Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant - Macon County, IL

Baby Fold•Normal, IL

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Baby Fold has been successfully wrapping services around children and families since 1902, offering life-critical support such as foster care, special education, early childhood programming, and post-adoption support. The Baby Fold is a unique resource with a strong and enduring heritage. We care for our youngest citizens so they can be blessed with loving homes, stable lives, and the futures they deserve. The Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant (MHC) will provide ongoing, relationship based mental health consultation, technical assistance, and referral services to Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) providers working with children ages birth to age 5 and their families in Central Illinois but primarily located in Macon County area and surrounding communities served. The MHC will provide/facilitate pertinent training to ECCE providers and others within the communities served, and on a statewide basis. The MHC will work proactively within their respective communities to improve and facilitate understanding and collaboration between the ECCE field and the Mental Health field, and to promote community understanding of and support for child and family mental health. Demonstrates an ability to apply trauma-informed principles and integrates them into daily practice. Communicates effectively and promotes collaborative problem solving by demonstrating care and respect in considering the diverse experiences and perspectives of others.

Requirements

Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Infant Mental Health, or related field.
Must meet the definition of a Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP) and must be supervised by a licensed employee.
Knowledge of early childhood development, including an understanding of the concepts and dynamics underlying young children’s social-emotional development (such as attachment and separation), as well as an understanding of family dynamics and the importance of child-caregiver interaction.
Experience in the Early Childhood Care and Education field, including an ability to be comfortable practicing in various early childhood settings, and to effectively integrate various appropriate mental health activities and philosophies.
Ability to identify key signs, symptoms, impact and manifestations of trauma, disrupted attachment, and adversity in children and adults.
Willingness to work evening and weekend hours when necessary to meet the needs of the childcare providers and families that we serve.
Must pass necessary background checks.
Must travel for job responsibilities, including long distance driving; hold a valid driver’s license that has not been revoked or suspended within the past three years, and use of a personal vehicle with adequate insurance.
Ability to collaborate with local Child Care Resource and Referral agencies, and other partners in the DHS CCR&R system.

Nice To Haves

Licensed Practitioner of the Healing Arts (LPHA) as defined in Medicaid Rule 132 preferred.
Bilingual applicants are encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities

Establish and maintain supportive relationships with childcare providers, providing ongoing mental health consultation, technical assistance, and at least 200 onsite contacts annually.
Support providers in strengthening interactions with children and families, addressing social-emotional and behavioral concerns, and developing effective intervention strategies.
Provide screenings and assessments when appropriate, connect providers and families with community resources, and promote trauma-informed, culturally responsive practices that support healthy child development.
Facilitate delivery of training to the ECCE community, either by providing the training directly or arranging for other competent trainers to do so. A minimum of 20 training events should be provided per service year.
Identify those training topics appropriate primarily for local presentation and those that lend themselves to broader audiences (such as State conferences) and facilitate either or both types of presentation as appropriate.
Represents the agency in a positive light to active and potential clients, referral and funding sources, and the general public.
Utilizes community contacts to advocate for clients and to promote child and family well-being.
Demonstrates the ability to communicate and collaborate with children, families, professionals and communities to establish supportive relationships.