Infant-early childhood mental health services

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

HCA offers quarterly virtual office hours for IECMH providers. Join to ask questions, connect with others, and learn from other providers. IECMH office hours often feature Provider Spotlights to highlight how agencies across Washington are implementing IECMH services, including Mental Health Assessments for Young Children (MHAYC). 

Upcoming 

Past office hours

• MHAYC Provider Spotlight: Assessments in Natural Settings
• MHACY Provider Spotlight: Screenings, Collateral Information, and Referrals
• MHAYC Provider Spotlight: Structuring Sessions and Cultural Considerations
• MHAYC Provider Spotlight: Workflows, Staffing, Electronic Health Records

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

View the toolkit.

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

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.

View the EBP Reporting Guide.

WISe Birth through Five (B-5)

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.

Visit the WISe Birth-Five webpage.

Emotional Health of Babies and Toddlers flyers

These printable flyers explain the basics about emotional health for babies and toddlers. Versions are tailored for different provider types.

Download the flyers

• Behavioral health providers: digital | printable
• Child welfare providers: digital| printable
• Early learning providers: digital | printable
• Health care providers: digital | printable

B-5 at BHAs presentation

Slides from HCA’s 2023 Washington Behavioral Health Conference offer insights for agencies starting IECMH work.

Download the presentation.

Pregnant and parenting women residential treatment and IECMH

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.

View the guidance.

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

(Updated June 2025)