Quick Answers
Your Most Frequently Asked Questions Answered
Where can I, as a professional / provider, access reflective supervision / consultation?
Free reflective consultation groups provided by the Center for Autism and Early Childhood Mental Health: Reflective Supervision/Consultation [RSC] is the regular collaborative reflection between a service provider and prepared reflective consultant that builds on the...
What do I do when my own stress or trauma impacts the work that I do?
Provider well-being is critical for relationship-based practice. If you are feeling overwhelmed or stressed in your work, you might want to consider joining a reflective consultation group, seeking a reflective consultant, or even pursuing your own mental health...
What should a family look for when choosing a child care provider/center?
Our partners at Grow NJ Kids have some great resources for this question! Grow NJ Kids gives child care and early learning programs resources to assess and improve their programs, while providing parents with information that allows them to evaluate the quality of...
What are some apps I can access or tell families about (i.e. Vroom)
Vroom - Vroom provides science-based tips and tools to inspire families to turn shared, everyday moments into Brain Building Moments® BabySparks - Parenting Classes, Activities for brain development and relationship building by age (including weeks/months for...
What are some assessment and/or screening tools can I look at before visiting a family with a very young child?
New Jersey uses the Ages and Stages Questionnaire and the Ages and Stages Questionnaire: Social Emotional supplement to screen for relational, emotional, and social developmental concerns in young children under the age of 6 years. Check out the CDC’s Developmental...
I know of a child who is at risk to be expelled from childcare. What should I do?
Our SEFI Support Service pairs a specialist with child care programs to support the well-being of adults and children. Please email our SEFI Support service to refer:
What is Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation?
Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation, or IECMHC is a prevention-based approach that pairs a mental health consultant with adults who work with infants and young children in the different settings where they learn and grow, such as child care,...
What is the Pyramid Model?
Pyramid Mode for Supporting the Social and Emotional Competence for Infants and Young Children is a framework of evidence-based practices to promote and support infants and young children’s early relational health (including healthy social and emotional development)...
What is NJCCIS?
NJCCIS is a child care information system for licensing, family child care registration, inspections, complaints, the NJ Workforce Registry and Grow NJ Kids. The NJCCIS portal is also the point of access to the NJ Workforce Registry – allowing early childhood and...
Are there professional development resources available in Spanish?
Yes, you can find most of our offerings at NJCCIS. If you are not on NJCCIS, please join their mailing list to be alerted to all of their offerings available in Spanish.
Where can I find training in early relational health and infant and early childhood mental health?
Please see the CAECMH Training Calendar here: If you would like to be added to our mailing list, please complete the quick form here:
What is the process that a family will experience when referring to a Child Study Team?
A written request should be submitted to your local school district’s CST requesting an evaluation. This can be done as early as 120 days prior to a child’s third birthday (and any time thereafter). The letter should state the child’s age, program placement and...
What will happen when a family calls Early Intervention for services?
Early intervention services are designed to address a problem or delay in development as early as possible. The services are available for children up to age three. Contracted agencies serve as the Early Intervention Program providers (EIPs) and arrange for early...
How and where do I get a child evaluated if there are concerns?
There are a few routes to examine when considering evaluations for a child. There are private evaluations (medical and/or individualized therapeutic) and system-based evaluations (Early Intervention or through the public school system). Early Intervention is the...
A family I work with has concerns about their child’s behaviors, where should I refer them for help?
If the child is under age 3, please share the NJ Early Intervention System (NJEIS) information, which can be found here:If the child is over the age of 3 and the family is hoping to receive services at the school, please share the NJ Child Find information found here:...
Where can I find mental health support for children 0-5?
Please see our Birth to Five Provider Directory:If you do not find an appropriate provider in your area, please email: WHO/WHERE?
Does intervening early really demonstrate good outcomes for young children and families?
Yes! In fact, we know that early intervention works. Evidence-informed IECMH interventions demonstrate a return of $3.64 per dollar invested. We also know that positive early relationships and experiences have a lasting impact on a child's health, behavior, and...
Do young children really need mental health support?
Yes, an estimated 10-16% of young children experienced mental health difficultiesThis rises to 22% for infants and children living in poverty. Two million infants and toddlers in United States live in poverty. As early experiences shape the architecture of the...