Disabilities/Mental Health Specialist

STATEMENT OF THE JOB: Under the overall supervision of the Executive Director and direct supervision of the Early Childhood Director the Disability/Mental Health Specialist is responsible for the implementation of the Mental Health & Disabilities Service content areas for children birth to age five in all Head Start sites operated by CAPCA. The Disability/Mental Health Specialist is also responsible for the overall guidance and supervision of the position of Behavior Tech.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Serve as a member of the Administrative Office Management Team and the Early Childhood Management Team in overall coordination and planning for the early childhood programs.
2. Maintain a professional attitude and cooperate with all staff parents volunteers and community persons.
3. Monitor and ensure all childrens records and documentation follow CAPCA Policies and Procedures Office of Head Start Head Performance Standards state licensing requirements and other regulations.
4. Ensure compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) Public Law 101-336 and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
5. Provide weekly and monthly (if applicable) behavior monitoring reports to the Early Childhood Director.
6. Conduct Site Visits to monitor the Mental Health & Disabilities content areas at all centers complete the Site Visit Monitoring Form and follow up as necessary.
7. Responsible for updating annual agreements with LEA and Early Intervention agencies.
8. Responsible for seeing that mental health/disabilities screenings referrals and follow-up services for children and families are completed within the designated time frame.
9. Coordinate staffings for children and families as requested by staff or as identified through behavior observations consultant recommendations or review of records.
10. Ensure children needing mental health services have behavior plans receive the needed services and that their goals are being reinforced in the classroom.
11. Monitor and enter Individual Behavior Reports data into the computer to look for trends in childrens behavior.
12. Assist in scheduling appointments for high-risk and children with special needs.
13. Maintain agreement with Mental Health Consultant (s) which comply with Performance Standards in Mental Health and Disabilities.
14. Responsible for sharing recommendations from consultant (s) classroom Mental Health observations with Facility Supervisors and any other management staff as needed.
15. Follow up and monitor suggested recommendations from the Mental Health Consultant.
16. Maintain a computerized tracking system for Mental Health & Disability services.
17. Assist in developing the Resource Directory for the service area.
18. Work with local state regional and national resource persons to mobilize local resources and to accomplish goals in the Mental Health content areas.
19. Monitor and provide training and technical assistance to program sites and parents regarding procedures policies reports and consultant recommendations. Prepare and submit documentation containing monitoring reports and recommendations.
20. Assist in obtaining and documenting In-Kind for parent and community activities.
21. Work with other Head Start Coordinators to annually update the Mental Health areas of the Head Start Policies and Procedures in conjunction with parents staff community persons and Health Services Advisory Committee.
22. Work with Head Start Supervisors to compile data for the annual PIR (Program Information Report).
23. Serve as part of the annual Self-Assessment Team.
24. Revise/Update Mental Health and Disabilities forms yearly as needed.
25. Attend Quality Team Meetings (QTM) Early Childhood Team Meetings (ECTM) Administrative Office Meetings (AOM) center staff meetings and parent meetings as requested.
26. Responsible for data management in Go Engage and PIR relevant to the Mental Health & Disabilities content areas.
27. Responsible for avoidance or appearance of fraud and ensuring compliance in the overall management of the Agency.

NON-ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Respect confidentiality in all aspects of the Head Start Program.
2. Must be willing to participate in all training designed for professional development.
3. Able to handle stress tension and exasperation that contact with many children and adults may bring daily.
4. May be called upon to administer first aid to children or staff at any time in the program. The incidental nature of this circumstance effectively establishes first aid as collateral. duty rather than a primary one.
5. Perform other job-related duties as necessary for the overall operation of the program.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

1. Educational Requirements:

• Baccalaureate or advanced degree in special education or related field.
• Experience Requirements:
• Two years in Head Start or another child development program.
• Computer proficient.

1. Physical Requirements:

• Must pass tuberculosis screening annually and initial health examination within 90 days of employment.
• Valid drivers license access to a vehicle with liability insurance and willing to use vehicle for Agency related travel.
• Able to travel out of town overnight to attend training or make on-site visits.
• Able to hear and communicate orally with children and adults.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close distance and peripheral vision depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
• Occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.

1. Skill Requirements:

• Ability to read write and perform mathematical calculations.

1. Personal Traits:

• Excellent interpersonal skills and a dedicated interest in community projects.
• Have initiative and ability to motivate groups of people and to stimulate group action.
• Be in sympathy with the concepts of the Head Start program.
• Able to delegate responsibilities.
• Able to keep confidential information without inappropriately divulging it.
• Have planning and organizational abilities.
• Able to make decisions and work without continual close supervision.

1. Public Relations: Must be able to represent the agency in activities related to job title.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: To perform this job successfully an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge skill and /or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Currently budgeted for 12 months per year.

Rate of Pay: $ $19.52 -23.82 depending on education and experience. Budgeted for 12 months per year.

Hours: Full-Time position Mon.- Friday Work hours 8:00am- 5:00pm

Employer Paid Benefits (for eligible staff): 14 paid holidays 12 paid annual leave & 12 paid sick days per year; Employer provided life insurance medical insurance supplement education assistance employee assistance program 401K with match and more!