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From Theory to Practice: Piloting a Measure of Fidelity for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation

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Title: From Theory to Practice: Piloting a Measure of Fidelity for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation
Language: English
Authors: Karyn A. Hartz, Stephanie J. Mitchell (ORCID 0000-0002-0174-7275), Amittia Parker, Natalia Castellanos Gonzalez, Deborah F. Perry
Source: Infant Mental Health Journal: Infancy and Early Childhood. 2026 47(4).
Availability: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 13
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Fidelity, Consultation Programs, Mental Health Programs, Young Children, Program Evaluation, Measurement
DOI: 10.1002/imhj.70108
ISSN: 0163-9641
1097-0355
Abstract: Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC) is a capacity-building, prevention-focused service that supports early childhood professionals and families in promoting young children's social-emotional development. This conceptual analysis addressed the research question: How can IECMHC programs systematically and efficiently measure fidelity using existing documentation systems? The study examined data from a large, government-sponsored IECMHC program in a mid-Atlantic U.S. metropolitan region, involving 17 consultants (50% Black or African American, 36% other racial minority) serving 102 early childhood education centers with mostly racial minority staff and families. Through an iterative process with program leadership, 15 fidelity metrics were developed and operationalized at the programmatic, classroom, and child-specific levels using consultants' electronic documentation. The resulting fidelity database enables programs to assess consultant adherence to core consultation activities, identify areas for quality improvement, and facilitate reflective supervision. This approach offers a practical, replicable strategy for other IECMHC programs to adopt or adapt to enhance implementation fidelity and, ultimately, the equity, quality and effectiveness of mental health consultation services for infants, young children, and their caregivers.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1510720
Database: ERIC
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  Data: From Theory to Practice: Piloting a Measure of Fidelity for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Karyn+A%2E+Hartz%22">Karyn A. Hartz</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Stephanie+J%2E+Mitchell%22">Stephanie J. Mitchell</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0174-7275">0000-0002-0174-7275</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Amittia+Parker%22">Amittia Parker</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Natalia+Castellanos+Gonzalez%22">Natalia Castellanos Gonzalez</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Deborah+F%2E+Perry%22">Deborah F. Perry</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Infant+Mental+Health+Journal%3A+Infancy+and+Early+Childhood%22"><i>Infant Mental Health Journal: Infancy and Early Childhood</i></searchLink>. 2026 47(4).
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  Data: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
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  Data: 13
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Fidelity%22">Fidelity</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Consultation+Programs%22">Consultation Programs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mental+Health+Programs%22">Mental Health Programs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Young+Children%22">Young Children</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Program+Evaluation%22">Program Evaluation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Measurement%22">Measurement</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1002/imhj.70108
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  Data: 0163-9641<br />1097-0355
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  Data: Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC) is a capacity-building, prevention-focused service that supports early childhood professionals and families in promoting young children's social-emotional development. This conceptual analysis addressed the research question: How can IECMHC programs systematically and efficiently measure fidelity using existing documentation systems? The study examined data from a large, government-sponsored IECMHC program in a mid-Atlantic U.S. metropolitan region, involving 17 consultants (50% Black or African American, 36% other racial minority) serving 102 early childhood education centers with mostly racial minority staff and families. Through an iterative process with program leadership, 15 fidelity metrics were developed and operationalized at the programmatic, classroom, and child-specific levels using consultants' electronic documentation. The resulting fidelity database enables programs to assess consultant adherence to core consultation activities, identify areas for quality improvement, and facilitate reflective supervision. This approach offers a practical, replicable strategy for other IECMHC programs to adopt or adapt to enhance implementation fidelity and, ultimately, the equity, quality and effectiveness of mental health consultation services for infants, young children, and their caregivers.
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        Value: 10.1002/imhj.70108
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      – SubjectFull: Consultation Programs
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      – SubjectFull: Mental Health Programs
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      – SubjectFull: Young Children
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      – SubjectFull: Program Evaluation
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      – SubjectFull: Measurement
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      – TitleFull: From Theory to Practice: Piloting a Measure of Fidelity for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation
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