Teaching and Training Developing Professionals in Perinatal and Neonatal Settings

Abstract Behavioral health clinicians (BHCs) come from a variety of disciplines and have varied levels of training experiences in prenatal, fetal, neonatal, infant, and postnatal settings. Together, these areas comprise the field of perinatal/neonatal health. In order to ensure trainees or BHCs wishing to specialize in perinatal/neonatal health are adequately prepared for the spectrum of care they will provide, it is important to create and adhere to standard recommendations for training and educational experiences. Training in perinatal/neonatal settings should include all areas of infant–parent needs for developmental, psychological, and psychiatric health. This chapter discusses those needs and makes recommendations about the essential foci of training. It is vital that learners explore and process biases at the outset of their experiences in perinatal/neonatal health in order to equitably serve patients from a diversity of backgrounds.