Mental Health Specialist

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.