The Harris Research and Policy Lab supports early childhood workforce development through the following programs offered by the Institute of Child Development:
- Online MA in applied child and adolescent development (infant and early childhood mental health track ; LPCC licensure option available for Minnesota residents)
- Online graduate certificate in infant and early childhood mental health
- Online graduate minor in infant and early childhood mental health
The online MA program offers a new option for students who reside in Minnesota to become licensed clinical professionals. These students can choose to take in-person courses through the University of Minnesota College of Continuing and Professional Studies concurrently with their MA coursework to complete LPCC licensure application requirements. Taken together, infant and early childhood mental health and licensure courses prepare students to apply a two-generational approach to their counseling work with infants and young children in high-risk caregiving environments, such as those who have caregivers with histories of mental illness, substance use, or related risks like homelessness or extreme poverty.
All of our infant and early childhood mental health programs prepare students to apply developmental science principles in the workplace. More than 150 professionals across Minnesota have graduated from these programs, working in areas including early care and education, health, and mental health throughout the state.
The Harris Research and Policy Lab also aims to develop early childhood leaders from underrepresented communities through diversity scholarships and mentorship opportunities.
Early Childhood Workforce Grid
Early childhood is a period of rapid developmental change that sets the stage for success later in life. As the foundation for functioning across the lifespan, it requires an integrated, developmentally-informed response across all disciplines and settings that touch the lives of infants, toddlers, and their families, beginning before birth.
In collaboration with Elders for Infants, we developed the Early Childhood Workforce Grid. The project aims to broaden the definition of the early childhood field to include a continuum of services and service providers. The grid organizes early childhood professionals into five broad categories:
- Medical /physical health professionals
- Public and community health professionals
- Mental health professionals
- Social and case workers
- Child care and educational professionals
The grid also includes educational requirements, salary information, job responsibilities, training costs, and employer type for each career.
We hope this resource can inform policy in Minnesota and shape future investments in workforce development.