IHSA Job Board Title:
Mental Health Specialist

Post Date
7/26/2024

Expiration Date
10/24/2024

Details:
Accountabilities: Regularly review and evaluate program services while proactively ensuring compliance with existing and new regulations. The Mental Health Specialist must ensure compliance with laws, regulations, and guidance, including Illinois professional licensing and certification requirements, Head Start Performance Standards, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services Licensing Standards, and the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code. Coordinating/overseeing the delivery of behavioral and mental health services consistent with contractual agreements, laws, regulations, and standards requirements.
 
Adhere to internal and external policy, procedure, and best practice

• DCFS Licensing Standards
• Head Start Performance Standards
• Child and Adult Care Food Program
• OSHA
• T.C.O.C. Early Head Start/Head Start Policy and Procedures
• T.C.O.C. Human Resource Policy and Procedures

Support the mission, goals, and objectives of the Tri-County Opportunities Council Community Action Agency and, more specifically, the Early Head Start/Head Start program.

Essential Duties: Oversee the mental health services within the T.C.O.C. EHS/HS program. Lead program-wide initiatives that promote culturally responsive and equity-based social-emotional practices. Model age-appropriate social-emotional interactions and facilitate staff training and individualized professional development supports. Provide trauma-informed care training and ongoing support to staff and enrolled families. Guide positive caregiving practices to enrolled families through mental health consultation, parenting classes, and other topics identified. Arrange program and site-level service coordination to meet the needs of children, families, and staff.

• Create physical and cultural environments that promote positive mental health and social-emotional functioning
• Assist staff in effectively managing classrooms and creating positive learning environments
• Coordinate and oversee the development, implementation, and monitoring of positive guidance approaches for children presenting social-emotional challenges 
• Ensure family engagement and partnership in the initial and ongoing support of their child’s social-emotional growth.
• Maintain open communication and collaborate with education, health/nutrition, and family service staff to ensure a full child assessment is completed on a child needing additional social-emotional supports
• Ensure collaboration with program families on the development, implementation, and review of an individual plan to meet their child’s needs (SESP)
• Use classroom/home visit observations and consultations to address teacher, classroom, or individual child needs
• Solicit ongoing feedback from staff, legal guardians, parents, and community partners, participating in quality assurance planning, data collection, analysis, and follow-up.
• Build community partnerships to facilitate access to additional mental health resources, interventions, and services as needed. (HSAC)
• Serve as liaison with other agencies and participate in local, regional, and state initiatives

Qualifications:
A bachelor’s degree in counseling, social work, sociology, psychology, or human services is required. Applicant must also have a Certified Mental Health Provider certification or State of Illinois Licensure. Special training or experience in mental health, trauma-informed care, child development, and working with vulnerable populations is preferred.
 

Comments:
Full Time/Full Year Position. Reporting to T.C.O.C. Head Start Director.

Employer:
Tri-County Opportunities Council
Contact:
Jenine Patty-Anderson

Address:
405 Emmons Avenue
Rock Falls, IL 61071

Work Phone:
815-408-6318

Email:
jenine@tcochelps.org

Website:
www.tcochelps.org