Early Education Services Support Coordinator - Mental Health

Position Title: Early Education Services Support Coordinator

Salary: $25.00 - $30.00; Exempt

Supervision/Authority: Reports to Director of Mental Health and Support Services

Summary: Under direct supervision, the Support Coordinator is responsible for implementing tasks below while understanding there may be other duties as assigned. Provides support and services to children, families and staff to ensure compliance of Head Start Performance Standards including but not limited to providing mental health consultation in classrooms and home visits, training and coaching team members, screening, assessment and referral services, as well as data collection and maintenance. Supports the inclusion of children of all abilities in early education programming.

Duties and Responsibilities - Job Specific

Consultation: Provide mental health consultation related to staff wellness, family wellness and children's social emotional development. Conduct observations and assessments of individual children as assigned or referred for consultation. Meet with educators and families to consult on child and family needs and create follow-up plans of referral to support these needs. Offer psychoeducation to help staff and families understand and respond to mental health concerns. Assists educators and families in understanding and supporting child's diagnosis.

Classroom/Child Contact - Connect with each educator at a frequency determined by program to discuss and/or observe, assess, and mitigate individual children's needs and/or family concerns. Provide guidance to staff on selecting, implementing, and interpreting 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. Provide written and oral observations and strength-based feedback to classrooms on an annual basis.

Home Based Education Consultation/Support: Accompany Home Based Educators on visitations as requested and/or support home visitors by offering mental health consultation that supports positive connections with families.

Behavior Plans: Develop family and classroom behavior plans with the assistance of supervisor, in collaboration with educators, families and/or providers, and allocate support when needed.

Collaborate: Collaborate with assigned staff, including at multi-disciplinary team meetings, as well as with parents/families to discuss mental health issues and strategies.

Programmatic Consultation: Participate in staff team meetings. Participate in the development and implementation of mental health program and policy.

Referrals: Refer children and parents for additional external supports as needed.

Trainings: Coordinate, recruit, and facilitate participants at least one parent training per year. Support, coordinate, and provide staff trainings related to social‐emotional and mental health issues at least once per quarter.

Assessment: Utilize data from parent and teacher interviews, child observation, ASQ-3, ASQ-SE and Teaching Strategies Gold, Well-Child exams, special education providers to complete child assessment. Share information from child assessment with educators, families and partner providers in an effort to best support child development.

Competencies:

Highly proficient communication skills; oral and written.

Demonstrates leadership and ability to work independently.

Demonstrates excellent organizational skill and attention to detail.

Excellent time management.

Knowledge and understanding of issues related to individuals and families in poverty.

Ability to maintain client and organizational confidentiality.

Work Environment:

This job operates primarily in an office and classroom environment.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. The employee is regularly required to travel in their own vehicle, expect regular kneeling, stooping, bending, and sitting on the floor. There will also be occasional lifting up to 50 pounds.

Position Type and Expected Hours of Work:

Full time, full-year position, depending on Agency funding. Limited evening and weekend work may be required as job duties demand.

Travel:

Travel is primarily local during the business day, although some out-of-the-area and overnight travel may be expected.

Required Education and Experience:

The candidate will have a Master's degree in Mental Health or in related field (Psychology, Counseling, Social Work); license or certification in the mental health field or ability to obtain license with the State of Michigan within 12 months of hire. At least three (3) years of experience working with children; or equivalent combination of related training and experience preferred. No record of abuse/neglect of children or adults; no prior criminal record relative to the position. Must pass pre-employment physical, TB test. Be certified in Child and Adult CPR and Basic First Aid. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

Additional Eligibility Qualifications:

Commitment to CAAC goals and mission.

EEO Statement:

Community Action of Allegan County (CAAC) extends employment opportunities to qualified applicants and employees without regard to age, race, color, sex, weight, height, religion, national original, pregnancy, marital status, veteran status, physical or mental disability unrelated to the employee's ability to perform his/her job and/or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, lay-off, recall, transfers, leave of absence, compensation and training, including internship. In accordance with applicable federal and state laws protecting qualified individuals with known disabilities, CAAC will attempt to reasonably accommodate those individuals unless doing so would create an undue hardship. Any qualified applicant or employee with a disability who requires an accommodation in order to perform the essential functions of the job should contact CAAC management.

Other Duties:

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice. This position description does not constitute a written or implied contract for employment.

Other: An annual Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) increase will be given when funds are available.