Infant Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant
(available office locations: Everett, Lynnwood, Mount Vernon, or Bellingham)
Position Salary: $32.46-$40.00
Job Type: Regular Full Time
Department: ELAFS
Work Location: Skagit County
Open Date: 8/23/2024
Use your community outreach, early childhood education, and mental/behavioral health experience to become an Infant Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant! Support the social and emotional health needs of young children and their families in our region. Apply today!
The Infant / Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant (IECMHC) takes a promotion, prevention and intervention approach to partner with early childhood / child care professionals, families, and teachers to promote optimal social and emotional development in children, and prevent, identify and reduce the impact of mental/behavioral health challenges in children and their families. As a member of the Quality Child Care team, the IECMHC works in partnership with Early Learning Coaches, Child Care Aware of Northwest Washington team members and Child Care of Washington’s Holding Hope team.
The IECMHC identifies regional strengths/opportunities and service gaps/barriers in services in partnership with other early learning and behavior health partners. Providing mental and behavioral health screening, resources, and referrals, the IECMHC engages with regional, community, and tribal early learning and behavioral health partners to build connections and establish regional mental and behavioral health referral options.
The IECMHC also provides individualized child/family consultation, working collaboratively with children and their families, teachers, and providers to create an individual support plan. Additionally, the IECMHC provides on-site services at selected licensed childcare sites (centers and/or FCC) to provide resources, information and guidance to regional Early Learning Coaches aimed at supporting teachers/providers with managing children’s challenging behaviors and preventing expulsion of children from child care and early learning settings.
The IECMHC provides training for Early Learning Coaches, Regional Child Care Licensors, child care providers, and community members, and provides health education for parents, caregivers, and early learning professionals. The IECMHC also supports changes in practices and policies that benefit children, families, and adults in the early learning setting.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS/RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Work with Child Care Aware of Washington’s Holding Hope program to optimize mental health service delivery to the five-county Northwest Washington (NWWA) Region.
- Identify regional strengths/opportunities and service gaps/barriers in mental health services in partnership with other early learning and behavioral health partners.
- Engage with regional, community, & tribal early learning and behavioral health partners to build connections and establish regional mental and behavioral health referral options.
- Provide mental and behavioral health screening, resources and referrals for children, families and staff.
- Provide on-site IECMHC services in selected licensed childcare sites (centers and/or FCC) in accordance with Implementation Guidance provide by Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families and Lead Agency.
- Conduct joint site visits with Early Learning Coaches to provide initial assessment/impressions of children, act as consultant for Coaches and providers regarding potential strategies and/or resources/referrals for children, and to determine whether on-site IECMHC services are warranted.
- Provide individualized child/family consultation and work collaboratively with teachers/providers to assess, understand and address a child’s/family’s mental/behavioral health needs with an individualized support plan.
- Act as a consultant for teachers, administrators, staff and families regarding mental and behavioral health in early learners and provide classroom observations as needed for early learners.
- Work collaboratively with teachers and coaches to address the attitudes, beliefs, practices and conditions affecting the quality of relationships between adults and children.
- Investigate and provide resources, information and guidance to Early Learning Coaches for their use to support providers/teachers with managing challenging behaviors in children in childcare and early learning settings.
- Assist in providing relevant mental and behavioral health education regarding early learners for parents, caregivers and early learning professionals.
- Research and share information with others about community resources, services, and opportunities for children and families regarding early learner mental and behavioral health; establish and nurture collaborative relationships with caregivers, community partners and colleagues.
- Conduct mental and behavior health trainings for Early Learning Coaches, Regional Child Care Licensors, child care providers and/or community members as needed.
- Consult with administrators, directors and leaders to support changes in mental and behavior health practice and policy to benefit all children, families and adults in the early learning setting.
OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Travel required throughout the Northwest Washington region and occasionally within the state.
- Ability to work occasional evening and weekend hours as needed.
- Additional responsibilities as determined and assigned.
EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, TRAINING REQUIREMENTS:
- Master’s degree in Social Work, Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, or Psychology with mental health clinical licensure in Washington State or license eligible. An advanced degree in Early Childhood Education or Child Development and/or Infant Mental Health Endorsement in addition to previous experience in delivering Infant Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation and/or early education may be considered if candidate is not a Washington State license-eligible mental health professional.
- At least three years’ experience in mental health. Experience with young children (birth – 5) and an Infant Mental Health endorsement is preferred.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, and ABILITIES:
- Knowledge of infant early childhood mental health screening and diagnosis.
- Knowledge and understanding of trauma-informed care principles and practices.
- Effective written and verbal communication skills.
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively with diverse populations.
- Ability to make sound independent decisions and exercise good clinical judgment.
- Ability to maintain timely documentation/data entry into electronic data system.
- Proven ability to consistently meet monthly project goals.
- Computer literacy and proficiency using all Microsoft Office programs.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS UPON HIRING:
- Must have TB test and submit test results prior to hire date.
- Must submit to a criminal records check to ascertain that the applicant has not been convicted of a child abuse or neglect offense per Washington State Child Abuse Law (Ch. 486, Laws of 1987) or DSHS licensing requirements.
- Must have valid Washington State Driver’s License or obtain by date of hire.
- Must submit abstract of driving record for previous 3 years prior to start date.
- Must have current First Aid card and Infant/Child CPR training (or obtain within 30 days), and must maintain current certificates for length of employment.
Remote Work: This position is on-site and remote; hours depend on department needs.
Working Conditions: Work is generally performed in fast-paced office and field environments with frequent interruptions and occasional crisis situations. Services provided are of a hybrid nature, offered both in person and virtually. Frequent travel in a five-county area is required, along with meeting attendance and active participation with team activities. Location of position to be determined and could be in one of four regional offices (Lynnwood, Everett, Mount Vernon or Bellingham) most convenient for the selected applicant.
OUR BENEFITS PACKAGE:
- Generous PTO, including 3 weeks of vacation leave
- Wellness leave
- Health & Wellness programs
- 403(b) Retirement plan with employer contribution
- Employee traditional and HSA health care plans
- Dental and vision plans
- Life insurance, long-term disability, and long-term care
- Critical illness insurance
- Personal legal services assistance
Many of our benefits programs are voluntary for employees.
We strongly encourage people of color, LGBTQIA+ individuals, Veterans, and people with disabilities to apply. Our goal is to be a diverse workforce that is representative, at all job levels, of the community we serve. We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and do not permit discrimination based on creed, color, national origin, gender, gender expression or identity, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, family status, pregnancy, military or protected veteran status, age, genetic status, and/or physical, mental or sensory disability, use of a service animal, and any other status protected by federal, state, or local law. We place a strong value on hiring individuals with lived experiences of poverty and/or homelessness or who have previously participated in Opportunity Council programs or other social services.
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