Early Care & Education Mental Health Consultant

Job Description / Essential Elements

General Responsibilities

Reporting directly to an Early Care and Education Manager, the Mental Health Consultant provides consultation to early learning caregivers and the families they serve. The position is focused on strengthening the capacity of early learning providers, families and systems to promote positive social and emotional development, and to prevent, identify and reduce the impact of mental health challenges among children and families.

Salary:

Below are the annual and hourly compensation ranges for this position, which will be determined by experience and education:

1. Grade 28: $70,200.00 - $85,404.80 annually / $33.75 - $43.06 hourly
2. Grade 29: $76,502.40 - $93,059.20 annually / $36.78 - $44.74 hourly

Please see minimum qualifications for more information.

Assignment:

This position will work full-time, year-round. .A health exam, including a TB test, and clearance through DCYF is required prior to the start date.

Regular attendance required: This role relies on regular and reliable attendance to ensure consistency for our students and help support a positive, productive learning environment.

FIRST REVIEW DATE: SEPTEMBER 15TH

Essential Functions:

1. Use skill, knowledge and expertise in trauma informed and resiliency building practices when supporting children as well as adult learners
2. Use a strengths-based approach and anti-bias lens to building relationships with a focus on perspective taking, data analysis, and solutions that build on people's strengths while addressing needs.
3. Provide consultation to early learning staff regarding children with an identified special need, or with information and support for providing inclusive services and preventing expulsion.
4. Provide information and support for developmental screening of all children attending the facility including accessing resources for referral for follow up assessments as needed.
5. Meet with families to consult on child and family needs, classroom teachers to review classroom observations, and create/develop follow-up plans to support these needs and implement plans as needed.
6. Provide child development information related to social-emotional development and mental health.
7. Provide guidance and model developmentally appropriate activities for children and effective ways to work with and support young children.
8. Document the amount of time spent in consultation in each classroom, including a description of the type of consultation delivered.
9. Work in partnership with the Child Care Aware - Early Achievers staff to deliver a coordinated system of support by providing consultation and training.
10. Engage with regional/community/tribal early learning and behavioral health partners to: build connections and establish regional referral options for children, families and providers; identify regional strengths/opportunities and service gaps/barriers; and engage with other MHCs (including MHCs working in Head Start/ECEAP settings and Infant Toddler Consultation) to work toward long term goal of a coordinated approach in Early Childhood Mental Health.
11. Maintain regular attendance to carry out the duties and responsibilities of the position. .

Other Functions:

1. Uphold the Vision, Values and Commitments to professionalism of the ECE Department at ESD 112.
2. Maintain documentation in the program database.
3. Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

1. Master's Degree or Doctorate in Social Work, Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, or Psychology, Clinical Licensure or License-eligible, and three years' experience in mental health field; or
2. Master's degree or higher in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or related field, AND/OR Infant Mental Health Endorsement, AND/OR previous experience delivering IECMHC or Early Education.

Preferred Qualifications and Skills:

1. Infant Mental Health Endorsement.
2. Bilingual.

Working Conditions/Physical Requirements:

1. Travel across SW Washington as needed.
2. Frequent sitting, stooping, bending and lifting up to 30 pounds.
3. Physical environment may include office setting, remote office setting, early learning centers and family child care homes, or community work sites.
4. Extended and/or flexible hours as needed.

Employment Requirements - ESD job offer is contingent upon satisfying the following:

1. Successful completion of a criminal history and fingerprint check through Department of Children, Youth and Families.
2. Tuberculosis test to meet state health requirements.
3. Health exam.
4. Proof of MMR vaccination or exemption.

Salary : $70,200 - $85,405