Early Childhood Mental Health and Wellness Consultant

DREAM•New York, NY

5d•$65 - $75•Hybrid

About The Position

DREAM, formerly Harlem RBI, serves over 2,500 youth annually in East Harlem and the South Bronx through a network of seven PreK-12 schools and community sports programs. DREAM focuses on rigorous academics, social-emotional learning, family engagement, and health and wellness to foster lifelong learners. The organization has an aggressive five-year plan to expand its reach. The Early Childhood Mental Health and Wellness (MHW) Consultant will provide virtual and on-site consultations to support young children's mental health and well-being. This role aims to build the capacity of adults in a child's life to strengthen their mental health and social-emotional development. The consultant will work approximately 16-20 hours per month, with flexibility based on program needs. This is a contracted role.

Requirements

Master’s Degree in Social Work, Mental Health Counseling, or a similar field, required
New York State Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), required
3+ years experience in supporting individuals in mental and behavioral health, required
2+ years experience in consulting, advising, or coaching adults and programs, required
Experience in Early Childhood Mental Health, required
Demonstrated expertise in mental health consultation, screening tools, classroom observations, and trauma informed care
Knowledgeable about Early Childhood Education health and wellness policies
Excellent communication skills with the ability to facilitate effective communications among partners and teams to ensure goals are achieved
Ability to interact effectively with people from diverse backgrounds
Demonstrated computer literacy skills
Experience working remotely in a collaborative, fast-paced environment with cross-functional teams
A strong belief in the mission and values of DREAM, including the desire to make a difference in the lives of our students, families, and community
A physical exam, fingerprinting, and a federal background check are required for this position.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual (Spanish/English), highly preferred

Responsibilities

Utilize data to determine and maintain a caseload of Mental Health and Wellness supports and services that promote a program-wide culture of mental health, prevent mental health challenges from developing, and identify and support children with mental health and social and emotional concerns.
Work with leadership to determine goals for consultation, create plans for achieving these goals, and provide the necessary resources to support the program’s development.
Facilitate multidisciplinary coordination and collaboration between mental health and other relevant program services, including education, disability, family engagement, and health services.
Build community partnerships to facilitate access to additional mental health resources and services, as needed, including through the Health and Mental Health Services Advisory Committee.
Participate in cross-functional team collaborations in response to specific needs of the program.
Support the program with implementing practices that limit suspension and prohibit expulsion.
Participate in meetings, events, and trainings as needed.
Provide individual, in-person consultations for adults on strategies that build nurturing and responsive relationships and create positive learning environments that promote the mental health and social and emotional development of all children, on at least a monthly basis, with virtual sessions as needed.
Support families and staff with understanding and appropriately responding to prevalent child mental health concerns.
Support families and staff with accessing mental health interventions or supports.
Support the well-being of children and families involved in any significant child health, mental health, or safety incidents.
Ensure that all children receive adequate screening and appropriate follow up and that families receive referrals about how to access services for potential social, emotional, behavioral, or other mental health concerns.
Manage time effectively to optimize consultation hours.
Additional duties related to the area of mental health and wellness, as requested.