Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health Advisor

Are you passionate about promoting positive mental health in young children and supporting early educators? If so, apply now to make a meaningful impact on the future of our children. Your work will influence the development and growth of Oregon’s Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health program. Come work for one of Oregon’s 100 Best Non-Profits and help improve children’s lives!

Location: Office located in Redmond. Travel required to individual child care program site visits throughout Central Oregon

Compensation: $37.50-$41.50/hour depending on qualifications (plus .50 for Bilingual Spanish)

Hours: Regular full-time, 40 hours/week

Benefits: 100% premium paid Medical, Dental, Vision and Life Insurance, Agency paid Retirement plan (up to 6 %), almost 2 weeks of paid vacation accrued within first year, plus 14 paid Holidays annually and a separate sick leave accrual.

Deadline: Position remains open until filled

NeighborImpact Child Care Resources Program Overview:

Child Care Resources offers training, technical assistance and business support to child care providers, preschools and early educators in Central Oregon. Child Care Resources supports child care providers through Spark, Oregon’s Quality Rating and Improvement System, and builds the infrastructure of child care in Central Oregon.

Overview of Key Duties and Responsibilities:

As an Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health Advisor, you will support early educators and child care providers by implementing best practices in child care programs. Your role involves providing relationship-based, preventative strategies and interventions to promote the positive mental health of young children. Key activities include classroom observation, evaluation, and intensive, individualized consultation and coaching of early educators. You will establish partnerships with educators to develop strategies and skills that foster children’s healthy social-emotional development. The program aims to reduce suspension/expulsion rates and address racial disparities in these areas, with a strong commitment to equity, anti-bias, and anti-racist practices. This position requires working closely with other staff in the NeighborImpact Child Care Resources (CCR) program in Central Oregon, demonstrating, modeling, teaching, and coaching early educators, and observing children in classrooms to provide feedback. Physical activities include bending, stooping, kneeling, sitting on the floor, and standing for extended periods. This position is an in-person position at CCR office locations and at individual child care and early education businesses. Travel throughout the Central Oregon Region is required.

Pathway 1: Experienced master’s level mental health professional

• Master’s degree in Mental Health or comparable field required
• Licensed by Oregon Board of Licensed Professional Counselors and Therapists, or be eligible for licensure preferred
• Required not to have received discipline or enforcement action since January 2008, as disclosed by the Mental Health Regulatory Agency of the Oregon Board of Licensed Professional Counselors and Therapists

OR

Pathway 2: Experienced bachelor’s level mental health professional

• Bachelor’s degree required Mental Health or comparable field required

AND one of the following:

• Endorsed (IMH-E® or ECMH-E®) as Family Associate or Family Specialist
• Infant/Toddler Mental Health Online Graduate Certificate Programs from Portland State University
• Graduate Microcredential in Child Behavioral Health from University of Oregon Ballmer Institute for Children’s Behavioral Health
• Certificate in Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health from Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies
• Certificate in Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health Family Leadership from Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies
• Other advanced training in IECMHC

Additional REQUIRED Qualifications for both pathways:

• Endorsed (IMH-E® or ECMH-E®) as Mental Health Specialist, Family Associate or Family Specialist, or willingness to apply for Endorsement within 3 months of hire required
• Two years direct work experience teaching in the field of Early Care and Education, or comparable experience required
• Two years of direct work experience as a mental health professional required
• Two years of direct work experience teaching, coaching, and/or mentoring adult professional development required
• Experience in Social-Emotional child development and Trauma Informed Care required
• Step 7 on the Oregon Registry, or Professional Development Plan to obtain required
• Within 60 days of hire, First Aid/CPR certification is required
• Required prior to date of hire and throughout employment:

• Ability to obtain and maintain Central Background Registry enrollment
• Enrollment in the Oregon Registry
• Hold valid Oregon driver’s license
• Have proof of current auto insurance
• Access to reliable transportation

Additional PREFERRED Qualifications for both pathways:

• Bilingual in English/Spanish preferred
• Certifications and training in early childhood education, mental health consultation, trauma-informed care, child/caregiver attachment and child neurodevelopment preferred
• Experience providing IECMHC services preferred
• Ten years of direct work experience as a mental health professional preferred
• Minimum two years direct work experience in a clinical setting working with children and families or comparable preferred
• Knowledge of child assessment and screening tools preferred, such as:

• Ages and Stages Questionnaire
• Ages and Stages Questionnaire-Social Emotional
• Teaching Pyramid Model Observation Tool
• Step 10 on the Oregon Registry preferred