Assistant Director of Special Services

Job Summary
The Assistant Director of Special Services is responsible for overseeing the Mental Health and Disability service area within the Early Learning Program. This role includes managing relationships with the grantee, delegates, and partners. This role involves working closely with community partners to connect families with the resources they need. Additionally, the Assistant Director of Special Services is tasked with managing data systems used for planning and reporting outcomes, ensuring compliance with funding regulations through careful oversight of policies.

Job Qualifications

Must haves:

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, early childhood or related field.
• A minimum of three years’ experience working with children and families.
• Experience effectively leading teams who work collaboratively and independently.
• Must have experience and knowledge in working with economically disadvantaged clients and child development.
• Reliable transportation must be able to travel between sites as needed.
• No record of child abuse or moral turpitude as determined by background check based on fingerprints.

Preferred:

• Licensed social worker

Essential Job Duties & Responsibilities

• Oversee mental health and disability services at both The Centers and sub grantee locations.
• Develop, implement, and coordinate social services and parent involvement initiatives for the Head Start/Early Head Start Program, collaborating with the Director and administrative staff to set program goals and plans.
• Provides oversight and uses data to make programmatic changes to best meet the needs of the children.
• Connect with community resources and actively participate in meetings.
• Manage data systems and report outcomes for strategic planning.
• Ensure compliance with funder regulations by updating policies and procedures for mental health and disability services as necessary.
• Organize and facilitate training sessions for families and staff.
• Conduct onsite visits, including monitoring, observations, and screenings.
• Provide technical assistance through child observations, teacher consultations, screening reviews, and intervention planning.
• Communicate effectively and collaborate with service area teams, staff, and families regarding mental health and disability concerns, facilitating referrals to community agencies for support.
• Network with local providers to share information on screening procedures, service referrals, and training opportunities, ensuring adherence to HIPAA and privacy laws
• Attend relevant training, workshops, and meetings to enhance program performance.
• Monitor and manage referrals, screening timelines, observations, and child plans monthly, utilizing agency data tracking systems to support individual child needs.
• Undertake administrative duties related to social services and parent involvement, maintaining required records and assisting in the preparation of written reports to meet federal mandates, including yearly component plans, proposals, Program Information Reports (PIR), and program assessments.
• Actively participate in the staff selection process, onboarding, and provide continued educational support and training for new hires.
• Facilitate ongoing performance reviews and offer coaching to staff.

About The Centers
The Centers through healing, teaching, and inspiring helps individuals and families to reach their full potential. We provide health, family, and workforce services at 11 locations throughout Greater Cleveland, creating life-changing solutions for people to lead healthier and more successful lives. We strive to be a service-oriented workplace that pioneers and co-creates solutions while fostering an inclusive community where our team members thrive.
Our Early Learning Centers and programs provides high-quality care for children during the critical first 2,000 days of life by operating seven high-quality early learning centers, serving children birth through five years old, in Cleveland and the inner-ring suburbs. Because of our high standards, all sites achieved a 5-Star rating on the Step-Up-To-Quality Rating and been recognized and selected to be part of Universal Prekindergarten (UPK) and PRE4CLE.

Wellbeing and Benefits
Providing quality benefits to our staff is important to us. Just as important is our staff’s well-being. That’s why we offer a number of choices to meet the different needs of our staff.

• Choice of medical and dental plans
• Health Savings Account
• Flexible Spending Account for Health and Dependent Care
• Vision
• Support for continuing education and credential renewal
• Life Insurance
• Retirement Savings (401k) with a company contribution
• Mental Health Support Employee Assistance Program
• Calm Subscription
• Short and Longterm Disability

The Centers is an Equal Opportunity Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.