Clinical Mental Health Consultant

Peers & Partners Inc•Washington, DC

About The Position

Peers & Partners, Inc. is seeking an experienced, licensed Clinical Mental Health Consultant to provide specialized clinical and behavioral health expertise in support of a potential federal contract with the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Head Start (OHS). The consultant will support Head Start and Early Head Start programs serving children from birth through age five and their families, with emphasis on mental health, social-emotional development, trauma-informed practices, and continuity of comprehensive health services. The role involves clinical consultation and subject matter expertise, assessment of mental health service delivery and behavioral health needs, and guidance to program leadership on developmentally appropriate, trauma-informed, and family-centered practices. The consultant will help improve mental health services consistent with Head Start Program Performance Standards, advise on screening, referral, early intervention, and community-provider coordination, and identify continuity risks during interim management and transitions between grant recipients. The consultant will collaborate with program directors, health and family services staff, mental health professionals, and community partners. Duties may include training and technical assistance, quality improvement activities, program assessments, corrective action planning, documentation, and written recommendations for program planning and reporting. Assignments may vary according to program needs, geographic locations, and contract requirements. Significant travel may be required. Consultants may participate in technical assessments, virtual consultations, training, and occasional on-site program reviews. Any direct clinical services must remain within the consultant’s authorized scope of practice and applicable licensure requirements.

Requirements

Hold an active, unrestricted license as a mental health professional in at least one U.S. state or jurisdiction; examples include LCSW, LPC/LPCC, LMFT, licensed psychologist, and PMHNP with APRN licensure. Candidates who are not yet independently licensed may qualify if practicing under the supervision of a licensed mental health professional as allowed by 45 CFR 1302.91(e)(8)(ii).
Be able to hold or obtain licensure, or practice under qualified supervision, in each state where services are provided and meet that state’s practice requirements, including telehealth requirements, throughout the engagement.
Have demonstrated clinical experience in mental health, behavioral health, psychiatric nursing, pediatric behavioral health, or maternal and child health.
Have knowledge of and experience serving young children and their families, including infants, toddlers, preschool-aged children, expectant families, or their families in early childhood settings, as required by 45 CFR 1302.91(e)(8)(ii).
Have knowledge of child development, trauma-informed care, family-centered services, and mental health referral and intervention practices.
Have experience collaborating with multidisciplinary teams and community-based health or human services organizations.
Have strong communication, assessment, consultation, and technical writing skills.
Be able to maintain professional licensure and meet applicable jurisdictional practice requirements throughout the engagement.
Ensure any direct clinical services are within authorized scope of practice and applicable licensure requirements.

Nice To Haves

Experience providing infant and early childhood mental health consultation (IECMHC) to early care and education programs, including classroom and home-visit observation, coaching teachers and home visitors on social-emotional support and challenging behavior, and supporting staff wellness.
An infant or early childhood mental health endorsement or comparable credential.
Experience supporting Head Start, Early Head Start, or other OHS-funded programs.
Familiarity with Head Start Program Performance Standards, particularly mental health consultations (45 CFR 1302.45), disabilities, and family support requirements.
Experience providing mental health consultation, training, or technical assistance to early childhood education programs.
Experience with federally funded programs, program monitoring, quality improvement, or organizational transitions.
Experience supporting underserved children, families, and communities.
Fluency in a language other than English, especially Spanish.
Ability to provide consultation both on site and by telehealth.

Responsibilities

Provide clinical consultation and subject matter expertise regarding infant and early childhood mental health, behavioral health, and social-emotional development.
Support assessment of mental health service delivery, behavioral health needs, and potential gaps affecting children, families, and staff.
Advise program leadership on trauma-informed, developmentally appropriate, and family-centered mental health practices.
Support development and implementation of mental health service improvement strategies consistent with applicable Head Start Program Performance Standards.
Provide consultation regarding behavioral health screening, referral pathways, early intervention, and coordination with community mental health providers.
Assist in identifying mental health service continuity risks during interim management and transitions between Head Start grant recipients.
Collaborate with program directors, health services staff, family services personnel, mental health professionals, and community partners.
Provide training, technical assistance, and professional consultation to strengthen staff understanding of early childhood mental health and supportive practices.
Support quality improvement activities, program assessments, corrective action planning, and related documentation.
Provide written recommendations, technical guidance, and subject matter input for program planning and reporting.
Participate in technical assessments, virtual consultations, training activities, and occasional on-site program reviews as requested.