New certificate program for early childhood mental health

The School of Social Work and Department of Special Education and Child Development announce the approval of a joint certificate program in early childhood mental health (ECMH). This program, which requires 15 graduate hours, focuses on children birth to five years of age and their families.

Graduates of the certificate program will be able to:

• Promote awareness about the importance of early childhood mental health 

• Work with diverse families with young children 

• Identify evidence‐informed services for young children and their families

• Recognize ecologically valid mental health assessments of young children
• Explain relationship of social, cognitive and communication development in young children 

• Support positive, relationship‐focused communication between young children and their adult caretakers 

• Facilitate positive social‐communication skills between young children, parents and other caretakers in a variety of settings 


According to officials, the ECMH certificate program is open to professionals with at least a bachelor’s degree who work or desire to work with young children and their families. This could include social workers, early childhood educators, early interventionists, early childhood special educators, early childhood program administrators, policy advocates, psychologists, pediatricians, nurses, public health educators, child protective services personnel, speech-language pathologists and others.

For more information, email Roger Suclupe at rsuclupe@uncc.edu