Early Learning Mental Health Manager

Metropolitan Family Services•Wheaton, IL

15d•Onsite

About The Position

We are now hiring for a full-time Mental Health Manager to join our Early Childhood team located at our DuPage office. This role supervises and coordinates all aspects of the ECE Early Learning Mental Health content area, including developing, monitoring, and evaluating the program. The manager provides clinical supervision to counselors/social workers seeking licensure and reflective supervision to Early Learning Mental Health Specialists. They are responsible for implementing policies and procedures related to Mental Health and Wellness for various early childhood programs and collaborating with staff to ensure fidelity of the social-emotional framework/curriculum. The position also involves identifying and creating training opportunities for staff and families, onboarding new hires, assisting in policy development to limit suspension and prohibit expulsion, and developing the annual continuous quality improvement plan for the mental health content area. The role includes observing children, providing feedback on teacher practices, participating in multidisciplinary team meetings, performing biopsychosocial assessments, providing case management and counseling services, and developing and maintaining a staff wellness plan in collaboration with HR and program supervisors. Additionally, the manager will develop and maintain contacts with community groups, collaborate with other specialists and partners, and ensure the quality and quantity of services provided, staying abreast of client needs and participating in planning. The role requires working effectively with diverse staff and populations, and assuring adherence to health and safety standards, including active supervision to ensure child safety.

Requirements

Master’s degree in social work, Counseling or related field from an accredited college or university required.
5+ years of post-graduate counseling or social work experience with increasing levels of responsibility required.
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) required.
Experience providing mental health services for children ages 0-5 in early childhood education required.
Extensive knowledge of child development and early childhood education is required.
Satisfactorily pass all screenings and criminal background checks.
Driving for work required with a personally owned vehicle.
Travel between sites required.

Nice To Haves

Advanced writing and communication skills, knowledge of data analysis, and reflective leadership.

Responsibilities

Supervises and coordinates all aspects of the ECE Early Learning Mental Health content area.
Develop, monitor, and evaluate the ECE Mental Health content area including on a regular basis, provide ongoing monitoring, tracking, follow up, and analysis of the mental health content program standards and services.
Provides clinical supervision to counselors/social workers seeking clinical licensure.
Provides reflective supervision to all Early Learning Mental Health Specialist.
Is responsible for implementation of policies, procedures, and standards relevant to Early Head Start, Head Start, Preschool for All and Prevention Initiative programs (EHS/HS/PFA/PI) as they relate to Mental Health and Wellness.
Works with Early Learning program staff to implement, support, and ensure fidelity of the social-emotional framework/curriculum (i.e., Pyramid Model).
Serves on committees related to the social-emotional framework/curriculum.
Identify and create training and professional development opportunities to better support individualized learning and improve teaching practices in the mental health domain.
Utilize specialized training to provide additional professional development opportunities for staff.
Identify and create trainings and workshops for families enrolled in the Early Learning program to promote mental health.
Train all staff on Mental Health Content area, including providing onboarding training to all Early Learning new hires.
Assist in the implementation of policies to limit suspension and prohibit expulsion
Develop the mental health content area’s annual continuous quality improvement plan.
Observe children and provide feedback regarding teacher practices to teaching staff, as well as to the Education Coach, Family Support Worker, and Site Supervisor.
Engages in multidisciplinary team meetings and consultations.
Performs biopsychosocial assessments as assigned as needed.
Provides a full range of case management, counseling, and related services to Early Learning participants as needed.
In collaboration with Human Resources, program supervisors and site team, assists with developing and maintaining a staff wellness plan, including activities/events that are specific to their needs to ensure staffs well-being is a priority and acknowledged throughout the year.
Develops and maintains contacts with community groups relating to program needs.
Assist with cross collaboration with other content area specialists and partners in implementing Program Services.
Works collaboratively with other program supervisors to carry out program goals.
Responsible for maintaining quality and quantity of services.
Keeps abreast of client service needs and participates in planning for them.
Works effectively with diverse staff and service population.
Assure all sites adhere to strictest standards of health and safety.
Provides active supervision to ensure the safety of Head Start/Early Head Start children while in the classroom, during transitions, at time of transportation, and while on the playground.
Ensures that no child shall be left alone or unsupervised.
Other duties as assigned.