Clinician, Early Childhood Mental Health - FT, PT, or Fee for Service

Clinical Consultant

Job Location: Roxbury - Roxbury, MA

Position Type: Full-Time/Part-Time/Fee-for-service work

Education Level: Master Degree

Job Shift: Day (1st Shift)

The primary focus of the Early Childhood Mental Health Clinician (ECMHC) is to create nurturing environments that advance social-emotional and behavioral health outcomes among children, families, and early childhood professionals. This position works across a broad range of early care and education (ECE) settings to promote wellness in young children by increasing the capacity of adult caregivers to support children's developmental needs. The ECMHC program broadly seeks to increase child and caregiver resilience, while reducing challenging behaviors (including those that lead to suspensions and expulsions) by utilizing evidence-based best practices; providing early identification of behavioral concerns; and making referrals to appropriate community services. In addition, ECMHCs may also provide critical ancillary activities including, parent education, consultation to other early childhood serving systems (home visiting, child welfare teams), and community training on topics related to social-emotional development and wellbeing of young children.

Education and Licensure

Required:

• Master’s degree in a license-eligible mental health field such as social work, psychology or related field with a focus or experience in early childhood development.

Preferred:

• Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Mental Health Counselor, or Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (or license-eligible and seeking licensure).

Experience and Skills

Required:

• Demonstrated knowledge, understanding, and expertise of child development, early childhood mental health, early childhood social/emotional screening and assessment tools, prevention and intervention techniques, and local resources.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in relationship-based professional development, technical assistance practices, and adult learning methods.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience working with diverse and culturally unique populations.
• Proficient in use of Google Workspace, Zoom, Microsoft Office (including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), and other computer functions.
• Demonstrated skills in written and verbal communication including correspondence, reports, and reflective supervision.
• Proven ability to work independently, manage time, complete assignments, and meet deadlines in a shared office space and out of the office or via tele-commuting.
• Ability to adapt and be flexible in a constantly changing environment that adjusts to meet organizational and community needs.
• Demonstrated experience working as a member of a team.
• Ability to drive throughout the region when needed in a reliable personal vehicle (mileage reimbursement available).
• Valid MA Driver’s License and Vehicle Insurance.

Preferred:

• Have received the following trainings/certifications:
  • Climate of Healthy Interactions for Learning & Development (CHILD) Assessment
  • Devereux Early Childhood Assessment-Clinical (DECA-C) Assessment
  • DC: 0-5 Diagnostic Classification of Mental Health and Developmental Disorders of Infancy and Early Childhood Training
  • Infant Mental Health Endorsement through MassAIMH
• Be endorsed, working towards endorsement or have a plan in place to begin the process to achieve the Endorsement for Culturally-Sensitive, Relationship Focused Practice Promoting Infant Mental Health® and/or Early Childhood Mental Health®.

Abilities Required:

• Demonstrated knowledge, understanding, and expertise of child development, early childhood mental health, early childhood social/emotional screening and assessment tools, prevention and intervention techniques, and local resources.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in relationship-based professional development, technical assistance practices, and adult learning methods.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience working with diverse and culturally unique populations.
• Proficient in use of Google Workspace, Zoom, Microsoft Office (including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), and other computer functions.
• Demonstrated skills in written and verbal communication including correspondence, reports, and reflective supervision.
• Proven ability to work independently, manage time, complete assignments, and meet deadlines.
• Ability to adapt and be flexible in a constantly changing environment that adjusts to meet organizational and community needs.
• Demonstrated experience working as a member of a team.
• Ability to drive throughout the region when needed in a reliable personal vehicle (mileage reimbursement available).
• Valid MA Driver’s License and Vehicle Insurance.
  • Ability to sit at workstation for prolonged periods of time, consistent with OSHA suggestions and requirements.
  • Ability to access different building locations, equipment, mailboxes, etc.
  • Ability to drive to offsite meetings and events throughout the communities served in a reliable personal vehicle (mileage reimbursement available).
  • Ability to lift packages up to 10 pounds.

Essential Functions:

1. Utilize a relationship-based model to coordinate and deliver regular onsite consultative services to EEC programs, providing guidance to professionals and caregivers to effectively understand and support children’s positive behavior and development.
2. Promote high quality interactions and relationships between children and their peers and teaching teams as well as administration and teachers.
3. Create a shared understanding of the effects of trauma and adversity, including oppression, prejudice, discrimination, racism, and gender inequity on the developing brain.
4. Support the mental health and well-being of adults who care for children.
5. Connect and refer children, families, and providers to programs, resources, and supports that will foster their development while addressing barriers to access.
6. Build relationships with other early childhood serving systems within a community.
7. Maintain up-to-date knowledge of best practices in the ECMH field.
8. Adhere to the Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation grant requirements, as outlined by the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) FY2024 ECMHC RFR.
9. Attend agency and ECMHC trainings, conferences and meetings as necessary.
10. Regularly collect, maintain, and submit data entry requirements.
11. Participate in reflective supervision.
12. Work Towards Infant or Preschool Mental Health Endorsement through MassAIMH.
13. Follow and implement all Walker policies and procedures.
14. Function as an ambassador for Walker.
15. All other duties as assigned.

Supervision to be received: Supervision on a monthly basis, at minimum, with ECMHC Program Director or Designee

Supervision to be exercised: none

All interested internal applicants must complete an application for promotion or transfer and forward to your supervisor as soon as possible

Walker is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to diversity in the workplace.