Program Coordinator I (Office of the Young Child - Mental Health Consultation Program)

Program Coordinator I

The City of Pasadena is currently seeking a Program Coordinator I who will work directly with Early Care and Education professionals, children, and families in the cities of Pasadena, Altadena, and Sierra Madre to provide targeted mental health consultation services to young children exhibiting social-emotional challenges. The Program Coordinator I will conduct weekly classroom observations in Early Care and Education (ECE) settings and lead focused debrief sessions with educators, children, and families. The Program Coordinator I will also conduct training with Early Care and Education professionals to meet the complex behavioral and emotional needs of young children. The current vacancy is in the Office of the Young Child under the City Manager's Office.

The ideal candidate for this position will possess expertise in early childhood mental health consultation or family support to manage the administrative and programmatic operations of the Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Program, including conducting classroom observations and using findings to support staff, children, and families. Ideally, the successful candidate will also possess a Master's degree in psychology, social work, counseling or a related field with at least one year of experience in a clinical setting. A licensed mental health professional is desired, but not required. This is a limited term, grant-funded position with current funding to October 2028. Current and future employment is dependent on available funding.

Essential Functions

The major responsibilities of this position are listed below. For more detailed information, please review the job description.

• Plans, organizes, directs and evaluates the daily operations of the Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Program; conducts classroom observations to assess classroom culture, daily routines, parent, staff and peer relationships, transitions, challenging behaviors and uses findings to support staff, child and family.
• Partners with consultees to support ongoing communication with caregivers about mental health, behavioral health, or developmental concerns related to their infant or young child.
• Develops written intervention strategies using a team approach to assist staff with positive behavior-support strategies to promote infants' and young children's optimal social-emotional development.
• Provides group and individual training on overall social and emotional wellness with specific topics related to infant and early childhood development, trauma-informed care, attachment, self-care, and other related topics.
• Evaluates program needs and develops an effective program; develops procedures within areas of responsibility and instruction materials to assist in accomplishing program goals.
• Develops and/or facilitates trainings and workshops on a range of early childhood mental health topics for consultation, such as typical development, social and emotional skills, problem solving, and preventing or managing challenging behaviors through co-regulation skills.
• Develops a mental health consultation model that is strength-based, culturally-affirming, and trauma-informed.
• Conducts consistent and ongoing consultation meetings/conversations, observations, assessments, and other consultative/therapeutic activities; as assigned performs special tasks involved in responding to an emergency event
• Uses a framework of promotion, prevention, and early intervention to promote mental health and resilience and prevent behavioral problems.
• Demonstrates sensitivity to linguistic, cultural, social, economic, individual, and role differences among the infants, young children, and families served.
• Develops effective public participation strategies and activities and establishes effective working relationships with community groups or representatives, or related agencies; makes presentations to community groups or participates on committees and task forces to interpret/exchange information and to assure cooperation in achieving goals.
• Performs activities necessary to facilitate development of City and community partnerships and collaborative efforts; provides staff support to community-based planning coalitions and committees.
• Prepares analytical papers, publications, newsletters, planning documents and administrative reports; assists in the development of goals, objectives, policies and procedures.
• Conducts needs assessments, research and analyzes statistical and other data; makes recommendations on administrative and operational problems, policies and procedures.
• Assists in the recruitment and selection of interns and volunteers; represents the City in the community and at interdepartmental, interagency and professional meetings.

Qualification Guidelines

The following list represents the core competencies needed for success in this position.

• Teamwork - Collaborating with others to achieve shared goals.
• Involving Others - Engaging others for input, contribution, and shared responsibility for outcomes.
• Relationship Building - Establishing rapport and maintaining mutually productive relationships.
• Self-Management - Showing personal organization, self-discipline, and dependability Maintaining emotional stability and self-control under pressure, challenge, or adversity.
• Presentation Skills - Formally delivering information to groups.
• Writing- Communicating effectively in writing.

Any combination of education and/or experience that provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary for acceptable job performance would qualify. Example combinations include a Bachelor's degree in social work, child and family studies, early education, public health or closely related field and two years of professional experience in social work, behavioral health, or closely related field serving the infant and early childhood population.

• Master's degree in social work, child and family studies, or related field and at least one year of experience as a mental health professional.
• Licensed or license-eligible in a mental health related field.
• Experience working with children ages 0-5 and their families.
• Knowledge of infant and early childhood development and mental health challenges in infants and young children.
• Bilingual English/Spanish.
• Individuals with the most recent and direct professional level experience in early childhood education will be deemed most qualified.

The selection process may consist of a training and experience evaluation, interview panel, department-level interviews.

Special Requirements

Must have or obtain a Class C California driver's license and a satisfactory driving record, as they may be required for some assignments.

Benefits

Retirement: The City of Pasadena contracts with the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) to offer a defined benefits program for eligible employees. "New" CalPERS members are subject to the provisions of the Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA) and receive the following benefit formula: 2% at 62 "Classic" members of CalPERS receive the following benefit formula: 2.5% at 55 Deferred Compensation: The City offers a 457(b) deferred compensation plan to help employees save for their retirement and supplement their CalPERS pension. Employees can defer salary with pre-tax or Roth after-tax deductions. Health Insurance: The City contracts with CalPERS to offer several comprehensive health plans that include Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plans and Preferred Provider Organization (PPO). Other Benefits include: Dental Insurance (HMO and PPO plans offered) Paid leave (holidays, sick leave, vacation leave) City-paid Life and Long-Term Disability insurance Voluntary vision, life, accident, and critical illness insurance Medical & Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts Professional Development Allowance Free Employee Assistance Program These benefits may vary for employees whose FTE is less than.75 or work less than 30 hours per week.