Description

Position Data:

Title: Disabilities/Mental Health Specialist

Grade: E8 Exempt:  _____ Non-exempt: _X_

Reports to: Child Care Center Administrator 

Basic Function or Position Summary: 

Promotes school success through screening, referral, service provision and follow-up for children needing health, mental health, behavioral, developmental and/or physical support. Prepares parents to be their child’s advocate as they navigate the special education process. Hours per week 35: Monday - Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm. Salary $19.43/hourly

Security Clearance: Level 6 V,A,C,R

Requirements

Position Responsibilities and Specific Duties:

? Facilitates integration of service delivery to eliminate redundancy and ensure highest levels of services are provided to children

and families. 

? Maintain knowledge and ensure compliance. 

? Provides education, training and technical assistance to staff, volunteers and families.

? Works cooperatively with management, staff, and parents to promote positive special education and early transition outcomes

while ensuring compliance.

? Ensures completion and review of child developmental, social/emotional/behavioral and speech/language screenings (when

needed) within 45 days of enrollment and initiates referrals for evaluation. When necessary, makes service recommendations

for individualization.

? Provides parent education and mentoring regarding specific disabilities, child transitions and parental rights and

responsibilities. 

? Develops positive parent advocacy skills in customers. 

? Develops, maintains, tracks and monitors early transition plans. 

? Facilitates community referrals, including access to special education and mental health services for children.

? Ensures special education tracking and support of timeline from consent to services meets mandates.

? Maintains awareness of new developments/trends, which may impact service delivery. 

? Manages material resources by controlling expenses and minimizing waste.

? Maintains knowledge (professional and technical) of current practices through education, training, workshops, conferences,

and establishing professional and personal networks. 

? Meets or exceeds required training hours.

? Maintains complete information on CAPSYS for disabilities, transition and contacts. 

? Completes monthly disability reports. Bi-annual monitoring reports

? Promotes positive agency image.

? Participates in the larger team of the agency through committee structures, management systems, planning, policy

development and volunteerism as designated.

? Ensures confidentiality. 

? Other duties as designated.

Key Working Relationships:

A) Internal: Director, Health Director, Early Education Staff, COI management team, staff, and customers

B) External: Community agency representatives, funders / partners, and local Special Education providers and Committees. 

Supervisory Scope: NA

Organizational Responsibilities: 

? Provides information to parents and EI/CPSE regarding child progress.

? Ongoing tracking, monitoring and reporting, including disabilities and early transition outcomes.

? Assists in policy, procedure and program plan updates. 

Knowledge, Skills Required: 

? Minimum Bachelor’s Degree in child development, special education, counseling, behavior science or psychology; Masters in

mental health counseling or special education preferred. 

? Knowledge of special education EI/CPSE process and regulations preferred. 

? One year experience in parent education and advocacy preferred. 

? Ability to work as an effective team member/leader.

? Strong computer skills.

? Maintain positive and cooperative relationships internally and externally.

? Excellent organizational skills including documentation and charting. 

? Experience in interviewing and engagement skills.

Special Requirements:

? Complete all OCFS requirements. 

? Ability to obtain initial health physical including TB test.

? Maintain a current Drivers license.

? Ability to travel within New York State and occasional trips outside NYS.

? Ability to work flexible hours.

? Lifting requirements: up to 50 lbs.

? Must be able to provide consistent even tempered customer service at all times. 

? Works compassionately with diverse population.

? Experience navigating community programs.