Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant

Tykes & Teens•Indian River County, FL

About The Position

The Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant (ECMHC) works to create nurturing environments that advance social-emotional and behavioral health outcomes for children ages 0 to 5 by building the capacity of adult caregivers in early childhood education programs. The program aims to increase resilience among children and caregivers and reduce challenging behaviors, including behaviors that can lead to suspension or expulsion. It does this through evidence-based practices, early identification of behavioral concerns, and referrals to appropriate community services. The role may also include parent education and training for early childhood education sites and programs on social-emotional development and the well-being of young children. The consultant provides relationship-based, regular onsite consultation and reflective practice for early childhood caregivers, and collaborates with educators, families, clinicians, program leaders, and community systems.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in mental health, social work, counseling, psychology, early childhood, or another related human services field.
Three years of related experience, or a combination of education and experience, in early childhood development, early childhood education, early childhood mental health, or mental health.
Knowledge of child development, children's mental health, family dynamics, reflective practice, group facilitation, and adult change processes.
Experience examining and evaluating early childhood classrooms.
Understanding of and ability to support early childhood social-emotional development through functional assessment.
Eligible for endorsement through the Florida Association of Infant Childhood Mental Health.
Knowledge of and experience with trauma-informed care.
Proficiency in the core elements of mental health consultation.
Knowledge of children's social-emotional development, evidence-based practices, adult learning strategies, and how they relate to one another.
Ability to apply reflective practice in consultation.
Ability to collaborate with families, teams, and clinicians to respond to site and program needs.
Advocacy and communication skills.
Knowledge of relevant software.
Successful completion of all required criminal background checks.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in mental health, social work, counseling, psychology, early childhood, or another related human services field.

Responsibilities

Ensure services are evidence-based and comply with legal and ethical standards and Tykes & Teens policies and procedures.
Use collaborative, reflective consultation in classrooms to help educators understand challenging behaviors, recognize implicit biases, and co-create sustainable social-emotional interventions.
Participate in individual and peer reflective supervision to process classroom dynamics, evaluate consulting approaches, and examine the parallel process among consultant, coach, teacher, and child.
Conduct needs assessments at each site and facilitate a collaborative, cyclical process with site staff to address identified program and classroom practice needs.
Coordinate and deliver regular onsite consultative services to early childhood education programs using a relationship-based model.
Provide reflective practice to early childhood caregivers to help them understand and support children's social-emotional development.
Promote high-quality interactions and relationships among children, peers, teaching teams, administrators, and teachers.
Build shared understanding of how trauma and adversity—including oppression, prejudice, discrimination, racism, and gender inequity—affect the developing brain.
Support the mental health and well-being of adults who care for children.
Connect and refer children, families, and providers to programs, resources, and supports, while addressing barriers to access.
Guide early childhood program leadership in developing the support and infrastructure needed to implement evidence-based social-emotional practices.
Build relationships with other early childhood-serving systems in the community.
Maintain current knowledge of evidence-based practices in the early childhood mental health field and complete programs such as the Infant Family Specialist Endorsement through FAIMH.
Regularly collect, maintain, and submit required data.
Perform other related duties as assigned.