- Child- and Family-
- Complete individual child observations and/ parent consults/home visits as requested or needed for the program.
- Consultation in Classrooms and Homes:Partners with families and staff to promote equitable, warm, and trusting relationships. Help children and caregivers build strong relationships by suggesting approaches like safe environments, consistent schedules and routines, and age-appropriate social and emotional strategies.
- Ensure a mental health observation is completed for classrooms as needed to support the social/emotional needs of the children.
- Direct, train and model specific behavioral interventions to caregivers as needed.
- Track, document, and monitor all children who are identified as needing intervention services to ensure timelines are met and the strategies developed are supporting the needs of the child, classroom and teaching staff.
- Facilitate ongoing consultation/reflective practice with caregivers and any other agency specialist as needed (i.e, if the child is on an Individual Education Plan (IEP); Individual Care Plan (ICP), community collaboration/program coordination meetings as needed).
- Consultation in Programs:Work with leadership team and staff on the program's social and emotional climate, culture of wellness, and focus on equity for infants, young children, and families.
- Attend weekly Content Area Support Team (CAST) and Child Coordination meetings to support children, staff and programs in the area of mental health.
- Submit a monthly Mental Health Report to the Director by the 15th of each month.
- Assist with the writing and tracking outcomes for grants that support ongoing mental health support for our children, staff and parents.
- Ensure the program complies with the Head Start/ECEAP performance standards.
- Assist with updating program goals, training plans, actions, policies and procedures and train staff in implementing in the fall and as needed each year.
- Participate in the self-assessment of Head Start/ECEAP and the Federal/State reviews.
- Attend the twice monthly leadership meetings.
- Coordinate with the Early Head Start Mental Health specialist monthly.
- Meet with Specialists and Coaches to review case notes/observations/strategies as scheduled.
- Be an ongoing support and resource to staff, parents and children as needed for any child behavior concerns, or special needs.
- Support efforts in providing interpreters and written documents in the parent's primary language.
- Support Conscious Discipline and Pyramid Model implementation during the program year.
- Master's Degree in Counseling or similar mental health professional degree
- Licensed or license eligible Provider in the state of Washington: Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, or Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate with active supervision from a state approved supervisor
- Experience and/or willingness to serve diverse, low-income and/or underrepresented populations
- Knowledge of infant and early childhood development and mental health
- Excellent oral and written communication skills
- Model and foster reflection and self-awareness
- Ability to lead meetings and consultation sessions
- Capacity to tolerate ambiguity
- Commitment to on-going professional growth
- Computer skills for on-line databasing, Microsoft Office/ Excel, and Google Suite
- A minimum of 3 years of experience in the field
- Certification, training, or endorsement in infant and early childhood mental health
- Utilizes a relationship-based model such as circle of security, conscious discipline, child parent psychotherapy, parent child interaction therapy, or promoting first relationships
- Can create a shared understanding about the impact of attachment, trauma/adversity, and healthy relationships on a child's social/emotional and behavioral development
- Understands and actively practices diversity and equity informed approaches to work with children and families
- Experience in design and delivery of training
- Strong team leadership skills
- Training and experience in Reflective Practice/Supervision
- Seldom - office furniture rearrangement
- Seldom - in emergency situations, pick up children, up to 80 lbs. (with assistance)
- Seldom - squat
- Occasionally - lifting/carrying office supplies and materials (up to 52 lbs.)
- Occasionally bend over to pick up items
- Occasionally - drive to and from family's homes to complete home visits
- Occasionally - sit either on child-sized chairs or the floor
- Occasionally - bend over to pick up items and/or assist children
- Occasionally extended periods of standing
- Frequently - sit at desk
- Frequently - sit for long periods of time (up to 7 hours) and during mandatory trainings
- Washington State Patrol Background Check
- Sex Offender Registry Check
- TB test completed within the last year
- Food Worker Card
- Valid Driver's License
- Cleared Portable Background Check through MERIT (to include fingerprinting)
- Policy Council Approval
- Provide Certificate of Immunization Status (CIS) or Acceptable Version of CIS in accordance with the Washington Department of Health, to include:
- MMR Vaccine or proof of immunity to measles
- Learn more on our Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment page.
- The college is compliant with Title IX best practices. For more information, visit About Title IX.
- The college encourages qualified members of protected classes to apply.
- Resume
- Cover Letter (Letter of Interest)
- Unofficial transcripts (if applicable)
- If you are hired, you will need to provide proof of identity and documentation of U.S. citizenship or appropriate legal authorization to work for the duration of this position as required by the Immigration Reform Control Act of 1995.
- Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the position.
- The College is committed to maintain an environment for teaching and learning which is free of drugs and alcohol.
- Additional requirements prior to first day of employment: Finger print card from local law enforcement agency, TB test, Certificate of Immunization Status (including MMR Proof of Immunization), Food Handler's Card, Valid driver's license, Policy Council Approval.
Mental Health Specialist - Longview, United States - Lower Columbia College
Description
At a Glance This position is responsible for providing infant and early childhood mental health consultation (IECMHC) to promote mental health awareness, prevention, early identification, and referrals for treatment of children and families with social/emotional concerns.
The mental health specialist will help develop a culture of wellness by building the caregivers' capacity to strengthen and support the healthy social and emotional development of young children.
The mental health specialist supports the needs of all children by giving information to the caregivers on topics such as typical development, social and emotional skills, problem solving, and preventing or managing challenging behaviors.
The Mental Health Specialist position is 10 months, 40 hours per week and follows the typical local school district calendar.
Apply Early This position will stay open until filled with an initial date of March 7th, 2024. To be considered for initial screening, please submit an application on or before March 6th, 2024.
Follow Head Start:
For more on Lower Columbia College Head Start, see the Annual Report (Download PDF reader)and join our Social Media page.
Work across all levels of the program:
Focused Consultation:
The specialist builds relationships and collaborates respectfully with families and staff to understand and respond to the mental health needs of infants, young children, and families.
Provide support for children with behavioral difficulties or developmental challenges. Support the overall well-being of children and families.Professional Development Needs of Staff:
The specialist assesses the training needs and interests of a program to provide tailored professional development for staff.
The specialist may help to develop or facilitate communities of learning, which provide opportunities for self-reflection and peer-to-peer support in programs.
This description is not intended and should not be construed to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills, effort, work conditions, and benefits associated with the job.
Seldom = - 10% of the time
Occasionally = % of the time
Frequently = % of the time
Lower Columbia College provides equal opportunity in education and employment and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, age, perceived or actual physical or mental disability, pregnancy, genetic information, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, creed, religion, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or use of a trained guide dog or service animal as required by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, Sections 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act and ADA Amendment Act, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act and Washington State's Law Against Discrimination, Chapter 49.60 RCW and their implementing regulations.
LCC celebrates and embraces diversity of all kinds, including differing beliefs, cultures, people, and experiences.
We commit to institutional and individual changes that recognize, understand, and challenge patterns of social inequity and systemic disparities within our ever-changing world.
For more information, see Diversity & Equity.Jeanne Clery Statement:
Notice of Availability of Annual Security and Fire Safety Report:
In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act of 1998, and as a part of the College's commitment to safety and security on campus, Lower Columbia College reports the mandated information about current campus policies concerning safety and security issues, the required statistics, and other related information for the past three (3) calendar years.
Declaration Regarding Sexual Misconduct
Pursuant to RCW 28B , applicants must declare whether they are the subject of any substantiated findings of sexual misconduct in any current or former employment or is currently being investigated for, or have left a position during an investigation into, a violation of any sexual misconduct policy at the applicant's current or past employers.
Mission, Vision & Values
Our Mission, Vision & Values define our reason for being, and provide the framework for planning and improvement efforts at LCC.
Application Procedure and Requirements
An online application must be completed for consideration. Paper submissions or emailed materials will not be accepted.
A complete application must also include the following documents (attached or in the online application itself):
Conditions of Employment
For any questions regarding this job advertisement and/or department or campus culture, please call our Human Resources office at , or email us directly at