Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant

Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant (ECMHC)

The Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant (ECMHC) is responsible for providing early childhood mental health consultation support to Head Start staff, children, and families. The ECMHC will provide a broad range of services, including early childhood mental health observations and consultation in classrooms; through training and coaching staff; through screening, assessment, and referral services; through promoting children’s mental wellness; and through providing staff and parent trainings. The ECMHC will also assist in providing special help for children with atypical behavior or development, and utilize other community mental health resources as needed.

The ECMHC will collect data, maintain records, and support the mental health needs in early childhood, described in the National Head Start Performance Standards and State regulations.

The position reports to the Lower Brule College Infant and Toddler Tribal Early Intervention Director or the assigned designee, Head Start Coordinators and/or the assigned designee who share in mentoring and evaluating performance.

Two Head Start Centers – Lower Brule Head Start, Lower Brule, SD and Crow Creek REI Head Start, Ft. Thompson, SD are supported by this independent contractor position.

CLEARANCES: Criminal Justice Fingerprint/Background Clearance

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS, DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• General Classroom Observations, Consultation & Coaching.
• Visit each Head Start classroom at each Head Start Center at least once per month.
• Utilize mental health screening data to identify and tier children based upon need for support.
• Create and follow a work plan that provides mental health support to children identified as in need of support.
• Completes regular and consistent mental health observations on identified children deemed “at-risk” at all centers to enable the timely and effective identification of intervention in family and staff concerns about a child’s mental health.
• Provide written and oral observations and strengths-based feedback to classrooms following observations on day of visit to designated individual – site education coordinator and/or director.
• Meet with classroom teachers and teams when appropriate.
• Develop and implement plans as needed to address social, emotional and/or behavioral concerns.
• Solicits teachers’ information, observations, and concerns about children’s mental health
• Discusses and identifies with teachers and teacher assistants what are appropriate responses to children’s behavior.
• Provide child development information related to social and emotional development and mental health.
• Provide guidance to staff on interpreting social and emotional screening and assessment tools and findings. Provide guidance and model developmentally appropriate activities for children and effective ways to work with and support young children.
• One on one support calls with sites/classrooms as needed.
• Support, coordinate, and provide staff trainings related to social, emotional and mental health issues as requested.
• Provide support and resources for parent trainings upon request.
• Protect all children from physical punishment or verbal abuse by anyone in any program activity, and immediately report any such incident to the center director or person in charge.
• Attends all training opportunities and administrative staff meetings as provided/directed by the LBCC Infant and Toddler Tribal Early Intervention Director or Designee.

Individualized Child Centered Observations & Consultation:

·        Conduct observations and assessments of individual children as assigned by the Head Start Education Director/Program Director or referred for consultation.

• When warranted, meet with families to consult on child and family needs and create or follow up on plans to support these needs.

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provides a summary and recommendations to the Head Start Education Program Director at the end of a daily visit.
• Completes, submits, and tracks all mental health documentation items on appropriate forms.
• Maintains daily work logs and submits logs monthly to LBCC Infant and Toddler Tribal Early Intervention Director or Designee.
• Completes and submits a monthly data report to the Head Start Education Program Director or Designee by the 5^th of each month.
• Contributes to federal, state, and local reporting requirements
• Performs all other duties as assigned.

EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS AND REQUIRED EDUCATION:

·        Must pass state and federal background checks for convictions of violence and child abuse and/or neglect, including fingerprints, and maintain compliance with Criminal History Registry.

·        Bachelor’s degree or graduate degree in Psychology, Counseling, Social Work, or related field. Master’s Degree Preferred with certification or licensure. 

·        Clinical license or teacher certification as a Mental Health Professional.

·        Direct experience in a mental health setting providing prevention services and/or mental health therapy to children and families.

·        Responsible work ethic with reliable attendance.

·        Knowledge of child development from birth to 5 years of age, specializing in mental health.

·        Proven ability and willingness to be self-directed in problem solving and decision-making.

·        Able to perform work position requirements with little or no direct supervision while also working effectively as a team member.

·        Prior experience planning, developing, assessing and administering program services for children and families.

·        Able to work as a member of a team to assess the quality of services and develop program services.

·        Demonstrated intermediate level of computer skills necessary to use and create documents and reports, spreadsheets, presentation materials, and to enter data into database programs. Proficient use of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, and Outlook or Google Suite.

·        Must keep all matters concerning participants in strictest confidence as required by HIPAA privacy and the 42 CFR, Part II confidentiality regulations.

·        Must be able to provide own transportation to meet work schedule requirements.

PREFERRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

·        Master’s Degree

·        Experience working with Native cultures and communities with strong competence in multi-cultural environments preferred.

·        Knowledge or experience in Head Start program.

·        Experience in providing adult training.

CERTIFICATES & LICENSES: 

• South Dakota School Psychologist licensure/certification, or;
• South Dakota Counselor licensure/certification, or;
• South Dakota Social Worker licensure, or;
• South Dakota Special Education Teacher certification, and;
• Valid Driver’s License & Evidence of Insurability

To Apply:    Send letter of interest, resume’, copy of transcripts and certification/licensure to: Dr. Morgan Deaver, Lower Brule Community College, PO Box 230, Lower Brule, SD 57548 and/or email to morgand@lowerbrulecc.org