Infant Mental Health Graduate Certificate Program

The Irving B. Harris Graduate Certificate Program in Infant Mental Health is a six-quarter, part-time, interdisciplinary graduate certificate program. The program welcomes enrollment of community professionals as well as advanced graduate students from a variety of training backgrounds, including nursing, education, medicine, occupational/physical therapy, post-partum support, psychology, social work, and speech and hearing sciences. Students must possess a graduate degree (or be in the process of obtaining one) to apply.

Trainees will develop a knowledge base in infant mental health through a hybrid of campus-based training opportunities and distance learning coursework. In addition, in year 2 students complete an intensive clinical/capstone training experience in community-based direct service, consultation or leadership. During this clinical placement, students may chose to focus their training in one of three pathways:

• Promoting First Relationships Pathway. For graduate students and professionals from multiple disciplines who seek training in infant mental health consultation, reflective practice, and provision of relationship-based services to families. pfrprogram.org
• Infant-Parent Psychotherapy Pathway. For graduate students in mental health fields and licensed (or license eligible) mental health professionals from the community who plan to do intensive long-term therapeutic work and assessment with young children and their families.
• Leadership Pathway. For trainees with an interest in research, policy and systems work in infant mental health. Either higher level graduate students in fields like early childhood public policy, psychology or nursing or higher level administrators in community or state agencies may apply.

This advanced training in infant mental health provides a foundation of knowledge and practical experience for clinical, consultation and leadership services in infant mental health. We anticipate this experience will enrich students' current practice, help build specialty skills within their disciplines, and expand professional networks.

We accept cohorts every academic year, starting in the fall of 2011. Applications will be reviewed beginning January 15, 2011. Please contact us if you anticipate applying.

Infant Mental Health Courses

Trainees may opt to take any or all of the first year courses to build their knowledge base in infant mental health. (Note: Certificates are only awarded for satisfactorily completing all program requirements which includes the second clinical year.) Continuing Education Units or non-matriculated University credits can be earned.

If you are interested in taking any of our first year courses a la carte, please contact us to reserve your place. Enrollment is limited.

• Admissions
• Certificate Program Costs
• Certificate Program Web Site