Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant

Primary Goal:

To increase caregivers/teachers/directors and families use of strategies and practices to promote social-emotional development of infants and toddlers, thereby reducing challenging behaviors, increasing prosocial behaviors, reduce expulsions and suspensions, improve relationships, and program culture.

Job Summary:

To provide training and consultation, coaching, mentoring to child care providers, teaching staff, directors, and parents to promote responsive and positive relationships and social emotional behavioral health developmentally appropriate practices within childcare and home settings to support infant and toddler’s healthy social-emotional (SE) development including those at risk for SE delays and those displaying challenging behaviors. This is a prevention-based service that pairs mental health professionals with people who work with young children and their families. It does not involve direct services to children.

IECMHC Services take place on multiple levels often at the same time:

· Programmatic Consultation involves the consultant working with program leaders to explore program-wide practices, policies, and strategies that support the social emotional development of all the children and their families in the setting.

· Provider Consultation is applicable to early care and education providers and involves the consultant working collaboratively with providers in a program to explore strategies and problem-solving approaches to promote the social-emotional competencies of all children in the program.

· Child and Family-focused Consultation is centered on understanding and addressing the mental health needs and challenges of a particular child and/or family.

· Provide infant and early childhood mental health consultation and support to early learning programs in Monroe, Livingston, and Wayne counties.

· Provide three levels of relationship-based consultation services to assigned sites to include: program level, provider level, and child/family level.

· Work with early childhood program administration to develop inclusive programmatic policies.

· Offers consultation that reflects and respects the philosophy of the assigned program and that is culturally responsive to the child, family, and provider.

· Develop and maintain positive working relationships with providers in assigned learning sites.

· Provide and/or guide the use of assessments and develop consultation plans with sites.

· Provide continuous support to child care providers regarding implementation of evidenced-based strategies related to classroom management and social emotional skill development and to referred parents regarding the child’s behaviors and skill development.

· Make needed referrals for more intensive or additional services, as needed.

· Explores how elements of EC program and/or family life can play a powerful role in supporting all children’s social and emotional development.

· Collaborates with families and/or providers to understand and respond effectively to a child’s or parent’s mental health needs, behavioral difficulties, and/or developmental challenges.

· Develop and conduct trainings and workshops for providers, parents, community members.

· Work closely with supervisor to achieve positive program outcomes, develop appropriate goals and review to ensure quality and effectiveness of services.

· Demonstrate professionalism, competence, and expertise when representing the agency in the community.

· Participate in external committees, task forces, community meetings, visibility events, media as requested to promote the program.

· Attend regular individual and group supervision sessions, required and recommended training.

· Complete all required documentation timely and accurately.

· Attend monthly reflective supervision group for IMH providers.

· Eligible to complete the NYSAIMH Infant Mental Health Endorsement.

· Other duties as assigned.

Competencies:

· Master’s degree in psychology or social work, Mental Health Counseling, or related field. Licensed-or-Licensed-eligible clinicians preferred.

· Three to Five years of experience working with children and/or families preferred.

· Knowledge of infant and early childhood development and emotional and behavioral health, family systems, evidenced-based curricula to promote infant and early childhood mental health, formal and informal SE assessment tools.

· Work independently within a flexible schedule.

· A valid driver’s license and reliable transportation is needed. Willing to travel in Monroe, Livingston, and Wayne counties in all weather conditions.

· Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite

"Child Care Council, Inc. is committed to providing a workplace free from discrimination or harassment. We expect every member of the Child Care Council community to do their part to cultivate and maintain an environment where everyone has the opportunity to feel included and is afforded the respect and dignity they deserve.

Decisions related to hiring, compensation, training, evaluating performance, or terminating are made fairly, and we provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified candidates and employees. We examine our unconscious biases and take responsibility for always striving to create an inclusive environment that makes every employee and candidate feel welcome.”

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $52,500.00 - $55,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible schedule
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Professional development assistance
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Work Location: In person

Salary : $52,500 - $55,000