Child Development Specialist Lead (ECI)

The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Retirement plan with company matching

Paid Time Off accrual

Cell Phone discounts

Tickets at Work

Headspace subscription

Employee Assistance Program

Student loan forgiveness

Job summary

The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD in Houston seeks a Lead Child Development Specialist to guide the CDS team and provide Early Intervention services for infants and toddlers birth to 3 years old. The role includes training, supervision, and service coordination with families to support developmental goals.

Travel to homes or community sites is required with flexible hours; strong organizational and communication skills are essential to ensure high-quality ECI services and adherence to

Qualifications

• Active EIS certification required.
• 3+ years of experience with birth to 3-year-olds.
• Strong communication and team leadership skills.

Responsibilities

• Provides leadership to the CDS team.
• Coordinates and updates ECI training.
• Conducts annual mandatory and quarterly in-service training.
• Supervises staff and ensures program fidelity.
• Assesses training needs and conducts family-centered evaluations.
• Schedules and reviews IFSPs; collaborates with families.
• Documents contacts and referrals; maintains confidentiality.

Skills

Leadership

Team collaboration

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Social Sciences / Health Sciences / Education

Active EIS certification

Infant & Toddler Development knowledge

Job description

Brief Description

The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD (“The HARRIS CENTER”) is looking for a Child Development Specialist Lead to join our team. The Child Development Specialist (CDS) Lead is responsible for providing program required training and mentorship support to the CDS team. In addition to team leadership responsibilities, this position provides Early Childhood Intervention Services as needed. These services include Referral, Assessment, Intervention and Service Coordination to infants and toddlers, birth to 3 years old and their families. Requires travel to child’s home or other community site and flexible working hours. May supervise the work of others.

Your Role In Action

• Provides leadership to Child Development Specialist team.
• Coordinates, develops, and updates ECI Training.
• Provides Annual Mandatory training and quarterly in service training. Provides ECI required and ongoing training.
• Assists in supervising the work of others.
• Assesses and addresses ECI training needs.
• Conducts telephone interviews to processes referrals and schedule initial evaluations and initial.
• Individual Family Service Plans [IFSP]. Develops initial IFSPs with team members and the family.
• Assesses development for initial and annual eligibility. Assesses development and ongoing progress in order to meet the needs of the child and family.
• Schedules and reviews IFSPs every 6 months and annually.
• Conducts chart audits to meet ECI policies and procedures. Provides written audit feedback to managers and staff.
• Provides Specialized Skills Training to address developmental needs. Provides Service Coordination to address child and family needs.
• Documents every contact and attempts to contact families electronically.
• Submits electronic documentation according to agency policy
• Meets requirements to comply with ECI procedural safeguards and confidentiality Meets ECI and agency required training policies.
• Meets annual requirements to renew EIS Certificate. Maintains accuracy of EIS Registry
• Develops IPDPs and monitors completion of ECI CSPD.
• Provides mentoring visits to complete CSPD activities and as needed.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

What qualifications you will need

Education

Must have and maintain an active EIS certification

• A Bachelor's degree in the following studies/ sciences required: Social Sciences: - Psychology, Social Work, Sociology
• Health Sciences: - Nursing, Rehabilitation Therapy
• Human Development and Family Studies/ Family Sciences, Family Studies, Family Sciences: - Counseling-Special Education, Early Childhood Special Education-Child Life-Child Development (w/out infant and toddler emphasis)-Early Childhood Education (EC-grade 6 or Pre-K-grade3)
• Infant and Toddler Studies/ Development: -Child Life-Early Care and Early Childhood, Early Childhood Development, Early Childhood Special Education
• Ex

Experience

• 3+ years of experience working with children from birth to three [3] years old is required.

Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• The person must have well-developed interpersonal, organizational, and problem solving skills and be a team player with a desire to provide a high level of customer service.
• Possess strong verbal and written communication skills and interact effectively at all levels within the organization.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work within a team environment.
• Cooperative and willing to assist others.
• Excellent organizational skills.

About Us

The Harris Center is the state-designated Local Mental Health Authority and Local Intellectual and Developmental Disability (IDD) Authority serving Harris County, Texas. As the largest behavioral and developmental disability care center in Texas, The Harris Center provides care to over 90,000 people and has an annual budget of over $300 million.
As part of its mission to transform the lives of people with behavioral health and IDD needs in the third largest county in the United States, The Harris Center provides a full continuum of services at 80 different sites across Harris County. In addition, services are provided in more than 40 different languages as well as sign language in order to better serve what is one of the largest communities in the nation.
By utilizing the unique expertise of its more than 2,500 employees, The Harris Center is committed to meeting the behavioral health and IDD needs of Harris County residents and giving them hope to live to their fullest potential.

What Else You Should Know

This posting is associated with position #9925

What We Have To Offer

The Harris Center not only offers a competitive salary but also a suite of excellent benefits designed to enrich your life both professionally and personally. Imagine a future with a robust retirement plan complemented by our generous company matching – a testament to our investment in your long-term financial well-being. Experience the unique advantage of our prior service credit, accelerating your journey towards a more substantial Paid Time Off accrual, empowering you to enjoy well-deserved breaks.
Enjoy Cell Phone Discounts, exclusive entertainment deals through Tickets at Work, and a free Headspace subscription for mental wellness. Additionally, our Employee Assistance Program supports your overall well-being.
Take advantage of significant financial relief through student loan forgiveness as a valued member of The Harris Center team. As a qualifying entity, our employees are eligible for various student loan forgiveness programs, designed to alleviate the financial burdens associated with higher education.
This contributes to suicide care and prevention by embracing our values and applying a trauma-informed approach rooted in safety, trust, choice, collaboration, and empowerment.