Mental Health Professional

Community Services for Children is seeking a Mental Health Professional to join our team and make a difference in the lives of children and their families. The Mental Health Professional provides mental health, psychological, and behavioral health services and consultation for children, staff, and families in Head Start, Pre-K Counts, and Early Head Start programs. These services support children's social-emotional development, promote resilience and emotional well-being, foster nurturing relationships, and create safe trauma-informed learning environments, where all children experience a sense of belonging.

Work Environment: We are a large, well-established, high performing organization located in the heart of the Lehigh Valley. Selected as a 2015, 2017, 2020, and 2021 Top Workplace, CSC is a leader in early childhood education. We work together to prepare young children and their families to succeed in learning – and life! Our culture encourages a growth mindset and promotes work/life balance - offering generous paid time off packages and comprehensive benefits.

Newly hired staff members will receive a $1000 net monetary incentive upon completion of probation.

Responsibilities:

• Provides trauma-informed, relationship-based mental health consultation to strengthen staff capacity, classroom practices, positive mental health environments, and children's social-emotional development and resilience.
• Conducts reflective observations and consultation in classroom and home-based settings.
• Establishes collaborative relationships with agency staff, families, and community partners to identify mental health needs, coordinate appropriate supports, and facilitate referrals to community mental health resources.
• Partners with staff and families to develop and implement individualized, relationship-based strategies that promote emotional safety, co-regulation, self-regulation, positive behavioral supports, social-emotional development, and belonging.
  
• Maintains timely, accurate, and confidential documentation of consultations, observations, strategies, referrals, and services provided to staff, children, and families.
• Participates in the Health and Mental Health Services Advisory Committee and contributes to program planning, evaluation, and continuous quality improvement.
• Provides mental health training and education and develops resources on related topics for staff and families.
• Assists in the implementation of individualized plans created for all identified children, as needed.

Requirements:

• Minimum of Master’s degree in Psychology, Social Work, Counseling.
• License or Certification in Mental Health, Psychology, or Behavioral Analysis.
• At least three years early childhood mental health knowledge and experience. Trauma-informed care, and relationship-based practices preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to practice and model program’s mission, vision, and values, and Mental Health Approach.
• Strong relationship-building and communication skills with the ability to use technology for tracking, reporting, and monitoring systems.
• Strong observation, analytical, organization, problem solving, and planning skills.
• Ability to lift and carry a minimum of 20 lbs in order to assist children and to move equipment and materials as needed.
• Valid driver’s license, car insurance and full-time use of car.
• Spanish bi-lingual, bi-cultural a plus.

Benefits:

• Full Time
• Part Year: 6-8 weeks off over the summer (generally follows a school year calendar)
• Low cost/rich benefits
• Paid leave for sick and personal days
• Paid holidays
• Agency sponsored 401k retirement plan

This is a great opportunity for an engaged, practiced mental health professional with a commitment to improving early learning environments.