Virtual Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation in Early Care and Education
Overview
Virtual Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (Virtual IECMHC) is a supportive, relationship-based service that pairs a Masters-degreed mental health consultant with early care and education professionals, like you, to strengthen children’s social and emotional development.
Through secure Zoom calls, phone calls, or email, a mental health consultant partners with child care providers to reflect on children’s behavior, reduce stress, and build skills for creating nurturing, inclusive environments. Virtual IECMHC offers the same core benefits as in-person consultation such as problem-solving around challenging behaviors and promoting strong caregiver-child relationships while increasing access to support – especially in rural or under-resourced areas.
Virtual IECMHC Comparison
What a Virtual IECMH Consultant Can Do…
| Area | Virtual IECMHC Can… |
|---|---|
| Reflective Consultation | Offer reflective consultation to child care staff to support their emotional well-being and professional growth (typically in a virtual group). |
| Classroom Support (Programmatic) | Observe classrooms via video (with consent) and offer feedback on teacher-child interactions, classroom climate, and social-emotional strategies. (Will use TPOT/TPITOS short forms) |
| Child-Specific Support | Participate in team discussions about a child’s social-emotional needs (with family consent), help interpret behavior and offer guidance (not diagnoses). Will ask the provider to complete a short checklist called the DECA. |
| Professional Development | Provide virtual training or coaching on topics like trauma-informed care, behavior management, attachment, and promoting mental health in early childhood. |
| Systems Consultation | Support programs in developing support plans, mental health policies such as expulsion/suspension policy, and wellness strategies. |
| Referral Support | Help connect families and staff with community resources, including mental health services (but not provide direct treatment). |
What a Virtual IECMH Consultant Cannot Do…
| Area | Virtual IECMHC Cannot… |
|---|---|
| Direct Treatment | Provide therapy or treatment to children, families, or staff. IECMHC is consultative—not clinical. |
| Emergency Response | Act as a crisis hotline or be available on-demand 24/7. They are not first responders. |
| Diagnose Children | Offer clinical diagnoses for children (e.g., ADHD, ASD). They can help explore concerns and guide referrals but not diagnose. |
| Override Program Policies | Make decisions for the program or override administrative processes (e.g., discipline decisions, enrollment). |
| Replace In-Person Relationship Building | While virtual consultation allows access in underserved areas, it may limit rapport-building that often occurs more naturally in person. |
| Conduct Unauthorized Observations | Cannot observe classrooms or children without prior consent and transparency. All virtual observation must follow ethical and legal guidelines. |
Who is eligible for Virtual IECMHC?
Licensed and registered childcare providers are eligible for virtual consultation. This includes Center-based, Center based with GSRP Room/s, family childcare, and home-based childcare programs. Priority for Virtual IECMHC services will go to programs in areas that currently do not have access to a mental health consultant. If you are not sure if your county already has a mental health consultant do not worry! Contact us and we can help you learn more.
How Does Virtual Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC) Work?
Virtual IECMHC offers flexible, supportive services designed to meet the unique needs of early care and education professionals. Whether you’re looking for quick tips or more ongoing support, we’ll work together to find the right level of consultation for you.
Level 1: Quick Connect (1–3 touchpoints or virtual office hours)
Need just a little help? Quick Connect is ideal for brief, focused support. This option gives you fast access to helpful tools, resources, and expert advice, for example:
- Receive timely guidance on common challenges—like toddler tantrums, separation anxiety, or how to create a picture schedule.
- Access a wealth of ready-to-use strategies and tip sheets from your consultant.
- Get support through one-on-one follow-up calls or virtual chats to discuss what’s working and what else might help.
- Schedule custom virtual trainings on topics such as managing aggression, promoting attachment, or easing transitions.
- Select a time during open virtual office hours to get feedback, talk through a tricky moment, or reflect on staff wellbeing.
Sometimes this brief support is all that’s needed—but if you’d benefit from a more in-depth approach, your consultant can guide you toward our next level: Steady Support.
Level 2: Steady Support (Up to 10 virtual touchpoints for learning, planning, and coaching)
Looking for meaningful support to strengthen children and families’ social and emotional health? Steady Support is your opportunity to partner closely with a mental health consultant to bring practical, lasting strategies to life in your classroom or program.
This process will happen with you and the consultant deciding together what meets your needs but may include:
- Providing focused social and emotional child and/or classroom support.
- Ongoing coaching through regular virtual check-ins.
- Connections to additional support, for example, if it turns out a child or family needs more intensive help, your consultant can guide you through a warm, supportive referral process.
With Steady Support, you’re not just solving problems—you’re building a stronger, more connected learning environment for everyone.
Please note: Virtual IECMHC is not therapy or clinical treatment. It is a supportive, collaborative social emotional service that focuses on promotion and prevention—not diagnosis.
Are you interested in receiving Virtual Consultation? If yes, fill out our short interest form and our consultant will be in touch within 72 hours (excluding weekends and holidays).