Mental Health Specialist

ABCD; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

ABCD Head Start in Boston, MA is seeking a Mental Health Specialist to coordinate training, technical assistance, and supports for good mental health practices for children ages 0-5, families and staff.

The role promotes positive interactions within classrooms through responsive and nurturing care, develops individualized strategies for children with identified needs, and works with a multidisciplinary team to bolster social-emotional development in the program.

Qualifications

• Direct Mental Health Services
• Inter-disciplinary collaboration
• Family and staff engagement

Responsibilities

• Train and support staff to increase awareness of mental health issues.
• Coordinate an inter-disciplinary system of mental health services for children and families.
• Provide in-house mental health treatment through individual counseling and classroom support.
• Attend and participate in inter-disciplinary team meetings and observe classrooms.
• Discuss with parents their child's behavior and development; provide appropriate responses.

Job description

The Mental Health Specialist is responsible for ensuring that training,

technical assistance, and supports for good mental health practices are

provided for children 0-5, families and staff. The Mental Health

Specialist promotes positive interactions within classrooms through

responsive and nurturing care. The Mental Health Specialist coordinates

individualized strategies to affect positive behavioral changes for

identified children. The Mental Health Specialist works with all staff

in an inter-disciplinary approach to support and enhance the mental

health of all children and families with social-emotional difficulties

in providing and or obtaining services. Consult with Disabilities/Mental

Health Services Coordinator. The Mental Health Specialist is responsible

for promoting the mission of ABCD Head Start & Children's Services;

building an understanding of the program by communicating this mission

to staff, families and the community. This position must comply with all

federal, state and local laws, regulations, standards and policies,

including those of the federal Administration for Children and Families

(ACF), the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC),

the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Massachusetts

Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), Massachusetts

disability law (Chapter 766), Boston Family Engagement Network (BFEN)

and ABCD, Inc. Head Start and Children?s Services policies and

procedures. All ABCD Head Start/Early Head Start and Children's

Services personnel who are paid to care for, or work with, children are

MANDATED BY LAW to report all suspected cases of child abuse and neglect

to the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF), pursuant

to Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 119 ?? 51A 51G. Any staff member

who suspects child abuse or neglect of a child must inform his or her

supervisor immediately. The responsibilities of a particular position

may support both Early Head Start and Head Start depending on the

individual assignment. The specific corresponding funding allocation

will be documented on the personnel payroll authorization or change of

status form. All communications are potentially sensitive and are

subject to Head Start's policy on confidentiality.

Essential Duties

• Direct Mental Health Services (Up to 80%) Train and support staff to
• increase awareness of, and competence in, mental health issues relevant
• to each other and the children and families served. Implement an
• inter-disciplinary system of mental health services to children and
• their families with an emphasis on the early identification of children
• with potential social-emotional difficulties. Provide in-house mental
• health treatment to children needing direct mental health services
• through individual counseling, play therapy, classroom support. Attend
• and participate inter disciplinary team meetings. Conduct yearly
• classroom observations followed by a written report and feedback
• discussions with teaching team. Coordinate and conduct focus
• observations of specific children when a referral has been made by
• family or staff. Schedule visits in each classroom at a frequency that
• enables timely and effective identification of and intervention in
• family and staff concerns about a child's mental health. Design and
• implements program practices responsive to the identified behavioral and
• mental health concerns of individual children or groups of children in
• consultation and coordination with teachers, center directors, education
• specialists, health specialist, disabilities specialist, and early
• interventionist as needed. Discuss with parents their child's behavior
• and development. Discuss and identify with parents appropriate responses
• to their child's behavior. Promote discussions and education on how to
• strengthen nurturing and supportive environments and relationships in
• the home and at the Head Start program.