Welcome to the Illinois Association for Infant Mental Health (ILAIMH)
Mission
We advance infant mental health knowledge, perspectives and practices to build and support community and competence among multidisciplinary professionals whose work impacts the lives of infants, young children, families, and caregivers.
Vision
We envision a world where all children have the necessary mental health supports that enable them to thrive.
Guiding Principles
We believe in fostering strong relationships, supporting families, and promoting equity in early childhood mental health. Our guiding principles shape our work and commitment to young children, families, and professionals. This framework guides our work at ILAIMH as we strive to support infants, young children, families, and the professionals who serve them.
- The Power of Relationships
Secure, nurturing relationships with caregivers help children build confidence, resilience, and a strong sense of self. A network of supportive adults—including family, teachers, and community members—ensures children thrive.
- Partnering with Parents & Caregivers
Infants and young children develop within their family context. Service providers collaborate with parents as partners, respecting their unique expertise, culture, and family structure. This relationship-based approach fosters trust, resilience, and support.
- Promoting Mental Health & Wellness
Infant mental health (IMH) focuses on wellness, not illness. Social-emotional well-being is foundational to all development. IMH providers educate communities, advocate for early intervention, and share knowledge about the impact of trauma and adversity on young children.
- Honoring Diversity & Culture
We celebrate the richness of cultural identities and lived experiences. IMH providers approach families with curiosity and humility, recognizing that each family’s history and culture shape their interactions and perspectives. We strive for equity in all aspects of our work.
- Ensuring Universal Access
Every child and family deserves high-quality, accessible mental health services. IMH providers work to remove barriers by offering services in preferred languages, through varied formats (in-person/virtual), and with cultural understanding, while also addressing practical needs like transportation and childcare.
- Understanding Trauma & Brain Development
Early trauma—including intergenerational and cultural trauma—can profoundly impact a child’s developing brain. IMH providers recognize these effects and work to mitigate trauma’s long-term impact through informed, compassionate care.
- Advocacy for Children & Families
We advocate for policies that support strong relationships, equity, and access to care. IMH professionals help families become self-advocates while working to influence legislation and dismantle systemic barriers that impact children’s well-being.
- Strengthening the IMH Workforce
A strong, diverse IMH workforce is essential. We support professionals through training, reflective practice, credentialing, and collaboration, ensuring they have the skills and knowledge to serve children and families effectively.
- Reflective Practice & Growth
IMH providers commit to lifelong learning, self-awareness, and emotional regulation. Reflective practice helps professionals understand their biases, respond flexibly, and create meaningful connections with families.
- A Systems Perspective
Children and families are shaped by broader social, institutional, and cultural systems. IMH providers work to understand and challenge inequities, advocating for systemic change that promotes fairness and opportunity for all families.
- The Sooner, The Better
Early childhood is the most critical time for growth and intervention. By supporting young children and their caregivers early, we lay the foundation for lifelong well-being and reduce the risk of future challenges.
DEI Guidelines
ILAIMH Equity Statement
ILAIMH has an ongoing and collective responsibility to elevate principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of our work and planning. We seek to co-create and support a society that acknowledges and addresses inequities, injustices, and oppression across all sectors. We will continuously and directly address the inequities, injustices, and oppression to strengthen ourselves, the I/EC workforce, the communities of Illinois, and most importantly, the children and families of Illinois.
As a community, guided by our I/ECMH competencies, in practice, this means:
- Regularly build in discussion about DEI in our events and gatherings (2.0 Culture & Diversity)
- Develop ongoing conversations, including the infant/child's voice (4.0 Infant/Child Development in the Context of Relationships)
- Create learning opportunities to raise awareness of ways to build DEI principles into everyday life (2.0 Culture & Diversity, 3.0 Family & Community Systems)
- Embed and model inclusive ways of thinking, being, doing, and reflecting in our work (5.0 Professional Ethics)
- Engage in reflective supervision/consultation that explores implicit bias as it intersects and informs professional use of self (1.0 Reflective Practices/Self-Knowledge)
- Advocate on behalf of justice for all children and families throughout Illinois (5.0 Professional Ethics, and throughout Competencies)
- Ensure that the ILAIMH website, I/ECMH Competencies, and all written materials incorporate DEI Principles and Practices (2.0 Culture & Diversity, 5.0 Professional Ethics)