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Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) Emerging Leadership Awards

ZERO TO THREE works to ensure that babies and toddlers benefit from the early connections that are critical to their well-being and development.

Every day, professionals across the country strengthen infant and early childhood mental health through innovative practice, groundbreaking research and systems-changing policy. Their work helps babies, young children and families thrive, but it often begins with someone who recognizes their leadership.

The Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) Emerging Leadership Awards give mentors, colleagues, supervisors and partners the opportunity to celebrate outstanding early- and mid-career leaders whose work is advancing the field. By nominating someone, you’re helping elevate early and mid-career professionals whose ideas, leadership and dedication are creating stronger outcomes for infants, young children and their families.

Celebrating early- and mid-career leaders in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health is an investment in the future of the field. These emerging professionals bring fresh ideas, deep commitment, and the energy to advance practice, shape policy and strengthen research that supports the well-being of infants, young children, families and communities.

Lynette Aytch, Director, Leadership Development Institute

Award Criteria

The IECMH Emerging Leadership Awards are open to early- and mid-career five (5) to fifteen (15) years of professional experience across the field of IECMH. We seek nominees who are engaged in visionary IECMH practice, policy or research and demonstrate a commitment to fostering belonging, expanding opportunity and transforming the field of IECMH.

One award will be given in each of the following areas:

Practice

Improving the way IECMH supports and delivers services to infants, young children, and their families to promote healthy development and well-being. Examples include developing, adapting, or scaling approaches or interventions; expanding access to IECMH services; or formulating best-practice guidance that meets the IECMH needs of diverse populations. Practice may encompass an array of work, including developmentally appropriate approaches to prevention, assessment, diagnosis and treatment.

Policy

Making IECMH services more accessible, better financed or of higher quality by influencing policy and creating systems-level change. Examples include integrating IECMH services into community or statewide programs; implementing a universal developmental screening process; revising financing rules to improve availability of IECMH interventions; or advocating for legislation to create or fund IECMH workforces or services.

Research

Generating empirical evidence and/or translational research focused on IECMH issues, practices and populations. Examples may include research on storytelling as a parenting support method; research demonstrating the efficacy and effectiveness of IECMH practices and interventions; the nature of mental health disorders in infancy and early childhood; resilience factors that foster belonging and expand opportunity in IECMH; or important knowledge of IECMH-related biological processes. Nominated IECMH research work represents studies using quantitative and/or qualitative design and has a record of publication.

We recognize there may be overlap across a nominee’s work in terms of practice, policy, and research. Please submit under the area that you believe best fits the nominee’s work and impact. The nominee must have no less than 5 years and no more than 15 years of experience as an emerging leader in IECMH. Individuals must be nominated for the award; self-nominations are not permitted

Nomination Requirements

Nominations are submitted through the ZERO TO THREE nomination platform and require contributions from three people: the nominator, the nominee and a letter of recommendation writer. View the full nomination guidelines here.

To be eligible, all required materials must be submitted by Monday, August 24, at 11:59 PM ET.

Award Highlights

Recognition in a public announcement celebrating their achievements and contributions to the field, featured on the ZERO TO THREE website
Complimentary registration to attend the 2027 ZERO TO THREE LEARN Conference
Opportunities to showcase their work and accomplishments through ZERO TO THREE platforms
An invitation to facilitate a learning session with a cohort of ZERO TO THREE Fellows
A monetary award of $1,200.00 USD in recognition of their contributions to IECMH and leadership in the field

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