What Sets CHERISH Providers Apart

CHERISH-trained therapists from Early Supports for Infants and Toddlers (ESIT) programs in Washington state act as another member of the team, helping the adults in a child’s life best support navigating transitions from one caregiver to another and encouraging relationships between caregivers and parents.

Providers have degrees and/or training in social work, speech language pathology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and education. Each therapist completes six months of training, then receives ongoing support and technical assistance from Kindering’s training team. (As not all therapists are licensed mental health professionals, there are referral options for needs that are beyond a therapist’s scope of practice or training. In these situations, referrals are made to infant mental health providers in the community.)

We offer three levels of training:

• CHERISH 101: A virtual 4-part training that provides an overview of the CHERISH program and practice strategies for ESIT providers and Family Resources Coordinators. At the completion of the training, participants are considered “CHERISH-Informed.”
• CHERISH 102: Attendees of the CHERISH 101 training have the opportunity to join regular virtual meetings to access ongoing learning and support.
• CHERISH Certification: A 6-month training program completed by a cohort of ESIT providers, consisting of weekly in-person training sessions as well as periodic in-person activities. At completion, providers are certified and receive ongoing support from Kindering’s training team.