Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist

Metropolitan Family Services empowers families to learn, to earn, to heal, to thrive. Part mentor, part motivator, part advocate, since 1857, Metropolitan Family Services has been the engine of change that empowers families to reach their greatest potential and positively impact their communities. Metropolitan is Illinois’ first comprehensive human services agency and reaches more than 122,900 individuals and families in Chicago, Evanston/Skokie, the southwest suburbs and DuPage County with services promoting education, economic stability, emotional wellness and empowerment.

We are now hiring for full-time Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist to join our DuPage Early Learning Team!

Essential Job Functions

• Identify and create training and professional development opportunities to better support individualized learning and improve teaching/home visiting practices in the mental health domain.
• Provide opportunities for Head Start and Early Head Start center and home based children to be observed and provides feedback regarding teacher/PCE practices to teaching/home visiting staff, as well as the Education Coach, Family Support Worker, and Site Supervisor.
• Provide supports for effective classroom/socialization group management and positive learning environments; supportive teacher/PCE practices; and, strategies for supporting children with challenging behaviors and other social, emotional, and mental health concerns.
• Provide assistance in implementing strategies to identify and support children with mental health and social emotional concerns.
• Assist in the implementation of policies to limit suspension and prohibit expulsion.
• Assist staff in identifying prevalent child mental health concerns, including internalizing, as well as, externalizing problems.
• Assist parents and staff in accessing mental health interventions and understanding the importance of mental health and social emotional wellbeing.
• Assist in identification and development of annual school readiness goals aligned with the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework: Ages Birth to Five.
• Assure all sites adhere to strictest standards of health and safety.
• Provides active supervision to ensure the safety of Head Start/Early Head Start children while in the classroom/socialization group, during transitions, at time of transportation, and while on the playground. Ensures that no child shall be left alone or unsupervised.
• Serve as an advocate for children and families through participation in IEP and/or IFSP development, including transitioning from an IFSP to an IEP when applicable. Monitor and provide feedback on individual plans for children suspected of disabilities or with certified plans.
• Support agency and program goals and translate policies, developmentally appropriate practice, curriculum, and standards to parents.
• Assist in developing supportive relationships between teacher/PCE, child, and family within the context of culture and community.
• Plans and facilitates training and technical assistance in the form of individual coaching sessions, site team meetings, and whole program professional development opportunities.
• Providing counseling and crisis support to families.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
  
  

Qualifications

• Master's Degree in Social Work or Counseling from an accredited college or university required.
• Must have applied to take LSW or LPC examination.
• Two years of post-graduate social work experience preferred.
• Experience providing mental health services for children ages 0-5 in early childhood education, preferred.
• Extensive knowledge of child development and early childhood education is required.
• Advanced writing and communication skills, knowledge of data analysis, and reflective leadership.
• Bilingual skills in English/ Spanish preferred.
  
  

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• While performing the essential duties of this job, the employee is required to sit and stand for sustained periods of time, frequently talk, hear, use hands and fingers to feel, handle and operate objects or controls, and occasionally stand, bend, stretch, stoop, kneel and crouch.
• The employee is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as preparing and analyzing data and figures, transcribing and viewing a computer terminal.
• The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
  
  

Salary

• The average starting salary for this position will fall in the range of 50,000 to 60,000 annually. Where candidates fall in this range will be based on skill and experience level.
  
  

Metropolitan Family Services puts our people first with a top-of-the-line benefits package.

• Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) of IL Medical Coverage options that support all levels of staff (including Part-Time): HMO, PPO, and HSA (PPO).
• ZERO: A free benefit for BCBS PPO members that helps find the least expensive option for medical services.
• MFS will contribute $2,000 to individual and $4,000 to family HSA Accounts through our HSA coverage, all front-loaded at the start of the year, or the start of your HSA enrollment.
• Teladoc services provided to all employees: A no-cost benefit providing general medicine and behavioral health services, no insurance necessary.
• Dental HMO and PPO options through Guardian Dental.
• VSP vision insurance with one of the largest networks in the Chicago-land area.
• Company-paid individual life insurance policy of $100,000, with a wide range of additional, employee-cost options.
• Company-paid individual Short-Term Disability (STD) and Long-Term Disability (LTD) insurance.
• Five Flexible Spending Account (FSA) options ranging from Health to Transit. Contribute your pre-tax dollars where you need them the most.
• Ascensus 401K Plan with up to a 4% Match, vested at 100% on day one of eligibility.
• 12 paid Holidays.
• Starting with 15 days of PTO, maxing at 30 days after 3 years of service.
• Training and Professional Development Plan with E- Learning.
• Pet Insurance options for your furry (or non-furry) friends.
• Comprehensive Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Free Will preparation services.
• On-staff notary available to employees.
• ALEX, AI-powered assistance that will make your benefit decisions seamless.