Mental Health Coordinator - Head Start Program - Children's Home Society

Provides Mental Health services; does not have supervisory responsibility, collaborates with community mental health agencies to serve clients, plans or implements mental health intervention, observes in classroom, provides staff support in behavior management, and provides mental health education, training and consultation to staff and parents.

The Mental Health Specialist has no direct therapy/counseling with the children.

Candidates must have a car and valid driver’s license as travel throughout Trenton/Head Start Centers is required.

• Plans and coordinates a Mental Health Services program that includes, but is not limited to, implementation and maintenance of a monitoring/documentation system to accurately report services provided, ensuring accurate records, follow-through and report keeping of the children served
• Assists in the implementation of the Mental Health Service Area Plan and Head Start Policies and Procedures
• Provides on-going mental health consultations with families, staff and children via home visits, classroom visits and observations following the mental health referral process
• Participate in case management team meetings, reviews and tracks all mental health screenings and concerns and referrals for mental health services
• Develops a cooperative relationship with other staff members to ensure awareness and responsiveness to the Mental Health Service Area Plan. This includes, but is not limited to:
• Working with Early Childhood Education Managers and Specialists to develop, plan and monitor special curriculum and daily activities.
• Meeting and planning with Center Directors to coordinate activities
• Providing observations of behavior or mental health needs of children and work with teachers to modify activities as needed
• Provides training to staff and parents on topics related to Mental Health and provide technical assistance to teaching staff regarding behavioral issues, methods of identifying behavioral concerns and methods of appropriate behavior management techniques to encourage a positive learning experience for the children using the curriculum and behavior management plan manual
• Designs, produces and distributes a quarterly Mental Health newsletter to staff and parents
• Attends meetings, trainings and conferences as needed

Maintain Professional and Ethical Standards:

• Maintain confidentiality in accordance with Agency policy and legal requirements.
• Respect and maintain rights and privacy of all staff, parents, and children. Maintain HIPAA compliances of all confidential information.
• Attend mandated trainings and meetings, and seek out staff development opportunities.
• Work as a team member with all Head Start and agency staff and maintain a positive work ethic.
• Adhere to NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct and NASW Code of Ethics.

Masters degree in Social Work, New Jersey LSW. LCSW preferred

Minimum of three (3) to five (5) years of experience working with children 0 – 5 years old. Experience using the ChildPlus data based software system or equivalent a plus.

• Work experience with multicultural populations.
• Ability to write reports and correspondence, and read and interpret documents
• Knowledge of various software programs such as MS Word, Excel, Power-Point, and Publisher. ChildPlus software or equivalent a plus
• Ability to effectively engage and communicate with community members and groups, managers, regulatory agencies, and families both individually and in group settings
• Ability to organize and manage time effectively
• Ability to talk at community meetings to represent, lead, advocate, educate and/or negotiate on behalf of Head Start programs.