Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant

*Note:

For applicants with extensive qualifications and/or years of experience, hiring range may be exceeded with approval. If approval is granted, it will be based upon careful review of the applicant's qualifications, experience, internal equity and budgetary considerations. The final rate approved will typically never be at a rate equal to or above the established midpoint of the pay range for the position.

Community Action Organization reserves the right to modify, interpret or apply this job description as needed. The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the employee in this position. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties (including essential duties), and skills to be performed by the employee occupying this position. This job description is not a contract implied or otherwise and the employment relationship remains at-will. The aforementioned requirements may be subject to change to reasonably accommodate qualified persons with disabilities. All positions are contingent upon funding and successful passing of all required background checks, required registry checks, and physical screenings if required.

All staff in positions which regularly require driving either company or personal vehicles while performing work on behalf of Community Action are required to provide Human Resources proof of a valid driver's license for a motor vehicle record check both at hire and annually thereafter. Human Resources will conduct a motor-vehicle record. These records will be held as confidential records in Human Resources. All accidents will be reported to Human Resources within 48 hours.

Special Note on Central Background Registry Requirement:

In order to be offered any position within our CCR&R program, you must be currently enrolled in Oregon's Central Background Registry. If you are not currently enrolled, you may still be considered for this position, but no offer of employment may be extended to you until this requirement has been completed. For information on how to enroll in Oregon's Central Background Registry, please visit www.childcareinoregon.org or call the Office of Child Care at 1.800.556.6616.

Benefits: All regular full-time (RFT) status positions of 20 hours per week or more year round or part year of .50 FTE or higher are eligible for our outstanding benefits package including:

• Individual Medical with premium covered at 90%
• Free Dental insurance for the employee
• Health care waiving employees are eligible for a health care waiver benefit of $100 per month
• Employer matched retirement dollar for dollar for the first 3%
• Generous paid sick and vacation time
• 13 paid 0bserved holidays
• Free life and long term disability insurance
• Medex travel assistance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Rich and diverse mission-based working environment
• Possible student loan forgiveness through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program
• Staff meeting program criteria for use of a second language in their position may apply for and if approved qualify for a bilingual pay benefit of $100 per month

Position Summary:

In support of the Agency's mission, the Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant (IECMHC) responds to requests for support from early education programs and their families in Washington County by providing consultation. The IECMHC will provide indirect, multilevel services in partnership with the adults in young children's lives to build their capacity to foster healthy social-emotional development. In this program, consultants partner with and support early childhood care and education (ECE) providers, in center- and home-based settings.

The IECMHC will receive specialized training to provide mental health consultation through an evidence-based framework. This program's broad goals include reducing rates of suspension/expulsion from ECE settings, and more specifically to reduce race disparities in the rates of suspension/expulsion. To work towards those goals, the IECMHC's key activities will be providing 1:1 consultation and group professional development to families and educators. Culturally specific and culturally responsive services are important to the success of the program. Therefore, this position will require a strong commitment to equity, anti-bias, and anti-racist practices, providing culturally specific and culturally responsive services to contribute to the success of the program.

The IECMHC will serve licensed child care centers, licensed group child care homes, registered family child care homes, child care aides, and relative care providers in Washington County. The IECMHC will develop collaborative relationships with parents, professionals, and organizations in the community who also serve infants, young children, and families.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• Provide relationship-based, preventive interventions to promote the mental health of infants and young children and address behaviors that put them at risk of suspension/expulsion.
• Support ongoing communication with providers and other caregivers about early relational health and/or developmental concerns related to infants and young children.
• Develop written intervention strategies and using a team approach to assist providers with implementing strategies that promote infants' and young children's optimal social-emotional development.
• Use independent judgment and discretion in setting daily priorities to complete tasks.
• Demonstrate humility and sensitivity to racial, linguistic, cultural, social, economic, individual, and role differences between consultant and provider and between provider and the infant/young child & family.
• Bring observations and discussion questions to supervision.
• Adhere to all data and program requirements.
• Make referrals of children and their families to appropriate outside services, as necessary.
• Provide group and individual training on overall social and emotional wellness with specific topics related to infant and early childhood development, trauma-informed care, attachment, self-care, and other related topics, as necessary.
• Adhere to NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct and apply the Oregon Equity Lens.
• Attend required trainings and meetings.
• Strictly adhere to all safety policies and procedures at all times and respond/correct any at-risk safety issues immediately.
• Strictly adhere to agency code of ethics and standards of workplace behavior.
• Perform other duties as assigned to meet business needs including regular and reliable attendance and adherence to all company workplace behavior standards.

Marginal Functions and Responsibilities:

• Other marginal functions and responsibilities as assigned.

Required Education/Training/Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in ECE or related field (Human Development, Child and Family Studies, Social Work, Sociology, Psychology) or the ability to achieve a Step 10 on the Oregon Registry within 12 months of hire date. In addition, candidates must be able to document their mental health training and experience at the time of hire OR within 24 months of hire via the following pathways, with a willingness to submit within 3 months of hire:

Pathway 1: Experienced Mental Health Professional

- Master's degree in mental health

- Licensed or license-eligible and trained in their field

- 1-2 years of work experience as a mental health professional (preferred)

- Endorsed in IMH-E® or ECMH-E® (or willing to earn Endorsement)

OR

Pathway 2: Experienced Professional without a Masters Degree in Mental Health

Applicants with one of the following combinations meet the mental health training requirement:

Combination A: At least 2 years of experience in a related infant/early childhood field AND

1. Endorsed (IMH-E® or ECMH-E®) as Family Associate or Family Specialist (no degree required for these categories of Endorsement)

AND

2. Completion of at least 4 hours on each of the 5 mental health topics identified below from an association for infant mental health (AIMH) for a minimum of 20 hours total

a. Bringing a mental health perspective to understanding infants' and young children's social-emotional development

b. Creating a therapeutic alliance with consultees

c. Modeling and fostering reflection and self-awareness

d. Integrating new mental health consultation practices and strategies as the field evolves

e. Identifying risks to an infant/young child's mental health and/or development that may indicate the need to refer for more intensive services

Combination B: (One or more of the items below)

-Infant/Toddler Mental Health Online Graduate Certificate Programs from Portland State University

-Online Certificate in Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health | Georgetown SCS

-Online Certificate in Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health Family Leadership | Georgetown SCS

-Other advanced training in IECMH

*ORIMHA offers IMH Endorsement for those whose experience is primarily pregnancy up to age 3 years and ECMH Endorsement for those whose experience is primarily 3-6 years of age. ORIMHA offers the ability to apply and receive bilingual/bicultural support for Endorsement in Spanish and English.

• Minimum of two years experience in an early childhood program
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple projects
• Understanding of diverse cultural, geographic, economic, and social issues that impact families and ability to work effectively with diverse families.
• Enrollment in Oregon Central Background Registry prior to offer of employment being extended
• Capacity for humility, empathy, curiosity, and flexibility
• Ability to work at multiple levels (groups and individuals; providers and families)
• Effective communication skills (verbal and written)
• Comfort and skill in engaging in conversations about racism, bias, and equity
• Capacity to foster strong professional relationships
• Familiarity with early childhood care & education programs

Preferred:

• 2 years of experience providing Technical Assistance and training to early education programs, providing classroom observations and/or home visits to families with young children
• Bilingual preferred for the population as reflected in the community
• Experience owning and operating a family child care business or child care center
• Oregon Registry Master Trainer Certification
• Proven ability to work collaboratively with a wide range of community members

Required Licensing or Other Special Certifications:.

• Requires a valid Oregon driver's license, proof of auto insurance for private vehicle, and access to reliable transportation.

Required Physical Demands of Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• Work is performed in normal office environment with moderate computer and phone use.
• Must be able to travel throughout the region and to other required opportunities, including overnight and/or on weekends.
• Local driving in various traffic and weather conditions to provider's facilities or homes.
• May be required to work flexible hours including evenings and weekends.
• In normal work day, may stand/walk 4 hrs/day; may sit 4 hrs/day; may drive 4 hrs/day; may use hands for repetitive grasping, pushing and pulling, typing and fine manipulation _4_ hrs/day; may use hands at or above shoulder level for _1_ hrs/day.
• In normal work day, may bend, squat, and/or climb frequently.
• Work is light in nature, lifting maximum of 20 lbs with frequent lifting and/or carrying of objects weighing up to 20 lbs.

How to Apply for this Position:

To be considered we must receive a completed Community Action Employment Application form. You are welcome to also include a cover letter and resume at your option. Transcripts may be required for certain positions. Applications can be completed on our website: www.caowash.org or you can print off the application to complete or pick up the application form at either of our following locations:

Hillsboro - 1001 SW Baseline St, Hillsboro OR 97123

Beaverton - 5050 SW Griffith Dr, Suite 101, Beaverton OR 97005

Be sure to submit your application in a timely manner. If you choose not to complete an online application, you can send your completed application form, optional resume and cover letter and any other required documents via fax at 503.400.3691. If you prefer to mail your application be sure to mail attention Human Resources at the Hillsboro office address above.

All application submissions will be acknowledged with a receipt notification. If you are selected for an interview, we will contact you.

All current Community Action employees are encouraged to apply for openings at Community Action which they are interested in. For current employees, some qualifications may be met by an equivalent combination or education and experience at the discretion of the employer.

COMMUNITY ACTION IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Community Action is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of sex, age, race, color, religion, marital status, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, or other protected status in accordance with applicable federal and state equal employment opportunity laws. Applicants with disabilities may request accommodation to complete the application and selection process. Please notify Human Resources at least three (3) working days prior to the date of need.

Salary : $26 - $34