Disabilities / Mental Health Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

STATEMENT OF THE JOB : Under the overall supervision of the Executive Director and direct supervision of the Early Childhood Director, the Disability / Mental Health Specialist is responsible for the implementation of the Mental Health & Disabilities Service content areas for children birth to age five in all Head Start sites operated by CAPCA. The Disability / Mental Health Specialist is also responsible for the overall guidance and supervision of the position of Behavior Tech.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS :

• Serve as a member of the Administrative Office Management Team and the Early Childhood Management Team in overall coordination and planning for the early childhood programs.
• Maintain a professional attitude and cooperate with all staff, parents, volunteers, and community persons.
• Monitor and ensure all children’s records and documentation follow CAPCA Policies and Procedures, Office of Head Start Head Performance Standards, state licensing requirements, and other regulations.
• Ensure compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) – Public Law 101-336 and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
• Provide weekly and monthly (if applicable) behavior monitoring reports to the Early Childhood Director.
• Conduct Site Visits to monitor the Mental Health & Disabilities content areas at all centers, complete the Site Visit Monitoring Form and follow up as necessary.
• Responsible for updating annual agreements with LEA and Early Intervention agencies.
• Responsible for seeing that mental health / disabilities screenings, referrals, and follow-up services for children and families are completed within the designated time frame.
• Coordinate “staffing’s” for children and families as requested by staff or as identified through behavior observations, consultant recommendations, or review of records.
• Ensure children needing mental health services have behavior plans, receive the needed services, and that their goals are being reinforced in the classroom.
• Monitor and enter Individual Behavior Reports data into the computer to look for trends in children’s behavior.
• Assist in scheduling appointments for high-risk and children with special needs.
• Maintain agreement with Mental Health Consultant (s) which comply with Performance Standards in Mental Health and Disabilities.
• Responsible for sharing recommendations from consultant (s) classroom Mental Health observations with Facility Supervisors and any other management staff as needed.
• Follow up and monitor suggested recommendations from the Mental Health Consultant.
• Maintain a computerized tracking system for Mental Health & Disability services.
• Assist in developing the Resource Directory for the service area.
• Work with local, state, regional and national resource persons to mobilize local resources and to accomplish goals in the Mental Health content areas.
• Monitor and provide training and technical assistance to program sites and parents regarding procedures, policies, reports, and consultant recommendations. Prepare and submit documentation containing monitoring reports and recommendations.
• Assist in obtaining and documenting In-Kind for parent and community activities.
• Work with other Head Start Coordinators to annually update the Mental Health areas of the Head Start Policies and Procedures in conjunction with parents, staff, community persons, and Health Services Advisory Committee.
• Work with Head Start Supervisors to compile data for the annual PIR (Program Information Report).
• Serve as part of the annual Self-Assessment Team.
• Revise / Update Mental Health and Disabilities forms yearly as needed.
• Attend Quality Team Meetings (QTM), Early Childhood Team Meetings (ECTM), Administrative Office Meetings (AOM), center staff meetings, and parent meetings as requested.
• Responsible for data management in Go Engage and PIR relevant to the Mental Health & Disabilities content areas.
• Responsible for avoidance or appearance of fraud and ensuring compliance in the overall management of the Agency.

NON-ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS :

JOB REQUIREMENTS :

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS : To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and / or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Currently budgeted for 12 months per year.

Rate of Pay : $ $19.52 -23.82 depending on education and experience. Budgeted for 12 months per year.

Hours : Full-Time position, Mon.- Friday Work hours 8 : 00am- 5 : 00pm

Employer Paid Benefits (for eligible staff) : 14 paid holidays, 12 paid annual leave & 12 paid sick days per year; Employer provided life insurance, medical insurance supplement, education assistance, employee assistance program, 401K with match, and more!