Early Childhood Head Start Mental Health Specialist

Overview:
**BONUS OPPORTUNITY ELIGIBLE**
COVID-19 Vaccination or an approved medical or religious exemption is required for employment with Jefferson Center for Mental Health. Newly hired employees must be fully vaccinated (Received final dose of an authorized COVID-19 vaccine regimen) and provide proof, or have an approved medical or religious exemption, prior to their first day of employment. Information on how to request an exemption will be provided at the time of offer.
At Jefferson Center, it is our policy and our mission to be inclusive and mindful of the diversity of everyone who comes through our doors. We are passionate about building a community where mental health matters and equitable care is accessible to all races, ethnicities, abilities, socioeconomic statuses, ages, sexual orientations, gender expressions, religions, cultures, and languages.
The Early Childhood Family Services Head Start Mental Health Specialist will provide both clinical and consultative services to children, families, and staff at Jefferson County’s Head Start Preschool. Expected treatment services are framed in an episode-of-care model that is trauma-informed, culturally humble, strengths-based, and utilizes evidence-based practices. Case management with various community agencies is required. May testify in court. Bilingual candidate preferred. Licensed candidate preferred; Licensure-eligible required. Infant and Early Childhood mental health endorsement preferred; endorsement-eligible required. Responsibilities: ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

• Utilizing dyadic-focused modalities, provide time-limited, low intensity in-office, and/or virtual (teletherapy) therapeutic treatment to children ages 3-5 and their families in the JeffCo Head Start preschool setting.
• Conduct intake, trauma, and relational assessments and provide appropriate clinical treatment, including providing referrals to other community programs as appropriate.
• Engage and collaborate with the identified child and family in the treatment process and goal-setting, while identifying risk and safety factors.
• Meet the cultural or linguistic needs of clients and families, through the use of translation services or in speaking the client’s language.
• Effectively respond to caregiver needs and problems, initiates and maintains positive interactions, timely response to phone calls, email and other requests.
• Coordinate care with the child or family’s community support system (may include but not limited to: Head Start multi-disciplinary team, parent educator, medication prescriber, pcp, psychiatrist, etc) through consultation, while maintaining appropriate professional standards of communication.
• Co-facilitate parenting groups at Head Start as needed.
• Form collaborative relationships and provide early childhood mental health consultation with teachers and other professionals working with young children at JeffCo Head Start preschool.
• Assess for needs regarding individual or classroom-focused consultation, providing appropriate level of support:
  • Child-focused consultation could include (but is not limited to): observations and screenings to assess functioning, relationships with other caregivers, and other children, “goodness of fit” in the program, providing guidance about challenging behaviors, conduct social emotional and ec development screenings and/or assessments with caregivers, provide developmental guidance and strategies as needed, and actively assist families in referral & follow-up process to clinical and community services.
  • Classroom-wide consultation could include (but is not limited to): building reflective capacity with staff, holding the consultative stance regarding whole classroom practices, enhancing the knowledge and skills of staff on best practices regarding social and emotional development.
• Support JeffCo Head Start school functions that may occur outside of regular school and work hours.
• Provide at least 50% direct service hours during workweek.
• Manage all client documentation in electronic health record and other tracking measures as needed within 72 hours of service.
• Maintain effective interpersonal relations with clients and families, peers, colleagues, upper management, visitors and the general public.
• Display a growth-mindset toward continued reflection and self-awareness, demonstrating a commitment to social justice and equitable mental health services.
• Exhibit enthusiasm, courtesy, adaptability, flexibility, and spirit of cooperation in the work environment.

Other Duties:

• Attend mandatory in-services training, participate in monthly virtual trainings, and maintain compliance with an individualized training plan as required
• Participate in regular individual supervision and team meetings.
• Participate in professional development training as appropriate and schedule allows.
• Volunteer to work on Center committees and/or task forces as interest and capacity allows.
• Maintain other duties and expectations per Manager discretion.

Note: Employees are held accountable for all duties of this job. This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications associated with the job.

Qualifications: Relevant Education/Licensure:

• Conferred Master’s degree in social work, counseling, or related field from an accredited university/college required.
• Clinical licensure preferred; licensure-eligible (registration with DORA) required
• Knowledge and experience in early childhood development preferred
• Infant mental health endorsement preferred; working toward endorsement required.

Required Work Experience:

• Two or more years related experience and/or training in child and family development, systems work, family therapy

Technical Skills and Knowledge:

• Experience in working with high-risk families.
• Knowledge of systems perspective, trauma informed care, solution-focused, episodes of care, resiliency, stages of change, Play therapy, CPP, motivational interviewing, groups and family treatment.
• Ability to work cooperatively with other systems and community agencies.
• Skills in crisis intervention, family treatment or other applicable treatment techniques, and family education.
• Good computer skills.

Salary & Benefits: Grade 51-Master’s Unlicensed Clinician

• $45,000 to $57,200**
• Salary is determined based on years of total relevant experience.
• Salary is based on 1.0 FTE (full time equivalent) or 40 hours per week. Less than 40 hours/week will be prorated and adjusted to the appropriate FTE.

Grade 52-Licensed Clinician (LCSW, LMFT, LPC)

• $54,000 to $68,800
• Salary is determined based on years of total relevant experience.
• Salary is based on 1.0 FTE (full time equivalent) or 40 hours per week. Less than 40 hours/week will be prorated and adjusted to the appropriate FTE.

**BONUS OPPORTUNITY!! Three phase bonus paid out using the following schedule. ** Based on full time (40 hours/week). Prorate if less than 40 hours/week. Must work a minimum of 20 hours/week to be eligible for bonus. Masters (Unlicensed)
LMFT/LPC

LCSW

$1,000 1 month anniversary $1,000 1 year anniversary ($2,000 Total)

$1,000 1 month anniversary $1,000 6 month anniversary $1,000 1 year anniversary ($3,000 Total)

$2,000 1 month anniversary $1,000 6 month anniversary $1,000 1 year anniversary ($4,000 Total)

Benefits Include:

• Flexible work schedule and remote work options
• Medical (Kaiser or Cigna), Delta Dental, and EyeMed Vision insurance plans
• Life, LTD/STD, and malpractice insurance paid by Jefferson Center
• 401(k) plan with matching employer contribution and 403(b) option
• 15% Wellness Discount on medical insurance plans for participating employees
• 1 Paid Wellness Hour per week (based on FTE)
• Health Insurance Reimbursement up to $125 per month
• Generous Paid Time Off plus 13 paid holidays per year
• Employees with 1 year of service are eligible for Supplemental Parental Leave up to 60 hours (based on FTE)
• Extended Paid Bereavement Leave up to 20 days
• Trauma Informed Care Leave
• Tuition Reimbursement after one year of employment
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness and Colorado Health Services Corps loan repayment plan options for participating employees.