Bilingual Infant Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant- Skagit County

** Position Salary:**32.42-54.71

**Job Type:**Regular Full Time

**Department:**ELAFS

**Work Location:**Skagit County

**Open Date:**7/20/2023

Use your collaboration, partnership, bilingual (Spanish/English) early learning, mental health education and professional skills to support the mental health of young children in Skagit County. Apply today!

The Infant Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant/Clinician (IECMHC) is a member of the Quality Child Care/Child Care Aware NW WA team at Opportunity Council and will work towards the long term goal of providing a coordinated approach in mental health care for children and families in Skagit County served by QCC/CCA and Opportunity Council programs.

The IECMHC uses a promotion, prevention, and intervention approach to partner mental health professionals and the early childhood/child care professionals together to strength the abilities of early childhood/child care staff, teachers, programs, and systems, as well as families, in promotion of optimal social and emotional development of children. In additional, the IECMHC works to identify, prevent, and reduce the impact of mental and behavioral health challenges in children and their families.

The IECMHC provides on-site services at selected licensed child care centers and FCCs in partnership with other members of the QCC/CCA team in accordance with Implementation Guidance provided by DCYF and the lead agency. The IECMHC also provides EA Coaches with resources, information, and guidance to build their capacity to support teachers/providers in addressing children's challenging behaviors, as well as to prevent the expulsion of children from child care and early learning settings.

In addition, the IECMHC will engage with early learning and behavioral health partners in Skagit County to build connections; establish regional referral options for children, families and providers; and identify regional strengths/opportunities and service gaps/barriers. The IECMHC will have the opportunity to engage with other MHCs, including Infant Toddler Consultants, in Play and Learn and Head Start/ECEAP settings throughout the five county NW Region, including within Opportunity Council’s Early Learning and Family Services Department.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Work with Child Care Aware of Washington’s Infant Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Director to optimize mental health service delivery within Skagit County.
• Identify strengths/opportunities and service gaps/barriers in mental health services in partnership with other early learning and behavioral health partners.
• Engage with regional, community, & tribal early learning and behavioral health partners to build connections and establish regional mental and behavioral health referral options.
• Provide mental and behavioral health screening, resources and referrals for children, families and staff.
• Provide on-site IECMHC services in selected licensed childcare sites (centers and/or FCC) in accordance with Implementation Guidance provide by Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families and Lead Agency.
• Conduct joint site visits with Early Learning Coaches to provide initial assessment/ impressions of children, act as consultant for Coaches and providers regarding potential strategies and/or resources/referrals for children, and to determine whether on-site IECMHC services are warranted.
• Provide individualized child/family consultation and work collaboratively with teachers/providers to assess, understand and address a child’s/family’s mental/behavioral health needs with an individualized support plan.
• Act as a consultant for teachers, administrators, staff and families regarding mental and behavioral health in early learners and provide classroom observations as needed for early learners.
• Work collaboratively with teachers and coaches to address the attitudes, beliefs, practices and conditions affecting the quality of relationships between adults and children.
• Investigate and provide resources, information and guidance to Early Learning Coaches for their use to support providers/teachers with managing challenging behaviors in children in childcare and early learning settings.
• Assist in providing relevant mental and behavioral health education regarding early learners for parents, caregivers and early learning professionals.
• Research and share information with others about community resources, services, and opportunities for children and families regarding early learner mental and behavioral health; establish and nurture collaborative relationships with caregivers, community partners and colleagues.
• Conduct mental and behavior health trainings for Early Learning Coaches, Regional Child Care Licensors, child care providers and/or community members as needed.
• Consult with administrators, directors and leaders to support changes in mental and behavior health practice and policy to benefit all children, families and adults in the early learning setting.
• Attend and contribute to Holding Hope Initiative and organization-wide meetings as requested.
• Additional responsibilities as determined and assigned

Education and Required Work Experience

• Bilingual skills required. Must speak and read with fluency and proficiency in Spanish/English.
• Master’s degree in Social Work, Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, or Psychology or an advanced degree in Early Childhood Education or Child Development and/or Infant Mental Health Endorsement.
• A mental health clinical licensure in Washington State or license eligibility is preferred however, previous experience in delivering Infant Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation and/or early education may be considered if candidate is not a Washington State license-eligible mental health professional.
• At least three years’ experience in mental health.
• Experience with young children (birth to 5) and an Infant Mental Health endorsement is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Bilingual skills required. Must speak and read with fluency and proficiency in Spanish/English.
• Knowledge of infant early childhood mental health screening and diagnosis.
• Knowledge and understanding of trauma-informed care principles and practices.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with diverse populations.
• Ability to make sound independent decisions and exercise good clinical judgment.
• Ability to maintain timely documentation/data entry into electronic data system.
• Proven ability to consistently meet monthly project goals.
• Daily use knowledge of Office 365 and Zoom.

Additional Requirements After Hiring:

• Must have initial health examination indicating you are fit for duty and free from communicable disease within 60 days of hire. Medical check-ups are required thereafter as required by certification/licensing qualifications.
• Must have current First Aid card and Infant/Child CPR training (or obtain within 30 days) and must maintain current certificates for length of employment.
• Must have TB test and submit test results prior to hire date.
• Must submit to a criminal-records check and obtain a Washington Portable Background clearance to ascertain that the applicant has not been convicted of a child abuse or neglect offense per Washington State Child Abuse Law (Ch. 486, Laws of 1987) or DSHS licensing requirements.

Special Requirements:

• Must have Washington State driver's license at time of hire.
• Required to provide five (5) year driving history/abstract prior to first day of employment. Must be insurable under Opportunity Council's insurance for duration of employment in this position.

Remote Work: May be eligible for remote work

Essential Employee: Not an essential on-site employee

Working Conditions: Work is generally performed in a fast–paced office and field environments with frequent interruptions and occasional crisis situations. Travel required throughout the Northwest Washington region and occasionally the state, along with meeting attendance and active participation. Ability to work occasional evening and weekend hours as needed.

Benefits @ Opportunity Council

Opportunity Council offers the following benefits to eligible employees:

• Paid time off earned on an accrual basis (vacation, sick, personal holidays)
• Paid time off for wellness needs
• Employer-paid holidays (13 in 2023)
• Employer-paid HDHP and low-cost traditional health care options
• HSA and FSA, subject to plan terms
• Eligibility for Critical Illness coverage
• 403(b) retirement plan (5% employer contribution)
• Eligibility for health coverage for legal dependents
• Eligibility for employee/family dental and vision coverage
• Voluntary benefits such as life insurance, long-term disability, long-term care and personal legal services

Opportunity Council is a private, non-profit Community Action Agency serving homeless and low-income families and individuals. Our mission is to help people improve their lives through education, support, and direct assistance while advocating for just and equitable communities. For over 50 years we have offered a broad scope of services that range from addressing immediate and crisis-oriented needs (food, emergency shelter