Mental Health & Development Manager

AVANCE Houston • Houston, TX

1d

About The Position

The Mental Health & Development Manager leads and oversees mental health, developmental, behavioral, and disabilities services in accordance with Head Start Program Performance Standards, applicable regulations, and agency policies. The role supports integrated service delivery, school readiness goals, and continuous quality improvement, and collaborates with program leaders, staff, families, contractors, and community partners to provide effective services to children and families.

The manager oversees identification, referral, evaluation, service coordination, and follow-up for children with developmental, behavioral, or mental health concerns. The role also monitors services delivered by contracted professionals and partners, supports individualized plans and strategies, and ensures staff and families have access to relevant information and resources.

The position monitors Head Start disability requirements and supports IDEA compliance, including implementation of IFSPs, IEPs, accommodations, behavior support plans, and inclusive practices. It provides guidance and technical assistance to staff and families, promotes family engagement, reviews program data and outcomes, maintains accurate and confidential records, and supports staff development and performance management. Travel may be necessary.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in psychology, counseling, social work, child development, special education, early childhood education, human services, or a related field.
• Three years of progressively responsible experience in delivery, coordination, or management of mental health, developmental, disabilities, social work, counseling, or educational services.
• At least one year of experience in a supervisory, leadership, or program management capacity.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in psychology, counseling, social work, child development, special education, early childhood education, human services, or a related field.
• Five years of progressively responsible experience in mental health, developmental, disabilities, social work, counseling, or educational services.
• Two to three years of supervisory or management experience.
• Experience in Head Start, Early Head Start, Early Childhood Intervention (ECI), special education, or other early childhood programs.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and monitor systems, procedures, and practices for mental health, developmental, behavioral, and disabilities services in accordance with HSPPS, applicable regulations, and agency policies.
• Provide leadership and oversight to ensure high-quality service delivery and regulatory compliance.
• Collaborate with the Assistant Director of Health, Mental Health and Development, and Nutrition and other program leaders on integrated services, school readiness goals, and continuous quality improvement.
• Assist with developing, procuring, implementing, and monitoring contracts and RFP processes related to mental health, developmental, and disabilities services.
• Provide supervision, guidance, and oversight to Mental Health and Development Associates, including coaching, consultation, training, referral, and follow-up activities.
• Prepare reports, data summaries, correspondence, and documentation for program operations, governance, audits, monitoring reviews, and regulatory reporting.
• Oversee identification, referral, evaluation, service coordination, and follow-up systems for children with suspected or identified developmental, behavioral, or mental health concerns.
• Coordinate and monitor services provided by contracted mental health professionals, developmental specialists, evaluators, and community partners.
• Support development, implementation, and monitoring of individualized plans and strategies addressing children's developmental, behavioral, and social-emotional needs.
• Ensure staff and families receive information, resources, and support related to child development, social-emotional well-being, behavior guidance, and mental health services.
• Monitor compliance with Head Start requirements concerning enrollment, participation, and inclusion of children with disabilities.
• Provide education, guidance, and technical assistance regarding IDEA, IFSPs, IEPs, and applicable Head Start requirements.
• Collaborate with Education leadership, Education Coaches, and other program leaders on systems supporting IFSPs, IEPs, accommodations, behavior support plans, and inclusive practices.
• Monitor the effectiveness of training, coaching, consultation, and technical assistance provided by Mental Health and Development Associates.
• Monitor referral, evaluation, eligibility determination, service delivery, and transition processes for children with suspected or identified disabilities.
• Establish and maintain partnerships with LEAs, ECI programs, healthcare providers, mental health professionals, and community organizations.
• Promote family engagement and support nurturing, responsive relationships and environments at home and in program settings.
• Provide training, coaching, technical assistance, and consultation to staff on child development, social-emotional development, behavior support, inclusion, trauma-informed care, and mental health topics.
• Assist families and staff in accessing community resources and services for children's developmental, behavioral, and mental health needs.
• Review and analyze program data, monitoring reports, service outcomes, and child-level information to identify trends, ensure compliance, and support data-driven decisions.
• Implement and monitor continuous quality improvement activities related to mental health, developmental, behavioral, and disabilities services.
• Ensure confidentiality, accuracy, and maintenance of records, reports, and documentation in accordance with regulations and agency policies.
• Recommend hiring, supervision, coaching, and evaluation of Mental Health and Development Associates and other assigned staff.
• Support staff professional growth through coaching, training, and performance management.
• Attend meetings, workshops, conferences, and professional development activities as required or assigned.
• Travel as necessary to perform assigned duties and responsibilities.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

What This Job Offers

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