Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant (Enhanced)

Public Health Management Corporation • Philadelphia, PA

19h • Onsite

About The Position

The Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant (EMCH) supports, educates, and provides resources to PHLpreK providers on early childhood mental health. Under the supervision of the Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation and Family Navigation Supervisor, the consultant helps build collaborative relationships that reduce childcare expulsions related to challenging behaviors, increase understanding of social-emotional development and its impact on educational success, support effective strategies for young children with social-emotional and behavioral concerns, and connect providers and families with resources. The role serves children ages 3–5 and involves work with providers, families, practitioners, coaches, and community agencies. It includes local, regional, and statewide travel as needed, as well as attendance at weekend, evening, and early morning meetings to accommodate family and childcare schedules.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Child Development, Social Work, Psychology, Early Childhood Education, or a related field.
• At least three years of post-degree experience, including child mental health, a related human service field, or an early childhood setting.
• Specialized training and experience in early childhood education, early intervention, young child social-emotional development, special education, mental health, and social work.
• Substantial knowledge of child development, developmentally appropriate practice, working with children in groups, and mental health issues.
• Knowledge of social-emotional development, screening and assessment, evidence-based mental health promotion and prevention strategies, strengths-based practices, community resources, and family systems.
• Demonstrated ability to work in school or classroom settings and collaboratively in the community.
• Ability to build trusting, effective working relationships with providers, families, and coaches.
• Demonstrated experience working with culturally diverse populations.
• Ability to travel locally, regionally, and statewide as needed.
• Excellent oral and written communication, competent interpersonal, and strong organizational skills.
• Certified Professional Development & Technical Assistance instructor through the PA Quality Assurance System (PQAS), or ability to become certified within 90 days.
• Attend weekend, evening, and early morning meetings as needed to accommodate family and childcare meeting or training schedules.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree preferred.
• Infant Toddler Mental Health Certificate or equivalent, or an established evidence-based practice for social-emotional or behavioral concerns, preferred.
• Engagement with a family member who has experienced infant/toddler services, preschool Early Intervention, or behavioral health is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Provide one-on-one, child-specific technical assistance to PHLpreK providers using the Pyramid Model and deliver interventions in settings implementing the PBIS model.
• Observe children and classroom environments and recommend ways to promote healthy social-emotional development.
• Review screening data for enrolled PHLpreK children, identify red flags, and collaborate with the Family Navigator to follow up with providers and families and refer children for evaluation.
• Deliver targeted, child-specific social-emotional supports that promote self-regulation and other behaviors associated with positive outcomes for children ages 3–5.
• Coach practitioners and PHLpreK coaches to increase positive interactions with children and support classroom social-emotional development.
• Visit families in their homes or communities when children in early learning and childcare settings have social-emotional or behavioral concerns, helping families implement and extend effective strategies.
• Recommend resources and make direct referrals for Preschool Early Intervention, Behavioral Health, and other services, individually and with the Early Childhood Education Navigator.
• Participate in developing protocols and policies for enhanced early childhood mental health procedures for PHLpreK.
• Deliver professional development on early childhood development, developmental screening, positive relationships, social-emotional development, and positive behavior management.
• Establish and maintain collaborative relationships with agencies addressing the mental health needs of young children.
• Support practitioners and parents in accessing community resources.
• Complete required paperwork and service documentation in case files and the PHLpreK database.
• Enter early childhood mental health data and submit reports as requested by OCF, PHLpreK, and DBHIDS leadership.
• Participate in parent meetings at PHLpreK sites to discuss services and potential benefits to children and families.
• Participate in state and local meetings concerning early childhood mental health.
• Engage in ongoing professional development supporting continuous quality improvement, translation of research into practice, and knowledge of early childhood mental health practices.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level