Infant Mental Health Therapist (IMHT)

About Kindering

Kindering a not-for-profit neurodevelopmental center has provided comprehensive services for children with special needs and their families since 1962. We are committed to creating and providing superior individualized family-centered services for children who are disabled medically fragile or vulnerable because of abuse or neglect. Kindering is dedicated to maintaining a highly trained licensed and certified team of professionals. Current services include comprehensive developmental assessments physical and occupational therapy speech and language therapy special education family counseling a feeding team childcare consultation parenting education and family resource coordination.

Here at Kindering we are dedicated to our vision for equity I Belong our work towards eradicating the systemic racial and oppressive barriers in society so that everyone can succeed. We are a proud equal opportunity employer committed to an inclusive work environment and to building a team that reflects the rich diversity of our community and actively encourage people from marginalized backgrounds to apply including people of color women individuals with disabilities veterans LGBTQ individuals immigrants and refugees.

Purpose

Within the Kindering CHERISH program provide in-home dyadic therapeutic infant mental health services in conjunction with other developmental services children involved in the Child Welfare System age 0-3 who are vulnerable because of family separation abuse and/or neglect; include their parents and/or caregivers in service provision.

Note: This role has been approved for 30 hour per week.

Principal Duties & Responsibilities

Duties and responsibilities may include but are not limited to the following:

• Conduct clinical intakes participate in a multi-disciplinary evaluation team and conduct psychosocial assessments for foster children aged 0-3 as well as other discipline-specific assessments when applicable

• Assess each childs developmental level of social-emotional and cognitive functioning as well as other areas of functioning where indicated; design and implement individual treatment plans; prepare progress reports; review medical reports; and maintain accurate records of contact for each child

• Provide in-home developmental and other relational supports for parent or caregiver/child dyads around issues of attachment adjustment and emotional development (this includes discipline-specific interventions as is applicable)

• Provide systems consultation for childrens caregivers and parents

• Collaborate and consult with multi-disciplinary staff on treatment teams for foster children receiving developmental therapies

• Facilitate groups as needed. This may include peer groups as well as client/therapeutic groups.

• Participate in agency program planning and program dissemination including presentations articles referrals inter-agency collaborations etc.

• Complete all documentation as required including case notes treatment plans session notes and reports in accordance with Washington States Early Support for Infants and Toddlers Program (ESIT)

• Participate in clinical consultation and reflective supervision as required

• Supervise Masters-level interns as appropriate

• Provide or support outreach intensive informing care planning coordination anticipatory guidance for complex health needs assistance to access services consultation resource development interagency coordination training program planning quality management and administration to support Medicaid programs

• Other duties as assigned

Required Education & Experience

• Masters degree in related area of study; training in Infant Mental Health

• Valid Washington State professional license for providing early support services in Washington State (e.g. Washington State Mental Health Counselor or Washington State Associate Mental Health Counselor)
• Experience working with families of young children and diverse populations or a willingness to learn
• Willingness to work a flexible schedule
• A fundamental understanding of current issues and challenges facing individuals from underserved communities including sensitivity to racial equity/diversity
• Respect for and ability to develop skills to engage with people from different cultures and backgrounds
• Bilingual fluency is an asset and bilingual applicants are strongly encouraged to apply

Minimum Prerequisites

• Pass Washington State DSHS criminal history and background check and FBI fingerprint check

• Possess a valid Washington State CPR/First Aid certification or be in process of obtaining one
• Demonstrate organizational skills ability to follow through on assignments on time and with accuracy provide clear written and verbal communication keep up-to-date written and electronic documentation
• Strictly maintain confidentiality of all client information
• Access to reliable transportation
• Demonstrate proficiency in using MS Office
• Pass tuberculosis test
• Ability to show proof of current immunizations including COVID-19 and MMR vaccine or titer test*

*Kindering requires all employees to be vaccinated or apply and be approved for a sincerely held religious belief or medical exemption. Employees must apply and be approved for an exemption and agree to additional safety precautions.