2020 VIRTUAL
OPEN HOUSE DATES
Wednesday, november 4
9–10 am & 1–2 pm
Wednesday, november 18
12–1 pm & 4–5 pm
Friday, december 11
9–10 am & 4–5 pm
E-mail us at [email protected] to sign up!
MARCH 2021 PROGRAM LAUNCH
“ There is no such thing as a baby;
there is a baby and someone.”—Donald Winnicott1
WHAT IS THE ACT PROGRAM AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON?
The Advanced Clinical Training (acT) Program at the Barnard Center for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health
is an intensive, 15-month professional development program for post-graduate, licensed or license eligible mental health
professional. The ACT Program is designed as a cohort-based learning community grounded in the principles diversity-
informed practice.
The ACT Program is crosswalked with the Washington Association for Infant Mental Health (WA-AIMH) endorsement
competencies and offers over 270 contact hours of continuing education units with approximately 60 hours of reflective
practice consultation in small groups.
THE PROGRAM DELIVERS
• Comprehensive foundation knowledge in infant
and early childhood mental health principles,
concepts, and practice
• Integrated system perspective content
• Reflective practice and observation
• Diversity-informed, relationship-focused clinical
mental health training
• Community learning cohort relationship
TUITION
Tuition for the ACT Program is $6,000 for the inaugural
cohort and estimated to be begin at $8,000 for subsequent
cohorts. Need- and criteria-based partial tuition waivers are
available for a limited number of ACT Program clinicians.
CLINICAL MENTAL HEALTH PRACTICE WITH INFANTS AND YOUNG CHILDREN
The field of Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) strives to support every infant and young child’s capacity “to
experience, express, and regulate emotions; form close and secure relationships; and explore the environment and learn, all
in the context of cultural expectations”2. As Winnicott suggests, every aspect of a baby’s developmental process, prenatally
and onward, unfolds within the context of relationships3. IECMH professionals attend to the relationships with and in
which children live such as with their parents and caregivers, homes and neighborhoods, as well as the institutions and
systems that interact with their families. Engaging infants, young children, and families within this dynamic, multi-layered
social-relational context is foundational to diversity-informed infant and early childhood mental health practice. Diversity-
informed professionals recognizes the historical and contemporary importance of race, ethnicity, class, gender, sexuality,
age, ability, nationality, immigration status, and other social positioning identities and circumstances in the development
and lived experience of infants, young children, and families. We strive for the highest standards of equitable access and
inclusivity in all spheres of infant and early childhood mental health practice including, teaching and training, policy and
advocacy, research and writing, and direct services.4
barnardcenter.nursing.uw.edu | [email protected]
Due to COVID-1₉, we do not have an active phone number.
Please send us an email with questions or to setup a meeting with us.
