Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health Therapis

Marillac St. Vincent; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A community-focused health service in Chicago seeks an Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health Therapist to deliver trauma-informed mental health support to families. The candidate will conduct assessments and provide counseling, collaborating with parent educators and doulas. Qualified applicants must have a master’s degree and preferably experience in perinatal mental health. This full-time position promotes maternal emotional well-being through supportive interventions and community resource coordination.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree required in Social Work, Counseling, or Psychology.
• LCSW, LCPC, LMFT license preferred; license-eligible candidates may be considered.
• 2-3 years of mental health services experience, ideally with perinatal participants.

Responsibilities

• Conduct mental health screenings for pregnant individuals and caregivers.
• Provide short-term counseling for perinatal mental health and parenting stress.
• Support families experiencing perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.

Skills

Perinatal mental health

Collaboration

Counseling

Crisis intervention

Communication

Education

Master’s degree in Social Work or related field

Tools

Documentation Software

Job description

JOB TITLE: Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health Therapist

STATUS: Full Time

ORGANIZATION: Marillac St. Vincent Family Services

FLSA STATUS: Non-Exempt

DIVISION: Program and Services

DEPARTMENT: Home Visiting/Doula

DIRECT SUPERVISOR: Director of Integrated Health Services

DIRECTLY SUPERVISES: None

Mission

Marillac St. Vincent Family Services strengthens and amplifies the voices of marginalized communities in the Vincentian spirit of service through education and programs tailored to foster thriving families and sustainable communities in Chicago.

Core Values

• Integrity - Acting with transparency, humility and honesty
• Excellence - Providing quality care with compassion
• Creativity - Being continuously resourceful and inventive
• Advocacy - Supporting the cause of those who lack resources for a reasonable quality of life
• Respect - Recognizing our own value and upholding the dignity and value of all people
• Empowerment - Providing skills and resources to achieve full human development

Position Summary

The Mental Health Therapist provides trauma-informed mental health support to pregnant individuals, new parents, infants, and families participating in Home Visiting and Doula Services. This position promotes maternal emotional well-being, healthy parent–infant attachment, and family resilience by providing mental health screening, counseling, consultation, and referrals.

The therapist works collaboratively with parent educators, doulas, and interdisciplinary program staff to address perinatal mental health needs and strengthen family protective factors during pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period.

This role also supports staff capacity building through consultation, training, and reflective practices, while ensuring program compliance through accurate documentation and participation in program monitoring activities.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

Mental Health Assessment and Counseling

• Conduct mental health screenings and assessments for pregnant individuals and caregivers, including screening for depression, anxiety, trauma, and stress.
• Provide short-term counseling and therapeutic support related to perinatal mental health, parenting stress, grief, and life transitions.
• Support families experiencing perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, trauma, or emotional distress.
• Provide dyadic or family-centered support to strengthen caregiver–infant bonding and attachment.
• Assist families in developing coping strategies, stress management skills, and emotional resilience.

Collaboration with Parent Educators and Doulas

• Provide mental health consultation to Parent Educators and doulas regarding family emotional well-being, parenting challenges, and behavioral concerns.
• Participate in case conferences and interdisciplinary team meetings to coordinate services.
• Conduct observations of home visits or family interactions when appropriate to support staff and improve service delivery.
• Assist parent educators and doulas in responding to maternal mental health concerns during pregnancy and the postpartum period.
• Promote trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and relationship-based practices across program services.

Parent Education and Family Support

• Facilitate parent workshops and educational sessions on topics such as:
  • maternal emotional health
  • infant mental health and development
  • stress management
  • attachment and bonding
  • positive parenting strategies
• Facilitate parent support groups that promote emotional wellness, peer support, and healthy family relationships.
• Provide individualized parent coaching and guidance to strengthen caregiver capacity and confidence.

Staff Training and Technical Assistance

• Lead staff trainings and professional development sessions on topics including:
  • perinatal mental health
  • trauma-informed care
  • infant and early childhood mental health
  • family engagement strategies
• Provide technical assistance and consultation to staff regarding challenging family situations.
• Support staff through reflective discussions and case consultations to enhance service quality and staff well-being.

Referrals and Community Coordination

• Connect families with community mental health providers, healthcare providers, and social service resources.
• Coordinate care with healthcare professionals and community partners to support family well-being.
• Follow up on referrals to ensure families successfully access recommended services.

Documentation, Monitoring, and Reporting

• Maintain accurate and timely documentation, including assessments, case notes, and service plans.
• Support program monitoring activities, including record reviews and data collection.
• Assist with completion of reports and required documentation related to mental health services and program outcomes.
• Ensure confidentiality and compliance with organizational policies, ethical standards, and program requirements.

Meetings and Professional Development

• Participate in organizational and program meetings, including team meetings, case reviews, and interdisciplinary collaboration sessions.
• Engage in ongoing professional development, training, and reflective supervision.
• Stay informed of best practices in perinatal mental health, infant mental health, and family-centered care.
• Contribute to program planning, evaluation, and continuous quality improvement efforts.

Qualifications

Education
Master’s degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, Marriage and Family Therapy, or a related behavioral health field required.

Licensure
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), LCPC, LMFT, or equivalent clinical license preferred. License-eligible candidates may be considered.

Experience
Minimum 2–3 years of experience providing mental health services. Experience working with pregnant individuals, postpartum parents, infants, or young children preferred. Experience in home visiting, maternal health, doula programs, or community-based family services strongly preferred.

Knowledge and Skills
Knowledge of perinatal mental health and infant mental health principles. Understanding of trauma-informed and family-centered care. Ability to work collaboratively with parent educators, doulas, and interdisciplinary teams. Strong communication, documentation, and facilitation skills.

Work Environment and Other Requirements

• Services may be provided in family homes, community settings, healthcare facilities, or program offices.
• Regular travel within the service area may be required.
• Flexible scheduling may be necessary to meet family needs.
• Ability to manage physically active children ages 3 to 5.
• Ability to occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 to 25 pounds.
• Must have valid driver’s license and auto insurance when the position requires an employee to operate a motor vehicle in connection with executing the position’s responsibilities, which include driving to and/or from any agency function.

Screenings

• The applicant must submit to a criminal background check and a child abuse and neglect screening and maintain a cleared status throughout employment.
• The applicant must submit to and pass a TB and health screen, including MMR and Tdap immunizations upon hire and update TB/physicals as required by the licensing standards. Regular travel locally and occasional travel to other locations in the state.

This job description does not constitute an employment contract or an offer of employment. Marillac St. Vincent Family Services reserves the right to change and/or modify this job description. Every effort has been expended to ensure the accuracy and thoroughness of the job descriptions; however, it is not possible to detail every single task of the job or predict some circumstances and changes. As a result, employees may be assigned to perform other related duties in support of the program and the mission of the agency. Marillac St. Vincent Family Services is an equal opportunity employer.