The present study examined the impact of COVID-related stress on the mental health and professional burnout in the infant and early childhood mental health (IECMH) workforce and to examine reflective supervision and consultation (RSC) as a possible protective factor that buffers against the detrimental impact of COVID-related stress. Participants included 123 adults (n = 121 female, modal age range 30-39 years) in the TN IECMH workforce (mean years of experience = 13.6 years) surveyed in June/July 2020. Sector representation was quite varied (home-visiting, childcare, child welfare, early intervention). Results indicated that 46% of the sample had depression symptoms (18% in the moderate-severe range) and 75% of the sample had anxiety symptoms (33% in the moderate-severe range). Higher COVID stress was associated with higher internalizing symptoms and burnout levels and this relationship was mediated by self-care behaviors, such that the more COVID stress one reported, the fewer self-care behaviors they engaged in, and the higher the risk for internalizing symptoms and burnout. Finally, the pathway from COVID stress to self-care behaviors was moderated by RSC such that IECMH professionals who received 1 year or more of RSC were buffered against the detrimental impact of COVID stress on lowering self-care behaviors whereas this protective effect of RSC was not present for individuals with less than 1 year (or no experience of) RSC.

The psychological literature consistently finds strong associationsbetween self-compassion, difficulties in emotion regulation, and occupational burnout, especially in populations with high amountsof occupational stress. In healthcare, clinician health and performance are implicated by these variables. Downstream effects are also detected, where increasing clinician burnout diminishestreatment efficacy. This reduced efficacy compounds on pre-existing issues of the treatment community, and generates additional barriers to achieving stability and health. This effect has been indirectly implicated in the Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) workforce, which includes professionals who engage and serve children and families, many of whom have high psychosocial risk. One way that the IECMH field has worked to address this pathway, is through the provision of RS/C (Reflective Supervision and Consultation). A key tenet of the IECMH practice, RS/C is designed to curb off the negative psychological aftermath ofoccupational stress. However, RS/C is largely unstudied, and requires additional evidence to gain traction as an intervention forhigh-stress occupations. As such, this study explored how RS/C interacts with self-compassion, difficulties in emotion regulation, and burnout in a population of IECMH professionals. Interest in protective factors led to test whether RS/C amplifies the protective capacity of self-compassion in the context of burnout (model 1), and whether of RS/C acts as a protective factor in the context of difficulties in emotion regulation and burnout (model 2). 141 clinicians who work in the IECMH field completed self-report measures of self-compassion, difficulties in emotion regulation, and occupational burnout, in the summer of 2020. Bivariate correlation indicated significant relationships between self-compassion and difficulties in emotion regulation (r = -.71, p < .01), self-compassion and burnout (r = -.57, p < .01), and difficulties in emotion regulation and burnout (r = .66, p < .01). Two simple moderation models were tested using Hayes’ PROCESS macro to determine if the relationships between X (self-compassion, in model 1, and difficulties in emotion regulation, in model 2) and Y (occupational burnout, in both models) were influenced by the presence of W (RS/C, in both models). Model 1 was not significant. For Model 2, the overall model was significant F(3, 93) = 27.51, R2 = .35, p < .001 and the interaction term was also significant (R2 change = .03, p = .02). Specifically, the relationship between X and Y remained significant across all levels of RS/C, and the strength of the relationship between X and Y was weakest when engagement in RS/C was highest, and strongest when engagement in RS/C was lowest. These results suggest that the reflective and supportive nature of RS/C may hold promising implications for protecting workforces from burnout via emotion regulation difficulties in high stress contexts.

The optimal relational experiences of infants and young children demand a cross-sector workforce informed by Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) principles and practices. A recent review by the Alliance for the Advancement of Infant Mental Health, Inc identified seven themes that help define “What makes an IECMH association strong?”: (1) Identity, (2) Cross-Systems Collaborations, (3) Sound Organizational Structure, (4) Competency-Informed Training, (5) Reflective Supervision Capacity, (6) Policy, and (7) Higher Education. The present paper documents the story of the Association of Infant Mental Health in Tennessee (AIMHiTN) and the role of the Endorsement for Culturally Sensitive, Relationship-Focused Practice Promoting IECMH in that growth across those seven themes with the additional themes of (8) Funding and, (9) Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging. First, foundational literature is reviewed to summarize IECMH-informed workforce development. Next, AIMHiTN's story of workforce development is mapped onto the nine themes and challenges and lessons learned are summarized. The article aims to serve as a roadmap for other states, provinces, territories, or nations hoping to develop their own Association for Infant Mental Health (AIMH) as well as a guide for those with existing AIMHs for promoting continued growth and sustainability.

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Social workers worldwide play a pivotal role in delivering social services to those in need of such services. Designated social workers (DSWs) deliver statutory services pertaining to the protection of children in need of care and protection. All social workers are confronted by several professional risk factors that jeopardise their well-being; yet risks specifically observed in DSWs support the plea to enhance their resilience. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological inquiry was to explore pathways of resilience among resilient South African DSWs by studying relevant literature and examining South African DSWs’ lived experiences. A secondary purpose was to draw on these experiences and literature to develop guidelines for South African DSW supervisors who may encourage the promotion of DSW resilience. Conducting a qualitative research synthesis was the first step and resulted in the confirmation of social worker risk and a deficient understanding of South African DSW resilience. An advisory panel of social work, DSW, and resilience experts assembled and formulated indicators of resilience in resilient South African DSWs, namely: a value-embedded life, having a support network, and having personal strengths, which, next, facilitated the identification of 15 resilient South African DSWs through snowball sampling. These 15 DSWs wrote narratives and were interviewed through semi-structured interviews in order to explore their lived experiences of workplace risks and their resilience processes. The findings concluded that these DSWs adapted to workplace adversities by living a purpose- and practice-informing creed, enjoying supportive collaborations, engaging in constructive transactions, and accentuating the positive. Guidelines for South African DSW supervisors, which emerged from these findings and literature, were proposed to be framed by reflective supervision as a step towards promoting South African DSW resilience. / PhD (Social Work), North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2014

Social workers worldwide play a pivotal role in delivering social services to those in need of such services. Designated social workers (DSWs) deliver statutory services pertaining to the protection of children in need of care and protection. All social workers are confronted by several professional risk factors that jeopardise their well-being; yet risks specifically observed in DSWs support the plea to enhance their resilience. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological inquiry was to explore pathways of resilience among resilient South African DSWs by studying relevant literature and examining South African DSWs’ lived experiences. A secondary purpose was to draw on these experiences and literature to develop guidelines for South African DSW supervisors who may encourage the promotion of DSW resilience. Conducting a qualitative research synthesis was the first step and resulted in the confirmation of social worker risk and a deficient understanding of South African DSW resilience. An advisory panel of social work, DSW, and resilience experts assembled and formulated indicators of resilience in resilient South African DSWs, namely: a value-embedded life, having a support network, and having personal strengths, which, next, facilitated the identification of 15 resilient South African DSWs through snowball sampling. These 15 DSWs wrote narratives and were interviewed through semi-structured interviews in order to explore their lived experiences of workplace risks and their resilience processes. The findings concluded that these DSWs adapted to workplace adversities by living a purpose- and practice-informing creed, enjoying supportive collaborations, engaging in constructive transactions, and accentuating the positive. Guidelines for South African DSW supervisors, which emerged from these findings and literature, were proposed to be framed by reflective supervision as a step towards promoting South African DSW resilience. / PhD (Social Work), North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2014

The present study examined the relationships between COVID-related stress, mental health and professional burnout in the infant and early child mental health (IECMH) workforce and examined reflective supervision and consultation (RSC) as a potential protective factor in the context of COVID-related stress. Participants included 123 adults (n = 121 female, modal age range 30-39 years) in the TN IECMH workforce (mean years of experience = 13.6 years) surveyed in June/July 2020. Sector representation was quite varied (home visiting, childcare, child welfare, early intervention). Results indicated the majority (63%) of the sample was caring for someone else (e.g., child or elderly person) while working at home, 46% of the sample had depression symptoms (18% in the moderate-severe range), and 75% of the sample had anxiety symptoms (33% in the moderate-severe range). Higher COVID stress was associated with higher internalizing symptoms and burnout levels and this relationship was mediated by self-care behaviors such that the more COVID stress one reported, the fewer self-care behaviors they engaged in, and the higher the risk for internalizing and burnout. Finally, the pathway from COVID stress to self-care behaviors was moderated by RSC. IECMH professionals who received less than 1 year (or no experience) of RSC showed a significant decrease in self-care behaviors during times of low, average and high levels of COVID stress compared to those who received 1 year or more of RSC. Implications for both policy and practice will be discussed.