Mental Health Specialist - Classroom Aide

CrossWinds Counseling & Wellness; Emporia (KS); On-site; USD 17,000 - 22,000; Part time

Job summary

CrossWinds Counseling & Wellness is seeking a Mental Health Specialist/Classroom Aide for our Therapeutic Preschool program in Emporia, Kansas. This part-time role supports emotionally disturbed children through evidence-based social-emotional activities and structured learning.

The position emphasizes direct service, collaboration with a therapeutic team, and ongoing professional development to meet each child’s social and emotional needs.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• One year of experience in health and human services preferred.
• Computer skills: Microsoft Office and basic computer fluency.
• Ability to work with persons with emotional disturbance and as part of a therapeutic team.

Responsibilities

• Assists with daily classroom setup and preparation of daily materials.
• Provides safe supervision and interaction with preschoolers, modeling appropriate behaviors.
• Prepares snacks and assists with cleanup.
• Transports preschoolers to and from preschool following transportation guidelines.
• Completes daily documentation and communications with program staff and families.
• Maintains client confidentiality.
• Pursues ongoing training in early childhood mental health.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Teamwork

Problem-solving

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Office

Basic computer literacy

Job description

Description

Mental Health Specialist/Classroom Aide

Department

Therapeutic Preschool

Created

4/5/2019

Reports to

Assistant Clinical Director (Outpatient Services)

Revised

5/20/2025

FLSA Status

Non-exempt

EEO - 1

Service Workers

Travel

Occasional travel within service area is required.

Work Hours

Part-time

Positions Supervised

None

Summary

The Mental Health Specialist/Classroom Aide provides direct services in a group or on an individual basis to severely emotionally disturbed children, using a combination of evidence based social emotional curriculum and activity-based learning opportunities to meet the needs of children. This position assists in planning and implementing effective treatment, guiding and teaching to provide quality care for each child’s social and emotional needs.

Essential Functions

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Assists with daily classroom set up and preparation of daily materials.
• Provides safe supervision and interaction with preschoolers throughout the day, modeling appropriate behaviors, peer interactions, and assisting preschoolers with problem-solving.
• Prepares snacks, modeling appropriate table manners; assists with snack clean up.
• Transports preschoolers to and from preschool in accordance with CrossWinds transportation guidelines.
• Completes all daily clinical and non-clinical documentation. Documentation will be monitored by the Program Coordinator/QMHP.
• Documents attendance of each child on a daily basis; making contact with parents/caregivers, treatment providers or other collateral contacts.
• Maintains client confidentiality.
• Continuously makes an effort to pursue ongoing training in the field of early childhood mental health.

Work Environment

This job operates in a classroom setting, as well as in a professional office setting. This role uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, and filing cabinets.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. This list is not exhaustive and may be supplemented as necessary.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; handle objects; grasp and reach for items with hands and arms; manipulate hands and fingers; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, or crouch; and talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift or move up to 25 pounds. The employee is required to become certified in Managing Aggressive Behaviors (MAB), which includes training in proper restraint/physical intervention techniques to be utilized as a last resort. The employee is also required to become certified in CPR First Aid, which involves the use of upper body strength and stamina in order to push hard and fast on the chest for at least two inches at a rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Language skills are required, including the ability to read, write, comprehend, and speak the English language. This position also requires the ability to interpret written materials, write reports and business correspondence, and effectively present and respond to questions.

Important Information

This job description has been examined for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The agency has reviewed this job description to ensure that essential functions and basic duties have been included. It is intended to provide guidelines for job expectations and the employee’s ability to perform the position described. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all functions, responsibilities, skills, and abilities. Additional functions and requirements may be assigned by supervisors as deemed appropriate. This document does not represent a contract of employment, and the agency reserves the right to change this job description and/or assign tasks for the employee to perform, as the agency may deem appropriate.

Requirements

Education

High school diploma or equivalent is required.

Experience

One year of experience in the health and human services field is preferred.

Certifications & Licenses

N/A

Computer Skills

Computer experience in Microsoft Office programs and basic computer fluency.

Additional Qualifications

Ability to work with persons with serious emotional disturbance; ability to work independently and as a member of a therapeutic team; possess demonstrated interpersonal skills and ability to react effectively in a variety of human service situations.