Infant Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC)

Community Action Planning Council of Jefferson County•City of Watertown, NY

2d•$24 - $26•Hybrid

About The Position

The Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant (IECMHC) will promote young children's social and emotional development by building confidence, competencies, and skills of caregivers, early care and education staff and systems. The IECMHC will provide a broad range of services focusing on supporting the relationships between children ages birth-5 years and the caregivers in their lives. Services include but are not limited to classroom and programmatic assessments, and consultation cycles to teaching staff, center directors, childcare providers, and caregivers. Guidance and project model structure is carried out in partnership with Child Care Solutions, the Early Care and Learning Council and NYS OCFS. Overall, the goal of the IECMHC project is to utilize a collaborative, reflective and problem-solving approach, to reduce challenging behaviors, increase pro-social behaviors, impact occurrences of expulsions and suspensions in early care and education settings and improve the greater early-education culture.

Requirements

Master's Degree in Psychology, Social Work, Mental Health Counseling, or other related fields including but not limited to: Early Childhood/Special Education, Human Services/Family Development, Child Life Specialist, Child Development
Valid driver's license required.
Minimum - Three to Five years of experience working with children and/or families, and/or early childhood settings, or related experience.
Above average computer skills that include the ability to send and receive emails, post information to a database or spreadsheet and basic word processing; plus, the ability to create spreadsheets, graphics, and reports using standard software applications. Computer software includes Microsoft Word and Excel, and program specific platforms.
Requires close mental and visual attention to perform job duties, as well as the ability to receive and convey detailed information. A majority of the assigned tasks require entering, comparing, and transferring data in the computer databases for the relevant contract.
Able to be non-judgmental in working with low-income families, work as part of a team, able to complete tasks independently, maintain a professional appearance in manner and attire when dealing with coworkers, clients and the general public.
Must be able to pass satisfactory background clearance, maintain confidentiality of program and agency related business.
Must be able to provide independent transportation to perform job duties when Department vehicle is unavailable. Employee must maintain throughout employment a valid driver's license free from infractions.
Must have medical insurance or will be required to utilize Agency Fringe Benefit for health insurance coverage.
Community Action is a substance-free workplace. If required, employee must pass post-accident, and reasonable suspicion drug testing.

Nice To Haves

demonstrated experience in an early childhood program, early intervention, or early childhood mental health program.

Responsibilities

Offer consultation that reflects and respects the philosophy of early childhood mental health practices, the assigned program, and that is culturally responsive to the child, the caregiver, and the early care and education setting.
Assess strengths and challenges within the infant and early childhood setting/environment, as well as teacher/provider practice.
Support infant and early childhood staff in creating a prosocial learning environment, that is emotionally safe, responsive, and growth promoting by co-developing and implementing classroom plans, specifically designed for each classroom.
Share resources for social-emotional learning in early care and education environments.
Guide use of developmental, social and emotional screening tools.
Support infant and early childhood staff with classroom management strategies to promote the social-emotional development for children in their care.
Develop and conduct a continuum of training, technical assistance and coaching support for providers, caregivers, and community members.
Maintain participation, service and evaluation records per agency and funder standards.
Stay current with research, regulations and best practice in the infant and early childhood education mental health fields.
Incorporate the perspectives of multiple communities, including communities of color, in consideration of the impacts and outcomes of the work.
Assist infant and early childhood programs in building appropriate referral networks and processes for connecting with outside community-based services.
Collaborate with early care and education program administration to develop inclusive policies for working with all children.
Collaborate with early care and education program administration to implement effective policies that promote effective self-care strategies for staff.
Participate in ongoing continuing education, which may include, but is not limited to the following topics: IECMH best/evidence-based practices, Adverse Childhood Experiences, Cultural Diversity & Humility, DC 0-5 Assessment, Early Childhood Mental Health Assessment and Strategies.
Complete all required documentation timely and accurately.
Attend all required supervision meetings including but not limited to: model, data, agency/ departmental.
Participate in monthly data and evaluation support calls with outside partners to assure the consistent & accurate use of data collection systems.
Data analysis for interpretation & planning for quality improvement.
Maintain documentation specific to position.
Maintain certification for all assessment tools.
Provide support for the Infant Toddler Program; including but not limited to providing Basic Technical Assistance, Intensive Technical Assistance, and Training.
Maintain confidentiality of all clients protected health information and adheres to all HIPAA related policies and procedures.
Participate in external committees, task forces, community meetings, and visibility events as requested to promote the program, and to build professional practice networks, on local, regional, and/or nationally levels.
Participate in monthly IEMCH Consultation calls to build an effective statewide practice.
Participate in outreach efforts in the community representing Community Action Planning Council, the Child Care Resource Center, and their programs and services.
Perform these responsibilities with the understanding that responsibilities and tasks may be modified or expanded over time.