Levels of Influence: Applying an Ecological Model in Pediatric Primary Care

Young children are influenced by the world around them and they, in turn, have an impact on their environment. Clinicians must consider all levels of influence on a young child's development when implementing interventions for young children and their families. Infant and early childhood mental health (IECMH) clinicians integrated into primary care settings are uniquely positioned to understand the impact of a child's environment(s) on health and development and support the child and family from that standpoint. This article describes three families and how their integrated IECMH clinicians considered different components of the child's environment to guide the intervention. The authors also highlight the role of reflective supervision for the IECMH clinicians.