Early Relational Health Associate/Clinician

The Relational Health Clinician (RHC) is responsible for providing additional therapeutic services to 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, other Early Care and Education 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 RHC 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 RHC will also collect data, maintain records, and support compliance in all facets of ECEAP and
Early ECEAP Performance Standards and state regulations.
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:
Child, Family, and Provider-Centered Services:

• Partners with all child caregivers and the multidisciplinary team in the screening, assessment, and referral process to inform the creation and collaboration of an Individual Care Plan (ICP) as well as progress reviews
• Through classroom observations assists providers in the identification of behavioral or emotional needs of young children using a strengths-based approach using written and oral feedback
• Helps providers understand the effects of stress and trauma on families and consider all levels of influence to support young children and their caregivers
• Uses a team approach to collaborate with childcare staff, directors, families, and multidisciplinary teams to generate suggestions and trauma informed strategies to promote optimal mental health in all children
• Engages in relationship-based work that supports healthy caregiver-child attachment relationships and encourage responsive, nurturing learning environments
• Provides reflective practice and consultation services
• Builds capacity of all child caregivers to meet the needs of children experiencing challenging behavior
• Conducts standardized developmental, behavioral, social-emotional, or other mental health assessments for children or their caregivers as assigned or referred for services
• Collaborates with Child and Family Specialist(s) and Mentor Teacher(s) to ensure all family, provider, and program needs and goals are being addressed and met
• May provide brief therapy to a family if an immediate opening for behavioral services are not available
• Participates in professional development opportunities, in-service trainings regarding antiracism, oppression, and cultural humility/curiosity, and regularly assess own performance and program for related improvements. Assists with internal Akin’s staff
  training opportunities as available
• Complies with all Akin’s policies and procedures
• Complies with the agency’s policies and procedures regarding the identification and reporting of child abuse
• Participates in regular administrative, clinical, and reflective supervision with designated supervisor
• Participates in scheduled team and administrative meetings
• Contributes to federal, state, and local reporting requirements and reporting of child abuse

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, and ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of early childhood development, including an understanding of the concepts and dynamics underlying young children’s social-emotional development (such as attachment and separation), as well as an understanding of family dynamics and the importance of child-caregiver interaction
• Ability to identify key signs, symptoms, impact, and manifestations of trauma, disrupted attachment, and racism and adversity in children and adults
• Demonstrated understanding of how behaviors, including those that appear to be “problems” or symptoms often reflect trauma-related coping skills
• Experience working and communicating with immigrant and marginalized communities and families
• Excellent written and verbal communication with diverse groups, including programmatic documentation
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, including engaging presentation and public speaking skills.
• Demonstrates a communication style that is open, adaptable, reflective, engaging, honest, and culturally sensitive and eliminates the use of labels that stigmatize
• 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:

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:

• Master’s degree in social work, psychology, counseling, or a closely related field
  Endorsement by the Washington Association of Infant Mental Health (WA-AIMH) or willingness to complete the process at onset of employment
• Must have reliable transportation, valid driver’s license, safe driving record, and auto liability insurance OR must have acceptable alternative and reliable transportation

PREFFERED QUALIFICATIONS:

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

SALARY RANGE AND BENEFITS:

We provide a comprehensive benefits package, including competitive pay, medical, dental and retirement benefits and paid time off. As required by various pay transparency laws, we share a competitive range of compensation for candidates hired into each position.
The target starting pay for this position is $24.13-$29.30, typically within the first half of the range. Actual offers will be based on individual qualifications relevant to the role and will not take an applicant’s pay history into account.
The range above allows our employees room for growth during their tenure in the position.

Salary : $24 - $29