Nominations for the 2027 IECMH Emerging Leadership Awards open Tuesday, July 28th, 2026.  Nominations must be completed in full by Monday, August 24th, 2026 at 11:59pm ET. 

Recognizing Emerging Leaders in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health

ZERO TO THREE believes early connections last a lifetime. We envision a society that has the knowledge and will to support all infants and toddlers in reaching their full potential. The Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) Emerging Leadership Award recognizes and celebrates a diversity of early- and mid-career leaders engaged in cutting-edge, transformative work to advance IECMH Practice, Policy, and Research. These advancements are critically important in support of healthy social, emotional, and developmental well-being of our youngest children and our capacity to intervene early in the presence of risk and adversity.

Award Criteria

The IECMH Emerging Leadership Awards recognize early- and mid-career leaders with five (5) to fifteen (15) years of professional experience across the field of IECMH. The nominees are engaged in advancing visionary IECMH practice, policy, or research and demonstrate a commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in ways that strive to transform the field of IECMH. Candidates for this leadership award must be nominated by another professional. Self-nominations are not permitted.  One award will be given in each of the following areas:

  • Practice
    Improving the way IECMH supports and services to infants, young children, and their families are delivered that promote healthy development and well-being and advance commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.  Examples include developing, adapting, or bringing to scale approaches or interventions; expanding access to IECMH services to meet the needs of historically underserved populations; 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 inclusive, equitable, 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 that demonstrates the efficacy and effectiveness of IECMH practices and interventions; the nature of mental health disorders in infancy and early childhood; resilience factors that promote development; diversity, equity, and inclusion 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 that a nominee’s work may span multiple areas, including practice, policy, and research. Please select the category that best reflects the nominee’s primary contributions and impact.

Nomination Process and Requirements

Each nomination includes requirements from a nominator, the nominee, and a letter of recommendation writer. A nomination will be considered complete only when all the materials have been submitted by each party.

All nominations materials must be submitted by Monday, August 24th at 11:59pm ET.

Step 1: Nominator Submission

The Nominator initiates the nomination and provides the following information:

  • Nominator’s name and email address
  • Nominee’s name and email address
  • Nomination category (Practice, Policy, Research)
  • Responses to the following essay questions:
    • Describe the nominee’s work (250 words maximum)
    • How has the nominee’s work advanced the field of IECMH? (250 words maximum)

Once the nomination form is submitted, the nominee will automatically receive the IECMH Emerging Leadership Awards Nominee: Next Steps document. This document notifies the nominee of their nomination and provides instructions for completing the nomination process. 

Step 2: Nominee Submission

The Nominee is responsible for submitting:

  • A current resume/vita (5 pages maximum)
  • The name and email address of an individual other than the nominator who will provide a letter of recommendation

Step 3: Letter of Recommendation

The designated Letter of Recommendation Writer will receive an automated email containing a link to upload a letter of recommendation (2 pages maximum). The letter should address the following:

  • The writer’s relationship to the nominee
  • A description of the nominee’s work and contributions
  • A description of the nominee’s leadership and how their work has impacted and advanced the field of IECMH

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

Nominations submitted here -  IECMH Emerging Leadership Award Nomination