Mental Health & Disabilities Manager

Mental Health & Inclusion Manager - Head Start – Fayetteville, NC

The Mental Health & Disabilities Manager ("Manager") oversees the activities and services related to the Disabilities and Mental Health focus areas within Head Start. This role involves identifying individual special needs and creating a safe, stimulating, and supportive learning environment that enables children to thrive. The Manager must have a solid understanding of the basic requirements of the IEP/IFSP processes and the accommodations needed for children with disabilities. They will provide essential services to support families facing challenges related to mental and emotional health and assist their children with special needs and challenging behaviors. Support will be offered through various channels, including classroom assistance, parental engagement, teacher support, and access to community resources as necessary. The Manager will also coordinate services to help staff and parents address domestic issues, stress management, self-esteem challenges, and other mental and emotional health concerns. Key job responsibilities include observing Head Start children across all settings, collaborating closely with families, teachers, community partners, and service providers for appropriate interventions and referrals, promoting positive mental health and disabilities practices and prevention strategies, and providing staff development training on specific topics within the mental health field.

Essential Functions Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

• Identify Head Start children enrolled in the Program who appear to have a disability, mental and/or behavioral health issue, and ensure through service planning that each child is diagnosed by a qualified diagnostician for the issues presenting
• Provide education for staff and families on the importance and value of mental health and wellness.
• Develop and maintain a system whereby each Head Start child, through observation or referral, is ensured services by:
  • Partnering with the Local Education Agency (LEA), Child Development Services Agency (CDSA), to diagnose suspected disabilities and provide services and/or treatment to children with diagnosed disabilities.
• In cooperation with parents and teachers, providing directly or facilitating the provision of an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) goals for each child with a diagnosed disability.
• Advocating, facilitating, coordinating, and monitoring services of service providers external to the program who may be engaged to provide specialized services.
• Facilitate multidisciplinary coordination and collaboration between mental health and other relevant program services, including education, disability, family engagement, and health services.
• Assist in planning and coordinating the Health and Mental Health Services Advisory Committee in conjunction with the Health Services Coordinator
• Provide regular and requested classroom observations.
• Contact/negotiate with other mental health professionals for provision of mental health services as needed
• Provide and/or facilitate training and technical assistance to staff and families designed to increase understanding and acceptance of disabling conditions and mental health issues, the implementation of positive behavior support concepts and strategies for classrooms and home environments
• Communicate regularly with area public school personnel for the purpose of establishing/maintaining positive regard, open dialogue, and smooth transference of child information between Head Start and public school.
• Cooperate and collaborated with API Leadership Team for advancement of the program and agency goals and mission.
• Maintain an effective working relationship with staff, children and their families, volunteers, and community members.
• Attend all staff meetings, trainings, workshops, and conferences according to Head Start Performance Standards and DCDEE Licensing standards with at least 20 hours in-service training annually.
• Assist in recruitment of children as specified in the Recruitment Process.
• Maintain confidentiality of all information regarding children, families, and staff.
• Supervise the Mental Health and Disabilities staff.
• Accurate and timely completion of all management reports, data analysis, and quality improvement plans.
• Perform any other duties needed to help drive our vision, fulfill our mission, and abide by our organization's values.

Qualifications: Education: At minimum a Bachelor's Degree in Special Education, Psychology, or Early Childhood Education with at least six( 6) courses in Infant and Child Development. Experience: Three (3) years working in an ECE field working with children in a classroom setting and families or equivalent combination of education and experience.

General Requirements: It is the employee's responsibility to obtain and keep current all certifications, licenses, physicals, etc., at all times. The employee must have a valid driver's license with reliable transportation The employee must be in good health as evidenced by an annual physical and TB test with negative results. The employee is encouraged to obtain and maintain CPR and First Aid Certifications.

Other Requirements: Employees must have effective analytical and problem-solving skills. The ability to exercise sound judgment in evaluating situations and arriving at conclusions is required. Basic computer skills and principles of organizational skills. Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders. Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance. Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, and cultures and their history and origins. Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. Develops positive working relationships with team members and staff. The employee must be able to complete a criminal background check and maintain an active Criminal Background Check (CBC) Qualification letter through the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Division of Child Development. Demonstrates productivity and efficiency. Excellent written and verbal communication skills are essential for the position. Good organizational and managerial skills. Fluency in Spanish as a second language is preferred.

Conditions of Employment: Background check with state and Federal law enforcement agencies required. Selected applicants must submit to a pre-employment substance abuse screening test and receive a negative result for the use of drugs and alcohol as specified in agency policies. Must submit and receive negative results for random testing of same. The employee must have a valid North Carolina Driver's License. Must be able to pass a post-offer physical examination. Action Pathways, Inc. is an "at-will" employer. Either the employee or Action Pathways, Inc. may terminate the employment arrangement at any time, with or without cause. Management has the exclusive right to alter this job description at any time without notice. The job description or announcement is not an employment agreement or contract.

Employee Benefits Package:

• Zero-cost Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability (Employee only)
• Retirement plan with 100% employer matching
• Paid Vacation/Sick/Personal leave
• 13 Paid Holidays
• Spring Break (for Head Start)
• Paid professional development training
• Education assistance
• Auto mileage reimbursement for official travel
• Employee discounts
• Bragg Mutual Credit Union Membership
• Employee Recognition Events
• Bonuses available