The Behavioral Health Coordinator provides Mental Health services; provides Mental Health services; collaborates with community mental health and other agencies to serve clients, plans or implements mental health and disabilities intervention, observes in classroom, provides staff support in behavior management, and provides mental health education, training and consultation to staff and parents. Provides on-going mental health consultations with families, staff and children via home visits, classroom visits, virtual visits and observations following the mental health referral process. Participate in in-person/virtual case management team meetings, reviews and tracks all mental health screenings and concerns and referrals for mental health services.

The Children’s Home Society of New Jersey (CHSofNJ) Head Start/Early Head Start (HS/EHS) programs offer both center-based and home-based services that include high quality early childhood education and comprehensive services to children ages 3-5 (Head Start) and infants and toddlers ages 0-3 (Early Head Start) in Trenton, New Jersey. All services, including daily nutritious meals and comprehensive support services are provided at no cost to families.

As with all CHSofNJ programs, HS/EHS views children, families, and services through a trauma-informed lens. Our staff are trained to understand and serve children who have experienced Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), which can impact behavior, health, development, cognition, and happiness. Our team also recognizes that trauma exists in the lives of parents, guardians, and other family members. Therefore, we approach all interactions with respect and care to ensure comfortability and build a trusting partnership with each family we serve.

Location: 635 South Clinton Avenue, Trenton, New Jersey 08611

Hours: 35 Hours per Week

Annual Salary: $75,000.00

Benefits:

Medical, Dental, Vision, Flexibility Spending Account, Life and LTD Insurances, 403(b) plans

PTO: Vacation, Sick, Personal, Wellness, and Holidays

Essential Job Responsibilities and Performance Indicators:

• Plans and coordinates a Mental Health Services program that includes, but is not limited to, implementation and maintenance of a monitoring/documentation system to accurately report services provided, ensuring accurate records, follow-through and report keeping of the children served
• Plan and monitor in-person/virtually implementation of the Second step curriculum.
• Train Teaching staff on second step curriculum annually
• Use the Teaching Pyramid Observation Tool (TPOT) for Preschool Classrooms to monitor and reinforce high-quality practices that support children’s social-emotional development and behavior.
• Monitor and provide ongoing support to teaching staff in administering ASQ SE screening tool and ensure behavioral screenings are completed within 45 days.
• Monitor screening reports on CP and ensure internal Referral form is completed by program staff regarding children with identified concerns, and appropriate services and support is in place.
• Provide regular updates and monthly report to the Health & Safety/Wellness Manager on MH and Disabilities referrals.
• Responsible for the implementation of the Mental Health Service Area Plan and supporting Disabilities manager with the Disabilities Service area plan, Head Start Policies and Procedures and The Head Start Performance Standards related to the delivery of Mental Health Services.
• Coordinates mental health and Disabilities services for children and families by facilitating referrals to community resources and following up on referrals made in collaboration with Mental Health agencies within the local community and other Head Start content Managers.
• Collaborate with the Disabilities manager to works with teachers, parents, local education agencies, and community agencies in planning and program development, obtaining professional diagnoses and assessments of disabled individuals, and implementing Individual Education or Family Service Plans.
• Develop a system to track referrals and services provided and monitor the implementation of a follow-up plan to meet any treatment needs associated with, Mental Health, and , social and emotional, or developmental problem.
• Support a program-wide culture that promotes mental health, social and emotional well-being, and overall health and safety, using a multidisciplinary approach.
• Secures ongoing mental health consultation services and examines the approach to mental health consultation on an annual basis to determine if it meets the needs of the program.
• Use a multidisciplinary approach to mental health and wellness supports;ensure mental health consultation services are available at a frequency of at least once a month.
• Ensure integration of mental health into all aspects of program service delivery-
• Provide consultation services that build the capacity of adults in a child’s life to strengthen and support the mental health and social and emotional development of children by providing training to staff and families.
• Ensure the required prenatal and postpartum information, education, and services are provided to enrolled pregnant women, mothers, fathers, and partners or other family member.
• Work with the Health/Wellness manager and other managers to cultivate a program-wide culture of wellness that empowers staff as professionals and supports staff to effectively accomplish their job responsibilities in a high-quality manner.
• Provides on-going mental health consultations with families, staff and children via home visits, classroom visits, virtual visits and observations following the mental health referral process
• Working with Early Childhood Education and Health/Wellness Managers and Specialists to develop, plan and monitor special curriculum and daily activities.
• Be available for planning meeting with Center Directors as needed to plan and coordinate activities
• Providing in-person/virtual observations and documentation of behavior or mental health/Disabilities needs of children and work with teachers to develop strategies to support children and families.
• Provides in-person/virtual training to staff and parents on topics related to Mental Health and provide technical assistance to teaching staff regarding behavioral issues, methods of identifying behavioral concerns and methods of appropriate behavior management techniques to encourage a positive learning experience for the children.
• Designs, produces and distributes a quarterly Mental Health newsletter to staff and parents
• Works cooperatively as a part of a team and attends in-person/virtual team meetings, trainings and conferences as needed

Education Requirement: Master’s degree in Social Work or a related degree, LSW. LCSW preferred

Qualifications:

• Work experience with multicultural populations.
• Ability to write reports and correspondence, and read and interpret documents
• Intermediate level knowledge of various software programs such as MS Word, Excel, Power-Point, ChildPlus software or equivalent a plus
• Intermediate level knowledge of various virtual meeting platforms such as ZOOM, Skype, Microsoft Team, Google Meets or equivalent a plus
• Ability to effectively engage and communicate with community members and groups, managers, regulatory agencies, and families individually, in group settings and virtually.
• Ability to organize and manage time effectively
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in Second Step Social emotional curriculum, Creative Curriculum and Teaching Strategies Gold
• Ability to talk at community meetings to represent, lead, advocate, educate and/or negotiate on behalf of Head Start programs.