JOB DESCRIPTION
POSITION: IEC Mental Health Consultant
REPORTS TO: IEC Mental Health Consultant Lead
Salary Range: $60,185.00-71,807.00
Extended Salary Range: $60,185.00-87,408.00
FLSA Status: Exempt
AGENCY SUMMARY:
BrightSpark Early Learning Services has been at the forefront of the early learning landscape for 30 years ensuring that all children have equitable access to safe, engaging, and positive early learning experiences that promote school readiness and lifetime success. With a staff of 140 and a budget of $50 million (99% publicly funded), BrightSpark Early Learning Services provides a broad array of services for families and childcare providers so that they in turn can support the development and well-being of our children.
OPPORTUNITY:
The Mental Health Consultant is a member of the Comprehensive Services team within the Early Learning Services Department and reports to the Department Manager, Comprehensive Services. They participate as a member of the Early Learning Services Team, and as such are responsible for actively contributing to the strategic objectives of the department. In addition, they are a member of CCA WA’s IECMH team, focusing on systems-wide projects necessary to carry out the goals and objectives of a statewide IECMH service model.
PURPOSE:
The BrightSpark Early Learning Services IEC Mental Health Consultant takes a promotion, prevention, and intervention approach to partner with our coaches and early childhood professionals to strengthen the capacity of staff, families, programs, and systems to promote optimal social and emotional development and to prevent, identify, and reduce the impact of mental health challenges among children and families.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Provide virtual and on-site Infant-Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC) services in selected licensed child care sites (centers and/or homes) by Implementation Guidance provided by DCYF and BrightSpark Early Learning Services, to strengthen the capacity of providers, families, and systems to promote positive social and emotional development, and to prevent, identify and reduce the impact of mental health challenges among children and
MHCs (including MHCs working in Head Start/ECEAP settings and Infant Toddler Consultants) to work toward long-term goal of a coordinated approach in IECMHC.
On-site IECMHC services to licensed child care providers include, but may not be limited to:
Child/Family Consultation – working collaboratively with providers and parents to assess, understand, and address child/family needs with an individualized plan.
Classroom Consultation - working collaboratively with teachers and Coaches to address attitudes, beliefs, practices, and conditions affecting the quality of relationships between adults and children.
Program Consultation- consulting with administrators, directors, and leaders to support changes in practice and policy to benefit all children, families, and adults in the early learning setting.
Specific Mental Health Consultation activities may include:
- Classroom observations
- Consultation with teachers, administrators, staff, and families
- Supporting reflection and problem-solving to build adults’ capacity to address child/family, classroom, programmatic, and systemic
- Collaboratively developing individualized support plans for children and families and identifying culturally attuned, effective, and feasible strategies
- Providing screening, resources, and referrals for children, families, and staff
- Training for early care and education staff and administrators on topics such as Trauma Informed Care, Understanding and Managing Challenging Behavior, Expulsion Prevention and Inclusionary Practices, Stress Management and Self-Care, and others as appropriate. (Trauma-informed care training will always involve follow-up consultation for participants)
- Collaboration with Early Achievers Coaches and other quality improvement partners working within settings.
- Provide resources, information, and guidance to build the capacity of regional Early Achievers Coaches to support providers with children’s challenging behaviors and to prevent expulsion of children from childcare and early learning settings.
Regional support for Early Achievers Coaches should be collaboratively determined by MHC, EA Managers, Coaches, and EA Leads. Support/Consultation to Coaches may include, but is not limited to:
- Training on topics such as, but not limited to: Trauma Informed Care, Understanding and Managing Challenging Behavior, Expulsion Prevention and Inclusionary Practices, Stress Management and Self-Care, and others as appropriate. (Trauma-informed care training will always involve offering follow-up consultation for participants.) Regional Child Care Licensors, child care providers, and/or community members may be invited to these trainings as deemed
- Consultation with Coach groups/communities of practice regarding material covered in training and/or to provide group reflective
- Joint site visits with Coaches to provide initial assessment/ impressions and consultation to Coaches and providers regarding potential strategies and/or resources/referrals, and to determine whether on-site IECMHC services are
- Providing resources, materials, information, or referrals for
- Engage with regional/community/tribal early learning and behavioral health partners to: build connections and establish regional referral options for children, families, and providers; identify regional strengths/opportunities and service gaps/barriers; and engage with other Support, Resources and Consultation for Early Achievers Coaches
- Travel within King & Pierce Counties 80%
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
Minimum Qualifications
Master’s Degree or Doctorate in Social Work, Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, or Psychology, clinical licensure or license-eligible, and a minimum of 3 years experience in the mental health field, (candidates with experience with young children (birth- 5) and IMH endorsement will be prioritized).
**Candidates with an advanced degree such as a Master’s in Early Childhood Education or Child Development and/or Infant Mental Health Endorsement, and/or previous experience in delivering IECMHC and/or early education, may be considered if the candidate is not a licensed eligible mental health professional.
Desired Qualifications
- Knowledge of and experience with mission-focused communities, with an emphasis on Black and brown communities, including rural or urban Pierce County, tribal communities, immigrant communities, and/or military
- Course work and/or formal training in culturally appropriate, anti-bias practice and theory, along with a commitment towards continued professional development in this
- Must become a State Approved STARS
- Ability to work independently and self-motivate; the majority of time is
- Ability to analyze and interpret
- Understanding and experience with Quality Improvement and Adult Learning
- Knowledge of ECE Curricula and Assessments, including CLASS and
- Effective written and verbal communication
- Effective listening skills with the ability to give and receive critical
- Proven ability to work in a team
- Ability to maintain timely documentation/data entry into electronic data system; Assist with deliverable and reporting
- Proven ability to consistently meet monthly project
- Ability to work occasional night and weekend
- Washington State Driver’s License, automobile insurance, and access to a reliable automobile. This position is expected to travel across both counties and be available in all BrightSpark Early Learning Services.
COMPETENCIES:
- Mission-driven: Demonstrates commitment to the mission and values of the mission.
- Equity mindset: Demonstrates the values of anti-racism; fosters an inclusive environment that facilitates diversity.
- Communication: Uses skillful written and oral communication with internal staff, teams, and community served; demonstrates empathy and listening.
- Adaptability: Adapts and responds to change; proactively seeks opportunities to be supportive of change that serves our mission
- Ownership and quality of work: Manages own work, and work of teams when relevant, ensuring delivery of successful outcomes.
COMPENSATION:
Salary Range: $60,185.00-71,807.00
Extended Salary Range: $60,185.00-87,408.00
- FLSA Status: Exempt
- This is a full-time salaried position requiring work during BrightSpark Early Leaning Services Business hours, Monday through Friday from 8:30 am-5 pm, and requires a willingness to work some evenings and weekends.
The salary range indicated in this posting represents the minimum and maximum of the salary range for this position. Base salary will be used when considering compensation for a new employee.
Actual salary will vary depending on factors including, but not limited to, budget available, prior experience, knowledge, skill, and education as they relate to the position’s qualifications, in addition to internal racial equity. The posted salary range reflects just one component of our total compensation package.
Other components of the total compensation package may include participation in group life, health and/or dental insurance, retirement plan, wellness program(s), paid time off, and paid holidays.
HOW TO APPLY:
- A cover letter, describing as specifically as you can how your experience, skills, and values fit with BrightSpark Early Leaning Services’ goals and mission as described in this announcement.
- A brief personal equity statement, describing your skills and experience engaging with issues involving diversity, racial equity, and inclusion, and/or in advancing racial equity in organizations. This statement should not exceed 300 words.
BENEFITS:
BrightSpark Early Leaning Services' benefits package includes employer-paid top-tier medical, dental and vision insurance plans for employees, 21 days of PTO per year in addition to 11 paid holidays, 3 paid floating holidays, birthday holiday, and one week-long office closure at year-end, Refresh Fridays in July (BrightSpark Early Learning Services Closure Days), flexible work environment, employer-paid life insurance, short-term disability/illness leave accrual, and 401k with 3% employer match.
WORK LOCATION:
- This position is a Hybrid Field/In Person Position
- Employees BrightSpark Early Learning Services employees in all types of work positions (hybrid, field, etc.) must attend training, meetings, events, or other work commitments at various BrightSpark Early Learning Services office locations or off-site locations in Washington State including New Employee Orientation in Kent, Washington.
EQUAL EQUITY EMPLOYER:
BrightSpark Early Learning Services is an equal-opportunity employer, and we value diversity among our staff. We strongly encourage people of color, immigrants and refugees, people from the LGBTQ community, people with disabilities, and people from other historically marginalized groups to apply.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION & QUESTIONS
- To learn more about BrightSpark Early Learning Services, please visit BrightSpark.org
- BrightSpark Early Learning Services is a grant-funded nonprofit organization. This and all positions are contingent on grant funding being in place and can end based on the expiration of funding.
Required
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3 year(s): Master’s Degree or Doctorate in Social Work, Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, or Psychology, clinical licensure or license-eligible, and a minimum of 3 years’ experience in mental health field, (candidates with experience with young children (birth- 5) and IMH endorsement will be prioritized).
Preferred
-
**Candidates with an advanced degree such as Master’s in Early Childhood Education or Child Development and/or Infant Mental Health Endorsement, and/or previous experience in delivering IECMHC and/or early education, may be considered if candidate is not a licensed eligible mental health professional.
Required
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Masters or better in Social Work or related field
Required
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Writing
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Database Management
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Communication
Preferred
Preferred
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Team Player: Works well as a member of a group
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Enthusiastic: Shows intense and eager enjoyment and interest
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Innovative: Consistently introduces new ideas and demonstrates original thinking
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Detail Oriented: Capable of carrying out a given task with all details necessary to get the task done well
Preferred
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Flexibility: Inspired to perform well when granted the ability to set your own schedule and goals
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Work-Life Balance: Inspired to perform well by having ample time to pursue work and interests outside of work
