Head Start Early Intervention Mental Health Specialist - Support for Children

Job Description

Job Description

Help Children Thrive. Support Families. Empower Educators.

Are you passionate about helping young children reach their full potential? Do you believe every child deserves the support, advocacy, and resources needed to succeed? STEP Head Start is seeking a compassionate, knowledgeable, and collaborative Early Intervention Mental Health Specialist to join our team and make a lasting impact on children, families, and communities

Lycoming-Clinton Counties Commission for Community Action (STEP), Inc. has been serving the community for 60 years! As part of the Community Action Network, STEP has a long history of providing programs to support needs identified through its Community Assessment. Being a part of STEP, makes you part of something much bigger - people helping people and building stronger communities !

What You'll Do
As the Early Intervention Mental Health Specialist, you will partner with educators, families, and community agencies to promote the healthy development and inclusion of young children, particularly those with disabilities, developmental delays, social-emotional concerns, or behavioral challenges. You'll observe and assess children, support screenings, referrals, and evaluations, help implement IFSPs and IEPs, and advocate for children and families to ensure access to appropriate services. In addition, you'll coach teachers on classroom management, behavior support, inclusion practices, and social-emotional development, while modeling effective intervention and de-escalation strategies. You'll facilitate family and interdisciplinary team meetings, collaborate with schools and service providers, support successful transitions into and out of Head Start, provide training and technical assistance to staff and parents, maintain accurate documentation and performance data, and contribute to program planning, compliance, and continuous quality improvement efforts to ensure high-quality, integrated services for children and families.

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PAY RATE: $21.06 per hour.

Note: This is a 40-hour-per-week, 46-weeks-per-year position

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Be a Champion for Children and Families
This is more than a job -- it's an opportunity to positively influence children's lives during their most important developmental years. If you're ready to support children, strengthen families, and help educators create inclusive learning environments where every child can succeed, we'd love to hear from you.

Apply today and be part of a team committed to helping every child thrive.

STEP, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Special Education, Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Psychology, Human Services, or related field; and,
• Two years of professional experience observing, assessing, planning, and implementing individual and group activities for young children, including those with disabilities, special needs, and mental health and behavior issues.

General Requirements

• Valid driver's license and vehicle with adequate insurance coverage available for daily use;
• Pennsylvania State Police Criminal History Clearance, Child Abuse Clearance, FBI Clearance, National Sex Offender Registry check prior to hire; and Motor Vehicle Record check;
• Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse training completed within 90 days of hire;
• Physical examination prior to hire;
• Tuberculosis test prior to hire;
• Computer training and/or documented proficiency with popular word processing, spreadsheet, and database software; experience with and/or training in Microsoft Office products particularly Word, Excel, and Access is preferred;
• Physical ability to perform essential job functions without any health restrictions, including the ability to sit for long periods of time; stand, lift, and carry up to thirty pounds; have unrestricted use of the upper body; corrected or uncorrected hearing and vision within normal range, and a clear speaking voice; and other abilities necessary to ensure child safety in the classroom, other group areas, and when in the community, such as, but not limited to, the following: o Ability to bend, squat, reach, kneel, and climb stairs; o Ability to move from a sitting to standing position quickly, safely, and without difficulty; o Ability to chase an eloping child; and,
• Work nontraditional hours as needed or assigned, including evenings, weekends, and overnight travel.
• Job-related training, as assigned.

Benefits

STEP, Inc. offers a generous benefits package:

✔ Flexible health insurance options to fit YOUR needs

✔ Agency-paid dental, vision, and life insurance

✔ 403(b) retirement savings with generous employer match

✔ Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Dependent Care Account (DCA) options

✔ Short- and long-term disability insurance

✔ Paid Time Off (PTO) and Long-Term Sick Leave

✔ Paid holidays

✔ Optional flexible benefits