Anticipated Vacancy

Anticipated Opening for 2024-2025

Mental Health Specialist, Shenandoah Valley Head Start/Early Head Start

Reports To: Director of Shenandoah Valley Head Start/Early Head Start

FLSA Status: Exempt

N9 Salary Scale, 220-Day/8 Hours Per Day

2023-2024 Salary Scales

Shenandoah Valley Head Start/Early Head Start is a regional preschool program serving the communities of Augusta, Bath, Highland, Harrisonburg, Staunton and Waynesboro. SVHS is a federal grant funded program with a long standing history of success. Our mission is to provide a quality preschool program that forms partnerships among families, sites, and communities. The program emphasizes the physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development that is age appropriate for children while encouraging lifelong learning and empowering families through parent engagement.

General Description of Work:

The Mental Health Specialist will work with the Leadership team in developing, implementing, and evaluating the Head Start Mental Health program.

The Mental Health Specialist is responsible for partnering with all Head Start staff for the purpose of establishing a system for identification of families and children in need of mental health services and implementing program activities to meet their identified needs in meeting the Office of Head Start Performance Standards. The Mental Health Specialist is also responsible for interpreting federal, state and local regulations related to service delivery in the mental health requirements for the Shenandoah Valley Head Start and Early Head Start.

The Mental Health Specialist will promote positive parent/child relationships, family well being, positive staff relationships, self-aware and culturally responsive services, mental health and wellness, the development of social and emotional skills for children, families and staff through direct service, coaching and training. The Mental Health Specialist will support children, families and staff throughout a variety of efforts ranging from prevention, assessment, treatment, transition services, referrals, community advocacy, supervision of services, and crisis intervention.

This position involves the supporting and tracking of mental health services and the implementation of all other performance standards that pertain to the mental health of children, families, and staff. Monitoring and tracking of mental health services occurs in conjunction with Leadership staff to ensure effective implementation of services throughout the HS and EHS-CCP program.

The Mental Health Specialist will participate in the identification of children who may have social, emotional, behavioral or familial concerns by working in partnership with Family Service Advocates, Education Staff, school personnel and families. The Mental Health Specialist will work proactively to assist parents, families and young children in acquiring the family strengthening tools, parenting skills, problem solving strategies, communication skills, healthy lifestyle habits, social and emotional skills necessary for increased self-sufficiency and school readiness. The Mental Health Specialist will collaborate with Family Service Advocates and other staff to ensure families are linked to appropriate services within the program and/or in their local communities.

Duties:

Plans, formulates, facilitates and generates reports reflective of compliance with mental health performance standards. Coordinates a sufficient frequency of mental health classroom observations, and as needed on site visits, for parents and staff. Provides mental health prevention/assessment/intervention/treatment/referral as appropriate for children, families and staff. Provide reflective supervision to identified staff to ensure the development of respectful, goal oriented and culturally responsive relation formation with families and children in the program. Acts as content specialist to Shenandoah Valley Head Start and Early Head Start with regard to the areas of Mental Health which may include leading and participating in various committee meetings and governance processes throughout the region. Develops and implements professional helping relationship training and mental health training/ education for staff. parents, and volunteers. Monitors child and family welfare including cultural and ethical considerations within the program. Observes implementation of mental health performance standards including FSA/Family interactions, staff/staff interactions, student/teacher interactions in the classrooms and homes as needed and appropriate. Monitor student and family records for completeness, accuracy and high quality services as related to mental health services. Coordinates with Head Start staffing team to ensure effective referral monitoring and follow upon all family and child services related mental health and related requirements for service follow-up. Trains, models and works with other preschool staff to support team collaboration and shared investment in program responsibilities and successful outcomes. Recommends modifications to the Mental Health services programs for children, families, and staff, as needed. This includes reviewing and modifying Memorandums of Understanding and Working Agreements under the supervision of the Leadership team and the Director. Develop and assist in implementing parent education and staff training plans associated with T/tA plans and Long Range Plans for the program. Provides direct crisis intervention services and/or support to Family Service Advocates in the crisis intervention services for families who are experiencing mental health emergencies or emergencies related to issues such as incarceration, domestic violence, child protective services intervention, and substance abuse. Assists families in the utilization of community resources and serves as a liaison with public and private agencies to provide mental health and family service support. Provides confidential mental health support to staff, including Head Start and Early Head Start teachers. Documents regularly scheduled on-site mental health consultation with staff, children, and families. Ensures Head Start and EHS parents are afforded opportunities to obtain mental health screening results for their children served by the Head Start and EHS program. Participates in meetings with teachers and parents to explain the Devereux Early Childhood Assessment and how to accurately reflect a child's social and emotional development. In cooperation with Early Childhood Development Coordinator, supports the Instructional Coach with classroom observations for children with challenging behavior or a suspected disability. Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge and Abilities:

Plans, formulates, facilitates and generates reports reflective of compliance with mental health performance standards. Coordinates a sufficient frequency of mental health classroom observations, and as needed on site visits, for parents and staff. Provides mental health prevention/assessment/intervention/treatment/referral as appropriate for children, families and staff. Provide reflective supervision to identified staff to ensure the development of respectful, goal oriented and culturally responsive relation formation with families and children in the program. Acts as content specialist to Shenandoah Valley Head Start and Early Head Start with regard to the areas of Mental Health which may include leading and participating in various committee meetings and governance processes throughout the region. Develops and implements professional helping relationship training and mental health training/ education for staff. parents, and volunteers. Monitors child and family welfare including cultural and ethical considerations within the program. Observes implementation of mental health performance standards including FSA/Family interactions, staff/staff interactions, student/teacher interactions in the classrooms and homes as needed and appropriate. Monitor student and family records for completeness, accuracy and high quality services as related to mental health services. Coordinates with Head Start staffing team to ensure effective referral monitoring and follow upon all family and child services related mental health and related requirements for service follow-up. Trains, models and works with other preschool staff to support team collaboration and shared investment in program responsibilities and successful outcomes. Recommends modifications to the Mental Health services programs for children, families, and staff, as needed. This includes reviewing and modifying Memorandums of Understanding and Working Agreements under the supervision of the Leadership team and the Director. Develop and assist in implementing parent education and staff training plans associated with T/tA plans and Long Range Plans for the program. Provides direct crisis intervention services and/or support to Family Service Advocates in the crisis intervention services for families who are experiencing mental health emergencies or emergencies related to issues such as incarceration, domestic violence, child protective services intervention, and substance abuse. Assists families in the utilization of community resources and serves as a liaison with public and private agencies to provide mental health and family service support. Provides confidential mental health support to staff, including Head Start and Early Head Start teachers. Documents regularly scheduled on-site mental health consultation with staff, children, and families. Ensures Head Start and EHS parents are afforded opportunities to obtain mental health screening results for their children served by the Head Start and EHS program. Participates in meetings with teachers and parents to explain the Devereux Early Childhood Assessment and how to accurately reflect a child's social and emotional development. In cooperation with Early Childhood Development Coordinator, supports the Instructional Coach with classroom observations for children with challenging behavior or a suspected disability. Other duties as assigned.

ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS AND INFORMATION

Salary and benefits are administered by Augusta County Schools. Successful candidate will have a Master's degree in counseling, psychology, social work, or related field, or be LPC/LCSW or LPC/LCSW eligible. A minimum of a Bachelor's degree in psychology, education, special education, or related field with demonstrated work experience in the field of human services and early childhood development is required. Successful candidate will have experience working with children between the ages of 0 and 5 and their families in direct service and consultative models. 

Qualified current or previous Head Start parents are encouraged to apply. Bilingual skills are a plus. Successful completion of background checks is required upon hire, including TB test and physical exam. Professional development, comprehensive services, general support/oversight with regulations is provided by staff in SVHS.

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