Mission Statement
The mission of MI-AIMH is to promote and support nurturing relationships for all infants.
MI-AIMH believes that each infant needs to be nurtured and protected by one or more consistent and stimulating caregivers who enjoy a permanent and special relationship with the baby. This relationship is essential for optimal social, emotional and cognitive growth.
MI-AIMH also believes that the failure to provide and maintain nurturing relationships, at least one, during infancy may result in significant damage to the individual and to society.
Therefore, MI-AIMH supports the following positions:
- Early intervention is an essential social policy, important from both
- a fiscal and a moral point of view.
Early intervention can be effective for the individual infant only if offered in a manner that promotes and supports the infant-caregiver relationship as both the primary source of strength and need.
Early intervention can be effective for society as a whole only as it is offered in a manner that is culturally sensitive.
Support, training and advocacy for early intervention must become a cooperative venture that bridges traditional cultural, disciplinary, administrative and political boundaries.
Action Goals
- Educate: birth to three and family professionals in relationship-based practice that reflects the mission of MI-AIMH.
- Diversify: the infant mental health community, engaging professionals who represent many different ethnic groups, cultures and communities and who work in a variety of settings with or on behalf of infants, toddlers and families.
- Advocate: for the social, emotional and cognitive well-being of all infants and toddlers within the context of their caregiving families.
- Endorse: the infant and family work force, using standards that reflect competency and best practice promoting infant mental health.
Priorities
- Practice: Training and Education
- Policy: Social Issues and Change
- Diversity
- Development: Fiscal Planning and Growth
Vision Statement
The Vision of MI-AIMH is a culture where care givers are supported, parents are cherished and infants and young children are treasured.