POSITION SUMMARY:

The Child and Family Specialist (CFS) is responsible for providing additional therapeutic services early learning providers, children, and families through an infant early childhood mental health (IECMH) lens. They will support ECEAP/Head Start and Early ECEAP/Early HS providers, children, and their families to build relational health. This role will support all important caregivers in a child’s life by building the skills to create and sustain safe and supportive environments that foster the development of healthy and secure relationships, and overall child well-being. The CFS will provide a broad range of services, including levels of IECMH consultation in classrooms and through home visits; training and coaching staff; reflective practice for early learning providers; screening, assessment, and referral services for children and families; and providing family/caregiver trainings (all of which may be provided in-person and/or virtually). The CFS will also collect data, maintain records, and support compliance in all facets of ECEAP and Early ECEAP Performance Standards and state regulations. This role works collaboratively with the Mentor Teacher.

This position has access to protected healthcare information (PHI) or confidential identifiable information (CII), both paper and electronic, as necessary, to perform related job duties and responsibilities.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Individualized Child, Family, and Provider Centered Services

• Partners with all child caregivers in the screening, assessment, and referral process, including the determination of strengths, needs, dosing of services, and level(s) of consultation required
• Maintains a full caseload of children and ensure quality, positive relationships with families and early learning providers
• Conducts observations and assessments of individual children and family needs
• Provides written and oral observations and strengths-based feedback to classrooms on a regular basis, as determined by each provider partnership
• Meets with families (at childcare; home; community; virtually) to assess child and family needs while co-creating or assessing progress of Individual Care Plan (ICP) to support these needs
• Meets with classroom team and child’s family to review observations, develop and implement the ICP
• In partnership with the child’s multi-disciplinary team: creates and carries out an ICP.
• Provides reflective practice and therapeutic services both in classroom during home visits
• Through reflection and home visits, builds capacity in caregiver to meet the child’s social-emotional needs
• Provides child development information related to social-emotional wellness and infant early childhood mental health (IECMH)
• Provides guidance and model developmentally appropriate activities for children, individualized interventions, and effective ways to work with and support children both in classroom and home environment
• Conducts standardized developmental, behavioral, and/or social-emotional screenings and assessments for children as assigned for referred for services
• Conducts home visits to support the behavioral health needs of families and children
• Collaborates with Relationship Based Professional Development Specialist and Mentor Teachers to ensure all family, provider, and program needs are being addressed and met
• Participates in professional development opportunities regarding antiracism, oppression, and cultural humility/curiosity, and regularly assess own performance and program for related improvements
• Participates in ongoing job-related professional development, in-service trainings, and continuing education
• Assists with internal Akin staff training opportunities as available
• Complies with all Akin policies and procedures, including those regarding the identification and reporting of child abuse
• Participates in regular administrative, clinical, and reflective supervision with designated supervisor
• Participates in schedule team and administrative meetings
• Contributes to federal, state, and local reporting requirements and reporting of child abuse
• Other duties as assigned

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, and ABILITIES:

• Excellent written and verbal communication with diverse groups, including programmatic documentation
• Knowledge of Washington State Childcare Licensing requirements.
• Outstanding organizational and prioritization skills. An ability to prioritize work effectively to appropriately manage all job requirements
• Ability to embrace and support Akin’s commitment to fostering an inclusive organization

WORKING ENVIRONMENT:

This job is performed in a professional office environment. The following list is representative of the work environment employees encounter while performing the essential functions of this job:

• Located in South King County/Auburn

WORKING REMOTELY:

Working remotely is a benefit of Akin’s flexible workplace, but remote work cannot be offered for all positions. Some positions require daily presence in the office. Remote work arrangements may be adjusted or rescinded based upon business needs.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• While performing the essential duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, sit, talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone keyboard; occasionally to reach, stoop and kneel
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision requirements due to computer work
• Regular, predictable attendance is required
• Ability to occasionally lift up to 50 lbs.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in social work, psychology, counseling, or related field
• Minimum of 5 years relevant work experience with young children and families
• Minimum of 2 years of experience in home visiting
• Endorsement by the Washington Association of Infant Mental Health (WA-AIMH) or willing to complete the process at onset of employment
• Must have reliable transportation, valid driver’s license, safe driving record, and auto liability insurance OR alternative acceptable and reliable transportation
• Experience working and communicating with immigrant and marginalized communities and families
• Cleared portable background check through the Washington DCYF

PREFFERED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bilingual in English/Spanish highly desired
• Bilingual/Bicultural strongly preferred
• Specialized clinical training in infant early childhood mental health, including provision of reflective supervision/consultation for individuals and groups

SALARY RANGE AND BENEFITS:

The salary range for this position is $52,362-$72,205. The starting salary range for this position is $52,362- $57,323 DOE for external candidates.

Employees will receive 10 days of vacation leave each year, three Employee Appreciation Day each year, and will accrue one sick day per month (pro-rated for part-time employees). Employees will also enjoy 15 paid holidays throughout the calendar year. We also offer EAP and mental health benefits.