Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant

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Job description

Job Title: Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant

Reports To: Early Childhood Mental Health Director

Job Location: Fort Collins, CO (Partially remote work options available)

Work Schedule: Full-time; hourly (40 hours/week). May require occasional

evening and/or weekend hours.

Salary Range: $44,000-$65,000 Annually; depending on qualifications and licensure

Exemption Status: Exempt

To apply: Please submit a cover letter, resume, and 3 references to , and include job title in subject line. Applications submitted via Indeed or LinkedIn will NOT be considered. Deadline to apply is December 10, 2021.

Overview of ECCLC:

Early Childhood Council of Larimer County (ECCLC) is an independent nonprofit organization that rallies support, resources, and awareness to ensure every young child in our community has quality early childhood experiences so they thrive from day one.

Position Summary:

At Early Childhood Council of Larimer County (ECCLC), we are a close-knit team of professionals who value passion, innovation, adaptability and a sense of humor. The primary focus of the Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant (ECMHC) is to create nurturing environments that advance social-emotional and behavioral health outcomes among children, families, and early childhood professionals. This position works across a broad range of early care and education (ECE) settings to promote wellness in young children by increasing the capacity of adult caregivers to support children's developmental needs. The ECMHC program broadly seeks to increase child and caregiver resilience, while reducing challenging behaviors (including those that lead to suspensions and expulsions) by utilizing evidence-based best practices; providing early identification of behavioral concerns; and making referrals to appropriate community services. In addition, ECMHCs may also provide critical ancillary activities including, parent education, consultation to other early childhood serving systems (home visiting, child welfare teams, etc.), and community training on topics related to social-emotional development and well‐being of young children.

Essential Job Functions:

• Utilize a relationship-based model to coordinate and deliver regular onsite consultative services to ECE programs, providing guidance to professionals and caregivers to effectively understand and support children's positive behavior and development.
• Promote high quality interactions and relationships between children and their peers and teaching teams as well as administration and teachers.
• Create a shared understanding of the effects of trauma and adversity, including oppression, prejudice, discrimination, racism, and gender inequity on the developing brain.
• Support the mental health and well-being of adults who care for children.
• Connect and refer children, families, and providers to programs, resources, and supports that will foster their development while addressing barriers to access.
• Build relationships with other early childhood serving systems within a community.
• Assist with facilitating an evidence-based parenting curriculum, such as Circle of Security or Conscious Discipline.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of best practices in the ECMH field.
• Participate as an active member of a fast-paced team and evolving organization, including the development and implementation of strategic plan goals, program evaluation, and ongoing communication to meet program and fundraising objectives.
• Adhere to the Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation model requirements, as outlined by the Colorado State Office of Early Childhood (OEC):
• Commit to 15 hours of annual Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
• Regularly collect, maintain and submit data entry requirements.
• Participate in regularly scheduled technical assistance calls facilitated by the Early Childhood Mental Health Unit at OEC.
• Attend required OEC trainings, conferences and meetings as necessary.
• Participate in reflective supervision with a Colorado Association for Infant Mental Health (CoAIMH) endorsed reflective supervisor at a minimum of one 60 minute session per month.
• Complete Infant or Preschool Mental Health Endorsement through CoAIMH.

Education and Work Experience Qualifications:

Required:

• Master's degree in a license-eligible mental health field such as social work, psychology or related field with a focus or experience in early childhood development.
• Demonstrated knowledge, understanding, and expertise of child development, early childhood mental health, early childhood social/emotional screening and assessment tools, prevention and intervention techniques, and local resources.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in relationship-based professional development, technical assistance practices, and adult learning methods.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience working with diverse and culturally unique populations.
• Proficient in use of Google Workspace, Zoom, Microsoft Office (including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), and other computer functions.
• Demonstrated skills in written and verbal communication including correspondence, reports, reflective supervision, etc.
• Proven ability to work independently, manage time, complete assignments, and meet deadlines in a shared office space and out of the office or via tele-commuting.
• Ability to adapt and be flexible in a constantly changing environment that adjusts to meet organizational and community needs.
• Demonstrated experience working as a member of a team.
• Ability to drive throughout the region when needed in a reliable personal vehicle (mileage reimbursement available).
• Valid CO Driver's License and Vehicle Insurance.

Desired:

• Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Professional Counselor, or Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (or seeking licensure).
• Have received the following trainings/certifications:
• Climate of Healthy Interactions for Learning & Development (CHILD) Assessment
• Devereux Early Childhood Assessment-Clinical (DECA-C) Assessment
• DC: 0-5 Diagnostic Classification of Mental Health and Developmental Disorders of Infancy and Early Childhood Training
• Infant Mental Health Endorsement through COAIMH
• Be endorsed, working towards endorsement or have a plan in place to begin the process to achieve the Endorsement for Culturally-Sensitive, Relationship Focused Practice Promoting Infant Mental Health® and/or Early Childhood Mental Health®, which is issued through the Colorado Association for Infant Mental Health (COAIMH).

All ECMHCs new to the state program will complete state onboarding with the support of the OEC ECMH Program Manager and agency supervisor, where appropriate, within 8 weeks of official start date. The completion of this onboarding process will inform future professional development needs.

Job Benefits:

• Family friendly and flexible work environment; remote work options
• Paid time off (PTO)
• Paid wellness leave (48 hours/year) and paid time for volunteer work (16 hours/year)
• Six paid holidays
• Office is closed the week of Thanksgiving and the week between December 25 and January 1; and one personal flex week off each year
• After 2 months:
• Health, dental, vision and life insurance
• Employer retirement contributions
• Medical and dependent care FSA's

ECCLC enhances diversity through inclusion of individuals reflective of characteristics including, and not limited to, race, ethnicity, age, culture, different ideas and perspectives, disability, first generation status, familial status, gender identity and expression, geographic background, marital status, national origin, religious and spiritual beliefs, sex, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and veteran status. Discrimination based on physical traits that are associated with a person's race or ethnicity, including hair texture, type, style and headwear is prohibited in the State of Colorado by the Crown Act of 2020.