Advisor, Program Mental Health

Position Title: Advisor Program Mental Health
Employee Type: Full-time Regular
Supervisor Title: Senior Advisor Mental Health
Division: Head Start U.S. Programs

Save the Children

For over 100 years Save the Children has been fighting for the rights of children. The right to a healthy start in life. To have access to education. To be in a safe environment protected from harm. We work in some of the worlds hardest-to-reach places over 100 countries including the U.S. No matter what your role is when you join Save the Children youre creating positive irreversible change for children and the future we all share.

The Role

As the Advisor Program Mental Health you will be responsible for overseeing the mental health content area of the Save the Children Rapides Head Start program and works closely with the Louisiana Head Start Program Director as well as content area management team members. You will support a program wide-culture that promotes childrens mental health social and emotional well-being safety of children and staff and overall health. You will also ensure implementation of the mental and behavioral health program services.

The mental health content area is an integral part of the larger system of services provided by Head Start/Early Head Start programs and plays an important part in supporting the overarching goals of the program. You will be responsible for ensuring that mental health services are implemented with fidelity in accordance with Head Start regulations as well as other State and federal requirements including those associated with the American Disabilities Act (ADA). You will promote positive outcomes for young children by helping staff to develop the attitudes and skills necessary to effectively support the social and emotional development of the young children in their care. This includes strengthening the programs ability to create nurturing environments that foster mental wellness among children families and staff.

As a frontline representative of Save the Children you are required to ensure the safety and security of children and families that you come in contact with and adhere to the agencys values of Accountability Ambition Collaboration Creativity and Integrity.

What Youll Be Doing (Essential Duties)*
*not inclusive of all role responsibilities. May be subject to change.

• Under the supervision of the Senior Advisor Mental Health and in conjunction with Head Start Program Director implements mental health program policies and procedures and provides support to staff working with children and families to implement the highest quality service delivery.
• Visits each site and classrooms on a regular basis (4-6 hours per month per site) to conduct classroom and individual child observations provide training and technical assistance coaching and mentoring and build staff capacity by working directly with Head Start/EHS staff parents and community partners to ensure high quality service delivery.
• Meets with center staff following classroom observations to discuss strengths and recommendations for classroom management and a physical and cultural environment that promotes mental health and trauma-informed care along with providing mindfulness strategies for all staff.
• Facilitates the individual behavior support process ensuring compliance with the Behavior Guidance Policy. Ensures all required reports are completed and supporting documentation has been acquired.
• Ensures psychological diagnostic evaluations occur for children when needed. Perform the evaluation as appropriate or make referral to the public school system or other community agency for testing and evaluation.
• Facilitates training for staff in the program related to the implementation of developmental and social-emotional screening and disabilities and infant child and adult behavioral health and family dynamics. Provides information and resources to grow the knowledge base of families and staff.
• Provides parent training and individual consultation to support childrens development and social-emotional growth.
• Coordinates with program director and other managers/specialists to develop pre-service and on-going in-service training to ensure implementation of high-quality services.
• Continues to build and enhance the network of mental health service providers for low-income families in the program.
• Develops and implements quality assurance activities including database monitoring on-site visitations/observations program reviews consultation and follow-up.
• Supports and participates in the Health and Family Services Advisory Committees which include professionals and volunteers from the community.
• Assists in the general administration of the Head Start program by participating in the ongoing program evaluation and planning process and assisting in the annual assessment process.
• Participates and/or encourages local staffs participation on inter-agency coordination councils child and adolescent service system program teams and care coordination councils and individual systems of care wrap-around teams.
• Participates and supports parents and staff as needed in IEP/1FSP meetings for participating children.
• Maintains ongoing communication to ensure high quality service delivery with educational cooperatives private providers early intervention and behavioral health specialists and supports partnerships with program staff and parents.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of Masters Degree and licensed in accordance with the state mental/behavioral health professional licensing agency. (Counseling Social Work or Psychology)
• Demonstrated experience providing mental and behavior health services.
• Knowledge of Heat Start Program Performance Standards as well as health and nutrition services for infant toddler and preschool programs.
• Demonstrated knowledge of administration basic fiscal accountability and public relations skills.
• Demonstrated experience developing consistent stable and supportive relationships with young children.
• Proven ability to exercise professional judgment and evaluation before making decisions.
• Proven ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff children parents and outside agencies.
• Demonstrated successful ability to communicate and collaborate with individuals and teams and at all levels both internal and external
• Proven successful problem solving and time management skills.
• Professional proficiency in MS Office Suite
• Professional proficiency in written and spoken English

Additional Qualifications

• Physical Requirements related to essential functions: Ability to perform medium to heavy physical work exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally up to 20 pounds frequently and up to 5-10 pounds constantly performing such activities as sitting crawling stooping kneeling crouching reaching standing walking pushing pulling lifting and grasping. This also includes some duties that require repetitive action and motion skills keyboarding and computer use.
• Clear pre-employment background check requirements including local state and national criminal records check sex offender registries employment and education verifications (including child abuse registry check if required by state regulations) and pass all state and local health requirements required post job offer and prior to employment.
• This position will require the incumbent to operate a motor vehicle to fulfill certain essential functions of the job. The incumbent should maintain a valid drivers license and remain in compliance with any Save the Children policies pertaining to the safe operation of motor vehicles.
• Current and former Head Start/Early Head Start parents will receive preference for employment vacancies for which they are qualified.

About Us

We are looking to build an inclusive team at Save the Children. We offer a range of outstanding benefits to support this goal:

• Paid time off: 10 days winter break and 5 days spring break 5 personal days 11 holidays plus 2 floating holidays per year.
• Health: Competitive health care dental and vision coverage for you and your family. Employer paid short term disability and long-term disability benefits.
• Health Savings Accounts (HSA): Option to select HSA if enrolled into a High-Deductible Health Plan in which the company matches a portion of the contribution.
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA): Option to enroll in health care and dependent care options.
• Life: Agency paid life and accidental death and dismemberment benefits (AD&D).
• Family: Parental/adoption fertility benefits
• Employee Rewards Program: Annual merit increases and/or additional incentives for eligible employees
• Retirement: Retirement savings plan with employer contributions (after one year)
• Wellness: Health benefits and support through Calm and company-hosted events
• Employee Assistance Program: Free and confidential assessments short-term counseling referrals and follow-up services
• Learning & Growth: Access to internal and external learning & development opportunities and mentorships. Certification and tuition assistance.

Click here to learn more about how Save the Children US will invest in you.

Save the Children is committed to conducting its programs and operations in a manner that is safe for the children it serves and helping protect the children with whom we are in contact. All Save the Children representatives are explicitly prohibited from engaging in any activity that may result in any kind of child abuse.

Save the Children is committed to minimizing safety and security risks for our valued employees ensuring all are given training support and information to reduce their risk exposure while maximizing the impact of our programs for children and families. Our shared duty both agency and individual is to seek and maintain safe working conditions for all.

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