CONTRACT Young Child Mental Health Specialist

Warren Village Inc.•Denver, CO

17d•Onsite

About The Position

Warren Village is seeking a part-time Young Child Mental Health Specialist contractor to join their team at the Alameda Early Learning Center. This role involves classroom consultations, observations, direct work with teachers, individual meetings with families (including after hours), and other educational support. The position is grant-funded and guaranteed through March 31, 2027, with potential for renewal. Warren Village is a Colorado non-profit dedicated to serving unhoused and unstably housed low-income single-parent families in the Denver area through a two-generation approach that includes housing, parent services, and early childhood education. The organization values diversity and strives to create an inclusive environment.

Requirements

Master’s degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology or PhD, PsyD required.
Minimum of two years of experience working with children ages birth to 5 in a Mental health capacity necessary, and with their adult caregivers.
Ability to create strong relationships with adults and children with an understanding of, and respect for, culture and diversity.
Knowledge of early development, infant/preschool mental health theory and infant/ preschool mental health interventions and trauma informed care.
Work experience in group-settings for children.
Experience with assessment of young children's social and emotional functioning.
Experience with and/or knowledge of group dynamics and intervention with adults.
Knowledge and understanding of trauma-informed care principles/practices.

Nice To Haves

Current License in Colorado as an LCSW, LPC or LMFT heavily preferred.
Bilingual English/Spanish highly preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide consultation to Early Learning Center staff regarding individual children, including guidance on challenging behaviors.
Be available to meet with staff and parents to assess and understand the individual needs of the child and work with the team to develop developmentally and culturally appropriate interventions.
Maintain a caseload of 3-5 clients, holding weekly therapy sessions with children and their caregiver(s).
Observe children in their childcare setting to assess functioning and relationships with caregivers and other children.
Meet with families to complete assessments, provide developmental guidance and referrals, with linkage to clinical services, and actively assist families in the referral process.
Observe and meet with classroom staff to address classroom-level concerns that impact quality of care, such as daily routines, classroom transitions, social emotional literacy, SEL curriculum usage, and staff/child relationships.
Meet regularly with the director to address programmatic concerns that affect the quality of care provided to the children.
Provide psycho-education and support to families/caregivers.
Provide trainings to center staff and parents on social/emotional topics.
Maintain accurate and timely documentation in adherence with program expectations and accountability requirements.
Participate in team meetings, in-services, and supervision as needed.