Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant (CSPP or HS) - Santa Clara County

at  Kidango

A little about us… Kidango (kidango.org) is an early learning nonprofit committed to setting every child on a path to thrive in kindergarten and in life. We believe that all children can reach their full potential if they and their families have access to the right opportunities and resources. As the largest child care provider in the San Francisco Bay Area, we provide thousands of children, especially those from low-income families, with safe, healthy, nurturing environments and relationships. Through our policy work, we aim to take our expertise beyond the children and families that we serve, and drive change in early childhood education at the local, state and federal levels. Our goal is to make sure all children have the social, emotional, and academic skills they need to learn, grow and realize their potential.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Clinical licensure as a LMFT, LCSW, LPCC or psychologist in California highly preferred (unlicensed professionals considered only with relevant experience, training, education and fit).
• Master’s degree or higher marriage and family therapy, psychology, social work or related behavioral science field required.
• At least 1 year previous experience working with young children 0-5 and their families in as a mental health clinician or other clinical role specializing in psychotherapeutic work with young children and their families.
• Knowledge of early development and work experience in group settings for children.
• Experience with assessment of young children’s social and emotional functioning.
• Experience with and/or knowledge of group dynamics and intervention with adults.
• Experience working within multi-cultural and under-resources communities
• Experience therapeutically supporting children and adults affected by poverty, trauma and the multitude of other stressful, adverse experiences.
• Endorsement as an infant/family early childhood mental health specialists/reflective practice facilitator or reflective mentor highly preferred although not required.
• Education or training in infant mental health, early childhood mental health and early childhood development including evidence-based, trauma-informed models (i.e. Child Parent Psychotherapy).
• Familiarity with school-based mental health consultation in early care and education settings such as Early Head Start, Head Start, and state-preschool programs.
• Practice from a bio-psycho-social clinical approach, inclusive of ecological, attachment, trauma, neuroscience and developmental theories and rooted in infant mental health philosophy and principles.
• Strongly seeking bilingual in Spanish/English (Other languages also considered include Vietnamese, Mandarin, Punjabi, Farsi, Tagalog)
• Demonstrate understanding of early childhood mental health consultation as building the mental health capacities of teachers, staff, families and others who care for young children and utilize the principles of the consultative stance in the oversight and implementation of the program.
• Demonstrate the value of self-reflection and practice the examining of one’s own values, beliefs, assumptions, biases and experiences and how influence what bring to the consultative work, relationships and interactions.
• Ability to assist others in self-reflection and perspective-taking.
• Ability to develop trusting and collaborative relationships with supervisees to support their professional growth and program quality.
• Show flexibility and comfort working in natural environments including early care/education classrooms, homes or other non-traditional clinical settings. Occasionally, work evenings and/or weekends.
• Ability to support the mental health of infants, young children and the adults who care for them.
• Understand and embrace the complexity, ambiguity and process-orientation of consultative work.
• Understand and embrace multidisciplinary approach for working with young children, families and other caregivers and staff.
• Understand typical and atypical growth and development of young children. Understand cultural variations in development, teaching practices, childrearing practices and caregiver expectations.
• Respect diversity and embrace working with multi-cultural communities.
• Understand the influence of power, inequity and oppression as related to adult and child behavior and relationships.
• Communicate respectfully and maintain effective relationships with all staff, partnering agencies and other stakeholders.
• Ability to provide accept responsibility, set goals, work independently and in cooperation with others.
• Professional, self-motivated and self-directed.
• Effective and strong communicator. Ability to communicate clearly in English both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to write concise, informative written information in a timely manner as needed within the position.
• Ability to exercise good judgment clinically, legally and ethically and willing to consult with supervisor as needed. Ability to make decisions and multi-task.
• Position requires travel to consultation assignments within Santa Clara, Alameda and/or Contra Costa counties.
• Have own reliable transportation given the position requires daily travel to various locations

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Must pass a health screening and TB test
• Must pass background fingerprint clearance
• Valid Driver License
• Must be 18 years or older
• The ability to lift up to 30lbs may be needed during some job duties
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions

• Implement all aspects of the delivery of the Kidango model of early childhood mental health consultation services to staff, children and families that includes system, program, center and child-level consultation.
• Conduct consistent and ongoing consultation meetings/conversations, observations, assessments and other consultative/therapeutic activities.
• Participate in individual and group reflective supervision that is marked by atmosphere of trust, respect reflection and collaboration.
• Participate in regular administrative supervision. Adhere to protocols, processes and timelines related to referrals, case assignments and documentation (NO MEDI-CAL billing, productivity or documentation).
• Establish and maintain strong collaborative and professional relationships with staff across departments.
• Support referral process for community-based services and resources, as needed.
• Develop and/or facilitate trainings on a range of early childhood mental health topics for consultation as part of consultation support.
• Provide interventions to assist with mental health or behavioral crisis as arise, including with situations related to mandated reporting and any suspected child abuse adhering to laws and regulations.
• Complete data collection procedures and provide data reporting as requested. Support the development and implementation of program evaluation and outcome measurement procedures.
• Attend supervision and other meetings as required for the program.