Apply for Endorsement
Step 1: Determine Your Endorsement Level
The Kansas Association for Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health invites infant and family service providers who work in a variety of ways with infants, toddlers, caregivers and families to consider the KAIMH Endorsement. The endorsement design is inclusive and encourages participation and professional development at multiple levels:
Levels of Competency
| Infant Family Associate (IFA) | Infant Family Specialist (IFS) | Infant Mental Health Specialist (IMHS) | Infant Mental Health Mentor (IMHM) | |
| Educational Degrees Earned | CDA or Associate’s degree or two years early childhood experience, Bachelor’s, Masters or Doctorate | Bachelor’s, Master’s or doctorate | Master’s or Post-Graduate degree | Master’s, Post Graduate, Doctorate, Post Doctorate or MD |
| Work Experience | Two years in the infant, early childhood and family field | Two years in the infant, early childhood and family field | Two years post-master’s work in the infant, early childhood and family field | Three years post-master’s work in the infant, early childhood and family field |
| In-Service Training | Minimum 30 hours | Minimum 30 hours | Minimum 30 hours | Minimum 30 hours |
| Signed Code of Ethics | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Reflective Supervision/Consultation | NA | Minimum 24 clock hours within a 2 year time frame | Minimum 50 clock hours within a 2 year time frame | Minimum 50 clock hours within a 2 year time frame |
| Reference Ratings | 3 (at least 1 must meet requirements for Endorsement at Level 2, 3 or 4) | 3 (at least 1 must meet requirements for Endorsement at Level 2, 3 or 4) | 3 (at least 1 must be from supervisor/ consultant guiding reflective practice) | 3 (clinical leader: at least 1 must be from supervisor/ consultant guiding reflective practice) |
| Written Exam | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Step 2: Determine the Fees
Candidates for Endorsement are not required, but are encouraged to become members of the Kansas Association for Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health. Endorsement applicants pay an application fee and an endorsement fee is paid when their portfolio is submitted for review.
Endorsement Fee Schedule
| Timeframe | IFA | IFS | IMHS | IMHM | |
| Endorsement Application Fee | paid at time of Endorsement applicaion | $15 | $15 | $25 | $25 |
| Endorsement Fee | paid when portfolio is submitted | $25 | $50 | $200 | $300 |
| Reflective Supervision Consultation | contact KAIMH for information about facilitators, locations, and fees | ||||
| Endorsement Renewal | annually by End of January |
Step 3: Submit the Application Form and Payment
–Submit Endorsement application and payment in the EASy system, here.
Note: After the application is submitted, the KAIMH Endorsement Coordinator will approve the application if fees and membership are paid and mails a copy of Competency Guidelines to the applicant. The KAIMH Endorsement Coordinator will also assign an Advisor to guide the candidate throughout the application process via EASy.
–Submit the Endorsement Fee when you submit your portfolio in the EASy system, here.
–Submit Reflective Supervision/Consultation fees directly to the provider.
Note: Contact KAIMH for information about Reflective Supervision/Consultation facilitators, locations, and fees.
Annual Renewal of Endorsement:
KAIMH is now accepting annual Endorsement® renewals online via the Endorsement Application System (EASy)!
To renew log into EASy and update your contact information and enter new training’s and reflective supervision hours. Detailed instructions were emailed out, if you did not receive an email or need them again please email info@kaimh.org.
To renew the KAIMH Endorsement® annually, the following is required:
KAIMH requires all practitioners who are endorsed to:
- Maintain membership in KAIMH (or another IMH association)
- Participate in a minimum of 15 clock hours per year of relationship-based education and training, pertaining to the promotion of social-emotional development and/or the practice of IMH
- Participate in a minimum of 12 hours of reflective supervision/consultation (RSC) each year (IFS, IMHS & IMHM only). In order to count towards Endorsement® renewal, the (minimum) 12 hours of RSC should be over the course of at least 6-months, but not more than 12-months (This recommended but not required at this time, it is moving to a requirement in the next few years)
- KAIMH also strongly recommends that professionals at Level II, III, & IV (Clinical) receive on-going reflective supervision/consultation.
- Endorsement renewal is due by January 31st of each year. *After January 31st, if not renewed, endorsement will expire, with removal from the Endorsement Registry.
There is ONE new aspect to Endorsement® renewal this year:
There is now an Endorsement® Renewal Fee when you renew your Endorsement® each year. This fee has been put in place to account for the KAIMH Staff time it takes to review Endorsement® Renewal Hours (Training and RSC) as well as ensure each endorsed member renews their membership. This fee is due at the time of renewal (by January 31st of each year). NOTE: Endorsed KAIMH members can volunteer to review four Endorsement® Applications to waive this fee for future renewal. Please email info@kaimh.org to find out how you can become a trained Endorsement® Application reviewer!
If you earned Endorsement® THIS year, 2019, you do not need to enter renewal hours or pay the Endorsement® Renewal Fee. You will begin the process of renewing your Endorsement® next year, meaning that your first renewal will be due January 31, 2021. However, if your MI-AIMH membership expires 12/31/19, you DO need to renew your membership.
If you have not received an email with instructions for renewing online via EASy, or you need assistance logging into EASy, please email info@kaimh.org.