Early Childhood Mental Health Therapist

#BECOMEANALLYTODAY! 

 $2500 SIGN-ON INCENTIVE BONUS

Salary Range: $67,000 - $75,000

**REQUIRED: CA BBS registered ACSW, AMFT; Licensure preferred

FOR CONSIDERATION: Email cover letter and resume to humanresources@alliesforeverychild.org

Full Benefits Package offered including:

• Competitive pay
• 100% employer contribution to: Health - Kaiser or Anthem, Dental, Vision
• 401k retirement plan with employer match
• Employee Assistance Program
• Professional Development
• 12 paid holidays, sick leave, vacation, and 2 personal days for anniversary of employment and birthday
• Opportunities for growth and advancement
• Initial and ongoing training/mentorship to all employees

AGENCY OVERVIEW:

Allies for Every Child (Allies) exists to give at-risk children and children living in poverty the foundation they need to increase their life choices and lead fulfilling lives. For over 30 years, Allies has been providing thousands of at-risk children and their families with critical, high-quality early education programs (including comprehensive Early Head Start services and California Department of Education programs), family strengthening interventions, foster care and adoption services, and a range of vital, integrated services, including educational assessments, disabilities screenings, nutrition, dental and vision screenings, mental health and pediatric health consultations.

JOB SUMMARY:

Allies is committed to providing mental health support and consultation to those who interact with children and families with social, behavioral and emotional challenges. The Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist is responsible for enhancing depth and breadth of mental health resources available to Allies families and families in our communities. This role will be responsible for supporting the expansion of Allies’ infant/early childhood mental health work (e.g., direct psychotherapy services, Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation, groups, training etc.) to reach a broader population, including educational settings such as center-based, community-based and home-based environments; conducts community outreach and participates in coordination of care and family events as needed.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below 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.

• Assist with identification and linkage for children in center-based, home-based, and community-based settings who would benefit from infant and early childhood mental health interventions/services
• Provide psychoeducation about development, trauma and strategies that support children’s emotional wellbeing to caregivers including parents and educators.
• Provide mental health psychotherapy services to children and their families including dyadic therapy for families with children 0-5.
• Provide early childhood mental health consultation to classrooms, family childcare providers, home educators and other community-based providers to support children with social, emotional and behavioral challenges
• Assist the Allies Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) program in providing internal and external trainings
• Promote classroom management and teacher practices using classroom observations, reflection and consultations to address teacher and individual child needs to create physical and cultural environments that encourage mental health and positive social and emotional functioning
• Conduct observations and consultations in a home vising setting to meet client’s mental health and social emotional needs
• Travel and provide services in different locations including home, center, office, community, virtual settings.

SECONDARY JOB DUTIES:

• Attend staff meetings, individual and group supervision, case reviews, and trainings as needed
• Collaborate with key partner agencies for referrals, and parental support; ensure successful partnership and documentation of outcomes
• Regular documentation of clinical visits in agency data system and client file
• Maintain confidentiality of clients and obtain and maintain on file legal releases of information when needed
• Comply with all applicable federal, state and county regulations, policies and procedures
• Staff must believe in and act in accordance with both the agency’s and the program’s mission statements
• In accordance with our “team” philosophy, the person filling this position may occasionally be required to carry out or assist with other tasks in addition to the duties listed on this job description.
• Progress toward meeting the qualifications for endorsement as an Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist through the California Center for Infant-Family and Early Childhood Mental Health

QUALIFICATIONS & EDUCATION:

• Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy, Social Work or Psychology preferred
• CA BBS registered ACSW, AMFT; Licensure preferred
• 1-year experience providing direct mental health services (psychotherapy) to adults, school age children and/or children 0-5 in community-based settings. At least 2 years’ experience and specialized training working with 0-5 strongly preferred.
• Minimum of 1-year experience providing mental health consultation services in a 0-5 setting strongly preferred
• Bilingual – English/Spanish strongly preferred
• Ability to work in a supportive team environment
• Requires a high level of creativity, resourcefulness and flexibility
• Ability to work and communicate with a diverse group of families
• Experience with community outreach, event organizing, working with families and children in a community setting preferred
• Knowledge of child abuse/neglect prevention
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Home visitation experience desired
• Evening and weekend hours required
• Knowledge of community resources and experience with interagency collaboration preferred
• Ability to work independently, flexible, strong organizational skills, and commitment to teamwork
• Basic computer skills required – Word, Excel, Software applications
• Passionate about learning and possesses curiosity about issues affecting children and families
• All employees, regardless of position, serve as role models for children and families who are served by our agency.
• Fingerprint background clearance (DOJ, FBI & Child Abuse Clearance Index), or approved exemption
• Successful completion of pre-employment physical, PPD risk assessment, proof of immunizations for Covid-19 + booster, pertussis, measles and influenza (can decline)
• Class “C” driver’s license, proof of insurance, a safety record acceptable to CAA, and reliable transportation required

Allies for Every Child actively seeks candidates who reflect the rich diversity of the communities that we serve. We are committed to a work environment that embraces and promotes individuality and inclusion. We believe that diversity and inclusion of varied perspectives, backgrounds, and life experiences is essential to our organization’s effectiveness, and allows us to serve our clients in the respectful, responsive, and understanding way that they deserve. We define diversity in broad terms to include race, ethnicity, age, gender, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, geography, socio-economic status and other unique attributes that make us who we are.

Allies for Every Child has achieved accreditation through the Council on Accreditation (COA). This means our programs, services, administration, and management have been rigorously evaluated and meet best practice standards. Visit www.COAnet.org to learn more about COA Accreditation.