34505 Early/Head Start Corona Center Based- Senior Engagement Specialist

The Child Center of NY • New York, NY

31d • $42 - $44 • Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Engagement Specialist consults and supports staff, children, and families, with a special focus on children with developmental concerns or diagnosed disabilities who may be eligible for services through the Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE) or Early Intervention (EI). The role involves consultation in classrooms and during home visits across four sites, training and coaching of staff, parent training, and screening, assessment, and referral services. The specialist will also be responsible for data collection, record keeping, and ensuring compliance with Head Start Performance Standards and State regulations, including CPSE and EI.

Requirements

• Demonstrated understanding of infant and early childhood mental health, including knowledge of developmental disabilities and the CPSE/EI process.
• Experience working with toddlers and preschool children with developmental concerns or diagnosed disabilities and their families.
• Experience with clinical documentation, including documentation required for CPSE referrals and IEPs.
• Experience formulating and writing assessments and support plans, preferably for young children, including those with special education needs.
• Demonstrated understanding of differences in mental health services and concepts across cultures.
• Understanding Reflective Consultation and ability to use a reflective stance when collaborating with teams.
• Demonstrated knowledge of child mental health services systems.
• Master’s Degree required, preferably in Child Development, Infant Mental Health, Social Work, Psychology, Counseling, or related fields.
• Minimum of 3-year direct experience in an early childhood setting.
• Ability to manage physically active children ages 1 to 5, including guiding, pursuing, and withstanding sudden movements.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with evidence-based practices and curricula to promote early childhood mental health is desirable, e.g., Ackerman, Incredible Years, Parents as Teachers, etc.
• Knowledge of Head Start is desirable.
• 5 years preferred experience in an early childhood setting.
• Will support families that speak Spanish or Bengali and others, may be required depending on client needs.

Responsibilities

• Visit each classroom at least once a month.
• Provide child development information to staff related to social-emotional development and mental health strategies for supporting children with developmental concerns or disabilities.
• Provide guidance to staff on selecting, implementing, and interpreting developmental and social-emotional screening and assessment tools and findings.
• Provide guidance and model developmentally appropriate activities for children and effective ways to work with and support young children, with IEPs/IFSPs or receiving CPSE/EI services.
• Provide written and oral observations and strengths-based feedback to classrooms on an annual basis.
• Meet classroom teams to review classroom observations and develop and implement plans to address the needs of children with developmental delays or disabilities.
• Support, coordinate, and provide staff trainings related to developmental, social-emotional and mental health issues at least once per quarter, including best practices for working with toddlers and preschool children with developmental concerns or disabilities and understanding the CPSE/EI process.
• Participate in weekly staff meetings.
• Participate in the development and implementation of mental health programs and policy, ensuring alignment with CPSE/EI and special education requirements.
• Coordinate and facilitate parent and child groups, including supporting families navigating the CPSE/EI process or supporting children with developmental concerns or disabilities.
• Conduct observations of individual children.
• Meet with families to consult on child and family needs and create or follow-up on plans to support needs.
• Conduct standardized developmental, behavioral, and/or social-emotional screens and assessments for individual children as assigned or referred for consultation.
• Provide child and family referral and follow-up to special education services.
• Participate in regular supervision with Program Director and other Consultants.
• Contribute to federal, state, and local reporting requirements.
• Support recruitment of children with disabilities.

What This Job Offers

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