships with professionals who have common goals and interests
This program addresses a significant workforce need in Wisconsin across multiple service sectors for professionals whose work requires knowledge and skills in Parent-Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health assessment, diagnosis and therapeutic interventions to enhance the well-being of families.
Individuals enrolled in this innovative program will be provided with an opportunity to learn to:
- Apply concepts of parent-infant/early childhood mental health informed by developmental, neuroscience, and attachment research to support the social and emotional development and well-being of young children in the context of their primary caregiving relationship(s)
- With a focus on parent-child early relationships, provide appropriate screening, assessment, diagnostic and referral services for infants, young children and families
- Provide therapeutic and supportive interventions to families that are relational, developmentally appropriate, trauma-informed, culturally sensitive and effective
- Use reflective practice and mindfulness strategies in their work
- Enhance self-awareness, reflective capacity, cultural humility
The Capstone Certificate Program content includes the following topics:
- Relationship-based, Culturally Sensitive and Reflective Practices
- Trauma and Loss
- Psychosocial Stages of Pregnancy and Transition to Parenthood
- Perinatal Mood Disorders: Screening, Evaluation and Intervention
- The Newborn Behavioral Observation (NBO) System
- The Brief Parent-Child Early Relational Assessment (B-ERA) and Video Replay
- Screening of Developmental Functioning, Sensory Integration and Regulatory Capacities in Infants and Toddlers
- Early Identification of Autism Spectrum Disorders
- Attachment Theory and Research
- Evidence-based Therapeutic Interventions
- Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation
- Motivational Interviewing and Parental Substance Abuse
Hear about some of the benefits of this Capstone Certificate Program from Program Graduates:
Kathleen Hipke, PhD |
Ashley Hayes, BA |
