Domain 1 – Knowledge
A – Parenting, Caregiving, Family Functioning and Parent-Child Relationships
- Range of family structure
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Postpartum period
- Attachment issues
- Parenting as a developmental process
- Family dynamics
- Family expectation regarding child development
- Providing family-sensitive services
- Cultural issues in parenting and family development
- Goodness of fit between parents and young children
- Importance of relationships to development
- Family systems
B – Infant, Toddler and Preschool Development
- Typical development in infancy, toddler, and/or preschool periods
- Milestones of development
- Peer relationships
- Expectations of children in groups
- Cultural variations in development and family expectations
C – Biological and Psychosocial Factors Impacting Outcomes
- Temperament
- Regulatory and sensory issues
- Brain research
- Neuro-developmental issues
- Prematurity and low birth weight
- Child abuse
- Child neglect
- Nutrition
- Poverty
- Community issues
- School and community services
- Impact of such factors upon development and relationships
D – Risk and Resiliency
- Atypical development
- Maternal depression
- Teenage parenting
- “Ghosts” in the nursery
- Chronic physical illness
- Chronic mental illness in parent
- Developmental disabilities
- Prematurity
- Communication and interaction problems
- Substance abuse in families
- Family violence
- Working with challenging caregivers
- Foster care
- Institutional care
- Protective factors that promote family resiliency
- Promoting resiliency in young children and families
E – Observation, Screening and Assessment
- Development of observational skills with infants and young children
- Use of observational information
- Use of screening tools
- When to make referrals for more comprehensive assessment
- How to make a referral, including following through or assisting family with initial contacts
- Introduction to major assessment instruments and processes
F – Diagnosis and Intervention
- Diagnostic systems for infants, toddlers, and young children
- Linking assessment and diagnosis to intervention
- Development of intervention goals
- Effective communication with caregivers and others
- Concrete assistance
- Community resources
- Developmental guidance
- Strategies to promote infant-family and early childhood mental health
- Strategies for preventive intervention addressing social-emotional-behavioral vulnerabilities
- Intervention strategies
- Therapeutic options, including current knowledge of evidence-based practice
- Developing reflective practice skills
- Use of self in provision of services
G – Interdisciplinary/Multidisciplinary Collaboration
- Understanding the roles of other professionals in working with young children and families
- Respecting boundaries of practice
- Community resources
- Working together with other professionals to create an integrated plan
- Collaborating to prioritize child and family needs
H – Ethics
- Ethics of scope of practice
- Working ethically in family settings
Domain 2 – Experience
- Direct service experience with families and children prenatal to age 3 and/or
- Direct service experience with children 3 to 5 and their families
- Reflective practice facilitation support received
