Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant

Description

SUMMARY:    The IECMH Consultant is a licensed mental health professional who promotes the social, emotional, and behavioral well-being of children birth through age six and their families. The Consultant partners with early childhood providers — child care programs, preschools, home visiting programs, Head Start, and families — to build protective factors in young children at risk for abuse, neglect, and poor social-emotional health; to increase the skills and confidence of parents and caregivers; and to strengthen the competencies of early childhood professionals so that challenging child behaviors are understood and addressed rather than resulting in suspension or expulsion.

Consultation is delivered in accordance with the Ohio Model of Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation and constitutes a consultation service as defined in OAC 5122-29-19: a formal, systematic exchange of information directed toward the development and improvement of individualized service plans and techniques involved in the delivery of behavioral health services. The Consultant provides and documents this service under the supervision and staff-qualification requirements of OAC 5122-29-30 and within the scope of the Consultant's professional license.

SUPERVISOR: Clinical Supervisor or Designee

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Consultation & Direct Service

• Provide programmatic and child/family-centered mental health consultation to early childhood programs, teachers, caregivers, and families, both on-site and via approved telehealth modalities.
• Conduct observations of children in early learning and home environments; administer and interpret the Devereux Early Childhood Assessment (DECA) and other approved social-emotional screening and assessment tools.
• Develop, implement, and monitor individualized action/support plans with teachers and families addressing social-emotional development, attachment, challenging behaviors, and the effects of stress and trauma.
• Model and coach evidence-based strategies for promoting social-emotional growth, positive behavior support, and trauma-informed caregiving.
• Facilitate referrals and warm hand-offs to diagnostic assessment, treatment, Early Intervention (Help Me Grow), and community resources when clinical needs exceed the scope of consultation.

Documentation & Compliance

• Maintain a record of all consultation services provided — including the person or system served, the nature of the consultation, and outcomes — in accordance with OAC 5122-29-19 and agency policy; complete clinical documentation per OAC Chapter 5122-27 where applicable.
• Maintain compliance with HIPAA, 42 CFR Part 2 (where applicable), agency policies, and OhioMHAS certification standards (OAC Chapters 5122-24 through 5122-29).
• Periodically survey partner systems to identify consultation needs, consistent with OAC 5122-29-19, and participate in quality improvement, data collection, and reporting required by OhioMHAS, funders, and the agency.

Professional & Team Responsibilities

• Maintain the Ohio IECMH/ECMH Credential and professional license in good standing, including renewal training requirements.
• Participate in reflective supervision, staff meetings, case consultation, and OhioMHAS-sponsored technical assistance and training.
• Represent the agency with community partners, family and children first councils, and early childhood system stakeholders.
• Other duties as assigned.

The Duties and Responsibilities above represent the most significant duties of this position, but do not exclude other assignments that would be within the qualification and responsibility levels of this position.  

Requirements

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:  

Education

• Bachelor's degree (master's preferred) from a CHEA-accredited college or university in a field related to early childhood: Child and Family Studies, Child Development, Education, Early Childhood, Pre-K, Elementary Education, Special Education, Nursing, Medicine, Psychology/Counseling, Social Work, or the ECMH Certificate from Cleveland State University.

Experience

• Minimum of two (2) years of experience in infant/early childhood mental health.
• Employment with an OhioMHAS-certified mental health agency currently or within the past two years.
• Direct work with children birth to age six and their families — or supervision of professionals doing that work — currently or within the past three years.

Credential

• Ohio IECMH/ECMH Professional Credential through the Ohio Professional Registry (OPR/OCCRRA), held at hire, and renewed every two years.

Required Training

• Initial: The Ohio Model of Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (two-part training) and Devereux Early Childhood Assessment (DECA) training by an approved Devereux trainer, completed and verified in the OPR.
• Ongoing (credential renewal): Minimum of 15 hours every two years focused on early childhood (birth to age six) in two or more IECMH Core Competency Domains: Social-Emotional Growth & Development; Family & Community Relations; Assessment; Interventions; Cultural and Linguistic Competency.
• Additional training in trauma-informed care and social-emotional development of infants and young children as required by the agency and the Ohio consultation model.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Deep knowledge of child development birth–6, attachment, the effects of stress and trauma on young children and families, and adult/caregiver mental health as it affects children.
• Skill in relationship-based, culturally and linguistically responsive consultation; strong observation, assessment, and coaching abilities.
• Ability to work independently across multiple community sites, manage a consultation caseload, and document accurately and timely in the electronic health record.
• Effective written and verbal communication with families, educators, clinicians, and system partners.

WORKING CONDITIONS & OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• Travel to child care programs, schools, homes, and community sites throughout the service area; valid driver's license, reliable transportation, and insurability required.
• Satisfactory completion of background checks in accordance with OAC 5122-30-31 and agency policy prior to hire.
• Position may require flexible scheduling, including occasional early evening hours, to meet the needs of families and programs.

LICENSES OR CERTIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

• One of the following: LSW, LISW, LPC, LPCC, Psychologist, Marriage & Family Therapist, RN/APRN, or MD/DO, per ORC Chapters 4757, 4732, 4723, and 4731; verifiable through the eLicense Ohio system. Other professional licenses considered under the OCCRRA appeal provision
• Unrestricted State of Ohio driver’s license

COMPLIANCE: 

This position requires compliance with AFS’ written standards, including its Compliance Program and Standards of Conduct and policies and procedures. Such compliance will be an element considered as part of the regular performance evaluation.

Failure to comply with AFS’ Written Standards, which may include the failure to report any conduct or event that potentially violates legal or compliance requirements or AFS’ Written Standards or, for managers and supervisors, fails to detect non-compliant conduct where reasonable efforts would have resulted in detection, will be met by the enforcement of disciplinary action, up to and including possible termination, in accordance with AFS’ Compliance Program Policy and Procedure: Addressing Instances of Non-Compliance through Appropriate Disciplinary Actions.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, and use hands to finger handle or feel; to talk; or hear. The employee is frequently required to reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally stand, walk, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee must be able to frequently lift up to 25 pounds. The employee may occasionally be required to lift 25 to 50 pounds; however, this is not essential; duties may be shifted to accommodate lifting restrictions.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to use close vision (clear vision at 20 inches or less). The employee will occasionally be working near moving mechanical parts, be exposed to outdoor weather conditions and exposed to a risk of electrical shock while running the copier, printer, other standard equipment and answering the telephone. The noise level in the work environment is low to moderate. Stress level can be high at times.

Note: This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities or qualifications associated with the job.