Infant-early childhood mental health services
Infant-Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH), sometimes referred to as social and emotional health, is the developing capacity of the child from birth to 5 years of age to form close and secure adult and peer relationships; experience, manage, and express a full range of emotions; and explore the environment and learn—all in the context of family, community, and culture (Cohen & Andujar, 2022).
This page helps providers, billers, and partners delivery IECMH services to children enrolled in Apple Health (Medicaid).
On this page
Want to stay updated on work related to infant-early childhood mental health?
Overview
About 1 in 5 young children have a mental, behavioral, or developmental disorder. When identified early, these conditions can be treated.
IECMH services:
- Help children return to healthy development
- Strengthen the caregiver-child relationship
- Are cost effective – every $1 invested returns $8-$15 in long-term savings
Apple Health (Medicaid) covers IECMH services for children from birth through age 5 and their families.
HCA and partners provide tools, guidance, and connection opportunities to support providers in this work.
Office hours
MHAYC Provider Spotlight Series
When starting new IECMH services, providers want real-life examples, and they want to learn from and with other providers. The Provider Spotlight series highlights how agencies across Washington are implementing Mental Health Assessment for Young Children (MHAYC).
Each spotlight focuses on different parts of the process.
Upcoming and past spotlights
| Date and time | Details |
|---|---|
|
July 25, 2024 |
Title: Agency Shifts – Workflows, Staffing, and Electronic Health Records |
|
October 24, 2024 |
Title: Gathering Information Part I – Structuring Assessment Sessions and Cultural Considerations |
|
January 23, 2025 |
Title: Gathering Information Part II – Screenings, Collateral Information, and Referrals |
|
April 24, 2025 |
Title: Assessments in Natural Settings |
Want to share your experience or get involved? Contact Christine Cole to learn more.
Office hours
HCA offers quarterly virtual office hours for IECMH providers. Join to ask questions, connect with others, and learn from your peers.
- Slides from past IECMH office hours
IECMH toolkit
HCA created the IECMH toolkit to help providers get started with IECMH services. The toolkit includes:
- Core elements of IECMH treatment
- How to bill Apple Health for services
- Steps to become a licensed provider or agency
- Links to more tools and resources
Mental Health Assessment for Young Children (MHAYC)
IECMH services start with a mental health assessment. For children birth through age five, providers should provide multi-session assessments, assess in natural settings, and use the DC:0-5. HCA and the IECMH Workforce Collaborative offer billing guidance, free trainings, and more.
Visit the Mental Health Assessment for Young Children webpage
Provider resources
Find other resources that can support you in providing infant-early childhood mental health services.
- Evidence-based practices
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Evidence-based practices (EBPs) are a key part of IECMH treatment. HCA and the EBP Initiative (EBPI) provide guidance on how to track and document evidence-based treatment.
- WISe Birth through Five (B-5)
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Apple Health providers can offer intensive services, including WISe (Wraparound with Intensive Services), to children birth through age five and their families. HCA and the WISe Workforce Collaborative offer resources and training about providing WISe to young children.
- Emotional Health of Babies and Toddlers flyers
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These printable flyers explain the basics about emotional health for babies and toddlers. Versions are tailored for different provider types.
Download the flyers
- B-5 at BHAs presentation
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Slides from HCA’s 2023 Washington Behavioral Health Conference offer insights for agencies starting IECMH work.
- Pregnant and parenting women residential treatment and IECMH
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Some parents or caregivers in residential treatment may have children living with them. HCA’s PPW-IECMH billing guidance explains how to provide and bill IECMH services in these settings.
Reports and data
HCA uses data to guide and improve IECMH services. We share what we learn with communities, providers, and families.
Visit the IECMH Data and Reports webpage.
Stay updated
Sign up to get new resources straight to your inbox:
- Join the Prenatal-25 behavioral health mailing list.
- Subscribe to the monthly Prental-5: Grow & Thrive newsletter.
Recent bulletins and newsletters
| Date | Title |
|---|---|
| April 30, 2025 | Prenatal-5 Grow and Thrive newsletter | April |
| March 31, 2025 | Prenatal-5 Grow and Thrive newsletter | March |
| February 28, 2025 | Prenatal-5 Grow and Thrive newsletter | February |
| January 22, 2025 | Prenatal-5 Grow and Thrive newsletter | January |
(Updated May 2025)