Infant Mental Health Specialist

MONROE COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH AUTHORITY • Monroe, MI

38d • $33 - $42 • Hybrid

About The Position

Provide community based services to pregnant women and infant’s age 0-3 years in situations of high risk for impaired psychosocial and cognitive development and where the parents' capacity to nurture is constrained by problems of attachment, prior history of parent, and/or situational stressors and who meet eligibility for Home Based Services. First consideration in enrollment for services or case consultation will be given to infants in families with caregivers with significant risk factors (i.e. SPMI, history, current postpartum depression, teen moms, etc.). Recruitment will be undertaken through referrals from: a) Promedica Monroe Hospital or other local hospitals where a mother/infant has been screened and found appropriate for services. b) Local Health Department c) Early On Project d) Monroe Wraparound Initiative e) DHS Prevention Staff f) Self referral Services will be provided in accordance with Home Based or Prevention Direct Infant Mental Health Services expectations/ guidelines that include assessment of consumer/family needs (with focus on family input), service provision of an outreach nature, coordination of community services and basic needs provision. Special emphasis will be on issues of parent-infant relationship and interaction, parental responsiveness, resolution of intra-psychic and family issues impeding attachment, infant stimulation, enhancement of infant development, the promotion of problem-solving skills and the development of an on-going support system. Interventions will support and nurture the parent as primary caregiver. Supervision is provided by the Program Supervisor.

Requirements

• Master's Degree in social work, psychology, nursing, or related field with current State of Michigan Licensure.
• Must have documented training related to growth and development, basic clinical theories and treatment modalities as they relate to infant and family issues.
• Must have at least one year experience working with infants/ young children and families and be eligible for a Level 2 Infant Mental Health endorsement from the Michigan Association of Infant Mental Health according to current Department of Community health standards.
• Demonstrated knowledge and skills necessary to provide the appropriate care for the specific clinical needs and ages of the individuals served.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the clinical needs, symptoms, and behaviors of individuals served, as well as understand the principles of growth and development over the life span; have the ability to assess data reflecting each individual’s status; interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each individual’s requirements in relation to his or her age-specific/population specific needs; and to provide the care needed by the infant and family care group.
• Ability to work in a complex, detail-oriented, deadline structured, busy organization.
• Frequent lifting or carrying up to 15 pounds
• Must be able to hear
• Frequent standing/walking going up and down stairs due to community outreach basis
• Ability to communicate effectively in person and/or phone
• Ability to read, analyze and interpret information
• Ability to write reports, correspondence and procedures
• Ability to maintain consumer charts/records
• Ability to define and solve practical problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions
• Ability to influence others
• Ability to conduct patient assessments and treatment.
• Demonstrated proficiency in MS Outlook, Word and such other applications if/when required.
• Ability to be trained and successfully complete other computer training as required.
• Valid driver’s license, proof of current automobile insurance and driving record determined by the Authority’s insurance carrier to be eligible for coverage if required as part of positions duties.

Responsibilities

• Conducts Biopsychosocial Assessment: Assesses the effects of the family on the condition of the child. Assesses the effects of the child upon the family. Assesses all members of the family unit. Understands and appropriately use knowledge of basic growth and development and learning issues of children. Assesses and teaches parenting skills. Assesses functioning in areas of school, community, family and interpersonal relationships. Assess growth and development of the child. Understands and appropriately uses strengths of the child and family. Understands and appropriately uses natural supports within and outside of the family unit.
• Provide direct and indirect service units consistent with qualitative and quantitative performance goals and standards as established to comply with Authority requirements.
• Provide services designed to prevent immediate and long-term consequences of aberrant parenting and which promote optional social, emotional, cognitive and physical development. Such objectives shall include the following: Develop a strong mother/caregiver attachment with infant; Facilitate appropriate child care practices and infant adaptation; Reduce mother's level of psychological distress; Reduce social isolation/linking to ongoing informal and formal social supports; Reduce parental and family stressors affecting the infant; developing life coping skills; Maintain the health of the infant by connecting infant and family to a medical provider to assure well-baby visits and up to date immunizations; Maintain the health of the mother; and Deal with other problems affecting the infant.
• Collaborate with the local Early On Project and Monroe Wraparound Initiative (MWI) to receive community input, establish referral networks and provide service coordination.
• Cooperate with the interagency policy framework and resource priorities developed through the processes of the interagency Human Services Collaborative Network.
• Develop and maintain referral linkages through in-service presentations, especially to hospitals, the Health Department and area clinics.
• Develop Family Plan of Service (FPOS) with the primary caregiver. Family members shall be involved in the assessment and intervention as appropriate and feasible per Person Centered Planning guidelines.
• Coordinate with other systems involved with the family in order to clarify rules, develop a joint service plan, coordinate service provision and where possible, reduce the number of professionals interacting concurrently with the family.
• Maintain complete and detailed case records and service activity documentation consistent with DCH standards, Authority policy and procedure, and requirements of third party payor sources.
• Enhance community understanding of the relationship between early life experiences and future psychosocial development through community presentations to schools, civic and community agencies.
• Participate in regular supervision and IMH consultation as scheduled to review progress and consider alternative intervention plans.
• Completes all mandatory training and certifications by their due date.
• Maintains 24 hours of child specific training annually.
• Attends workshops, trainings, and engages in independent study to promote personal and professional development which will support program/departmental goals.
• Complies with all standards established and evaluated under the UM/UR and Peer review process.
• Fosters, promotes and demonstrates alignment with the organization’s mission, vision and goals.
• Participates actively in performance improvement activities.
• Assures professional, ethical behavior and relationships
• Completes additional IPOS case management duties as assigned.
• Makes presentations to the public including school, civic and community agencies and relevant meetings, as needed.
• Maintain current skills and developing new skills to maintain current competence essential for implementing job duties and responsibilities.
• Follows oral and written direction completing tasks as assigned by due dates.
• Maintains working knowledge of software applications used in performance of daily duties.
• Complies with and maintains competence with all applicable laws, regulations, standards, and rules governed under Medicare, Medicaid, the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH), Michigan Department of Human Services (MDHS), Joint Commission, and any applicable funding sources.
• Understands, adheres and maintains competence with all MCMHA and CMHPSM standards, policies, procedures as they appear in MCMHA’s, Management of Information, Finance-Contract Management, Recipient Rights, Performance Improvement, Administration, Human Resources, Treatment Foster Care, Environment and Provision of Care Policies.
• Complies with and maintains competence with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations as they pertain to privacy and confidentiality.
• Interacts appropriately with Managers and peers.
• Performs required duties with an awareness of impact upon the Authority structure as a whole.
• Works as a Team Player within the entire Authority Structure.

Benefits

• Bi-weekly pay
• Vacation, sick, and personal time
• Four medical plans to choose from, eligible first day of hire
• Dental
• Vision
• Aflac Disability and life insurance provided by the Agency, optional buy-ups
• 401a Money Purchase Pension Plan, 401a Defined Contribution, and 457 Deferred Compensation retirement plans
• YMCA corporate discount

What This Job Offers

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