Mental Health and Disability Specialist

Job title  

Mental Health and Disabilities Specialist  

Program 

Early Head Start and Head Start Program  

Reports to  

Mental Health and Disabilities Manager  

General Description  

It is the responsibility of the Mental Health and Disabilities Specialist to be familiar with and implement appropriate strategies to ensure compliance with the Mental Health and Disabilities objectives as stated in Head Start Performance Standards, NC Child Day Care Licensing Laws, and other applicable regulations. The Mental Health and Disabilities Specialist has responsibilities specific to the provision of comprehensive mental health and disability services for enrolled children and families, as well as providing mental health education for children, parents, and staff.  

Essential Duties and Responsibilities 

A. Services 

• Support staff in the identification of children with challenging behavior and suspected disabilities. 

• Provide specialized technical assistance and practice-based coaching to staff regarding working with children with special needs and/or challenging behavior. 

• Collaborate with staff to familiarize children and families with mental health or disability services prior to the provision of such services. 

• Collaborate with staff to assist families in obtaining information or accessing resources within the community as needed and facilitate the mobilization of these services as indicated.  

• Provide parents with information about various disabilities, child and family mental health problems, available mental health, and disability resources, and promote the involvement of parents in all mental health and disability services. 

• Consult and collaborate with the Mental Health and Disabilities Manager, program staff, parents, Mental Health Consultants, and service providers regarding appropriate plans, interventions, accommodations/modifications other supports needed for children with identified mental health concerns and children with suspected and identified disabilities. 

• Attend various meetings; referral, eligibility, IEP, IFSP, Positive Behavior Support, regularly for children in need of and/or receiving mental health or disability services. 

• Provide direct classroom support to staff working with children with challenging behaviors and diagnosed disabilities. 

B. Program Management 

• Review and monitor the files of enrolled children to ensure that mental health and disability records are accurate and complete. 

• Collaborate with and support/advise staff regarding compliance with Head Start Performance Standards, North Carolina Day Care Licensing Law and other legal mandates as it relates to disability and mental health. 

• Provide input for the revision of mental health and disability policies and procedures annually and/or as needed.  

• Collaborate with the Mental Health and Disabilities Manager in identifying the special needs of children with suspected and diagnosed disabilities or mental health concerns by sharing information and observations when appropriate in accordance with agency confidentiality policy. 

• Maintain a record keeping system for complete, accurate, and up-to-date mental health records, including basic information, observations, results, follow up and treatment actions, progress, and status. 

• Ensure a system of monthly monitoring and reporting as required, or more often as needed or requested. 

• Work with the Mental Health and Disabilities Manager to ensure the appropriateness of mental health services provided and keep the Mental and Disabilities Manager abreast of activities, plans, challenges, and needs. 

C. Training and Education 

• Collaborate with Mental Health and Disabilities Manager and other designated staff to identify and provide workshops, training and materials to staff and parents to enhance awareness and understanding of working with children with special needs. 

• Collaborate with Mental Health and Disabilities Manager and Mental Health Consultant to identify and provide mental health related workshops, training and materials for parents and staff based on identified needs. 

• Provide training and orientation to new agency staff and/or interns as needed 

D. Professionalism 

• Abide by the NAEYC Code of Ethics. 

• Maintain professional standards and courtesy policies, and confidentiality regarding staff and child/family information. 

• Be a contributory team member in a positive and productive manner. 

• Actively participate in professional development opportunities and on-going self-improvement by continuously identifying areas for professional growth and actively pursuing opportunities for addressing these areas including the following: in-service staff development programs; college courses; reading articles in professional journals and/or books; and attending local, state, regional, and national conferences, and seminars. 

• Be willing to present workshops/seminars at conferences and/or write articles for professional magazines and journals. 

• Keep abreast of public policies which affect children and families and participate in and support advocacy efforts to secure adoption of local, state, and federal policies which are in the best interest of children and families. 

• Seek and maintain memberships in appropriate professional organizations and serve on community advisory committees. 

• Demonstrate flexibility to accommodate changes in job responsibilities due to changing program demands as requested by immediate supervisor. 

Essential Qualifications  

• A minimum of a BS in Early Childhood, Special Education, Child Development, Psychology, or related field with at least 3 years’ experience in an early childhood setting. 

• Education, training, and/or experience in child mental health, child disabilities or related fields, or the equivalent of experiences and training. 

• Demonstrated knowledge and appropriate understanding of child growth and development and standard management of atypical/challenging behaviors in children. 

• Demonstrated ability to perform effectively the duties required for the job including verbal ability to communicate, auditory capacity to respond to children and adults, visual ability to complete written assignments and physical ability to complete assignments given accommodations as required by law. 

• Availability of automobile during working hours and a valid driver’s license.