CALM’s mission is to prevent childhood trauma, heal children and families, and build resilient communities throughout Santa Barbara County. We have an immediate opening for a bilingual Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant (ECMHC). The ECMHC is responsible for providing mental health consultation services that are embedded within early care and education settings. The consultant works within and across systems, integrating mental health concepts and supports into environments where infants and young children spend their time in ways that respect their cultures. Services focus on reducing barriers to learning by enhancing the capacity of teachers, administrators, and caregivers to respond to the social-emotional and behavioral needs of the child and their family. The consultant’s aim is to enhance all relationships involved in the care setting, create nurturing and emotionally responsive environments, strengthen staff effectiveness, and build strong school/home alliances.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Collaborate with caregivers and program to staff to promote equitable, warm, and trusting relationships, consistent routines, and development-enhancing interactions that positively impact classroom and home environments.
• Partner respectfully with families and staff to understand the context and nature of a particular family’s life to enhance the child and family’s wellbeing.
• Conduct classroom observations to assess classroom culture, daily routines, parent-staff relationships, transitions, challenging behaviors and use findings to support staff.
• Collaborates with teaching teams and families to guide developmentally appropriate therapeutic interventions for children.
• Enhance programmatic functioning by assisting program administrators and/or staff in considering their program’s overall social and emotional climate.
• Provide individual and group opportunities for staff to engage in reflective practice.
• Meet regularly with teaching staff and program administrators to review information and feedback about outcomes of, and satisfaction with, consultation services.
• Participate in evaluation efforts and commit to continuous quality improvement by incorporating feedback and outcome data into the provision of services.
• Coordinate and provide trauma-informed staff trainings related to social-emotional and mental health issues.
• Create a shared understanding of the effects of trauma and adversity, including oppression, discrimination, racism, and gender inequity on the developing brain.
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:
• Master’s degree required; must be an AMFT, ASW, APCC, LMFT, LCSW, or LPCC. Graduate students may be considered for this position. Would consider Bachelor’s level candidate with 7+ years’ experience in early care and education.
• A Minimum of two years’ experience working in community setting providing services to young children and families.
• Experience working in either a private or public-school site environment preferred.
QUALIFICATIONS:
• Bilingual in English and Spanish required.
• Demonstrate knowledge and expertise in child development, infant and early childhood mental health, and familiarity with evidence-based practices related to infant and early childhood mental health.
• Ability to have a warm and empathetic interpersonal style to establish trusting relationships with children, parents, teaching staff, and community organizations.
• Must have the ability and desire to provide services that are relevant to the culture of the family.
• Ability to assess and continually improve services delivered as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Ability to speak, read, write, and understand English and Spanish required.
• Possess a valid California Driver’s License, proof of vehicle insurance, and reliable transportation.
• Strong computer knowledge, using PC, Microsoft Word and Excel, and Outlook.
• Excellent verbal/written communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:
Benefits package includes a competitive salary dependent on experience and education Benefits include 100% Employer-paid medical, dental, vision and life insurance for employees plus partial benefits for dependent family members, 12 paid holidays, vacation time and sick days and a 403(b) 3% matching program.
TO APPLY:
Qualified, interested candidates are invited to submit a resume and cover letter to hr@calm4kids.org
*Please type your [Name] and [Position Title] you are applying in the email Subject Line when submitting your resume.
CALM provides equal opportunity for all qualified applicants and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, veteran status, or any other protected classification.