Program Structure

Program Structure

An important first step in providing infant and early childhood mental health consultation (IECMHC) services – whether as a solo practitioner or a program – is to thoughtfully conceptualize and clearly articulate your program design. This section offers resources to help guide your thinking about the components of high-quality consultation and lend practical support as you strategically plan for service implementation. Some of the resources below provide implementation-level detail, while others offer best practice guidance and program design inspiration. As always, a critical first step is ensuring that all involved with planning and implementation efforts are grounded in IECMHC Basics.


Program Planning and Reflection Tool (PPRT)
A comprehensive program design resource. This program-level online assessment tool highlights the essential components of a high-quality IECMHC program and offers guidance on how to put these elements into place. Further, it provides a mechanism to assess program progress and potential in the five key IECMHC program implementation areas.



Program Design





This product was developed [in part] under grant number 1H79SM082070-01 from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The views, policies and opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of SAMHSA or HHS.