Director, School-based Collaborative for Mental Health (SCMH)
The School-based Collaborative for Mental Health (SCMH), incubated by SchoolSmartKC, is a pilot initiative designed to ensure that all students in the Kansas City Public Education System—including both district and charter schools—have access to high-quality mental health services. The pilot phase (2024-2027) began with 6 public charter schools, whose aggregate enrollment is over 6,500 students, and 5 mental health agencies located in Kansas City, Missouri. To ensure that students are receiving the mental health services in an effective and timely manner, participating schools and agencies are implementing standardized stages of care and following best practices related to the Multi-tiered System of Supports (MTSS). 
 
SCHOOLSMARTKC (SSKC) is a charitable, non-profit organization that works toward significant improvement in the performance of schools in the Kansas City Public School system. For more information about SchoolSmartKC, please visit www.schoolsmartkc.org.

SCMH Model (Blueprint, 2023)
The SCMH model is a school-based system that identifies students who need behavioral or mental health support, provides services on campus, and keep caregivers involved from the first concern through resolution.

• Identify & screen: A school care team uses a validated screening tool to determine if a student needs Tier 2 (targeted support) or Tier 3 (clinical care).
• Tier 2 – targeted support: The school delivers an evidence-based social-emotional curriculum aligned to the student’s skill needs.
• Tier 3 – clinical care: The student is referred to a licensed mental health clinician for a formal assessment and individual therapy, if indicated.
• Plan & review: All Tier 2/3 students receive a treatment plan and are re-evaluated at set intervals to adjust services or close care.
• Family partnership: Caregivers are notified early and engaged throughout.
• Data & coordination: A shared tracking system follows each student through the stages of care, giving SSKC and SCMH partners real-time visibility into access and progress.

• Serve as the primary liaison between SSKC and the Children’s Services Fund. This includes good donor management so that CSF is kept apprised of SCMH developments and any issues that may affect the successful implementation of the program. The director will be responsible for all reporting to CSF and management of the CSF/SSKC budget. This includes reviewing all financial reports before they are submitted to CSF and the preparation of the annual budget request to CSF. Should any modifications be needed to the annual budget, the director will communicate these to CSF in a timely and effective manner. 
• Serve as the primary point of contact between SSKC and the schools and agencies who have sub-contracts under the SSKC-CSF agreement. As such, the director will ensure that sub-contractors understand the terms and conditions of their subcontracts and all requirements, deliverables and outcomes are met. The director will review and approve monthly invoices.
• Promote synergy and coordination among the members of the SCMH. To this end, the director will build effective relationships with all members and seek ways to increase their sense of interdependence and commonality. This will require the engagement of members in planning efforts, the identification of capacity strengthening needs, the planning and execution of SCMH meetings and training activities, the promotion of learning across members and the sharing of information. 
• Promote the ongoing improvement of the SCMH model so that by the end of the pilot phase it has achieved proof of concept.  It is expected that the director will regularly engage with SCMH members to understand how the model can be improved and work with them to find cost-effective evidence-based solutions.
• Support the SCMH Steering Committee by ensuring meeting agenda and minutes are created and shared with members, meetings are scheduled, and logistical arrangements are made (meeting space, refreshments) and that new members are recruited and oriented as needed.  Additional duties may be determined in conjunction with the Steering Committee’s chairperson.
• Supervise the SCMH data manager who will report to the Director.  This entails ensuring that the data generated from the SCMH portal meets the needs of the SCMH stakeholders (SSKC, members, CSF and families) and is used strategically.
• Cultivate donors and seek funding for the continuation of the SCMH so that by mid-2027, the initiative has enough financial resources to continue to provide high quality mental health services to students. In conjunction with fund raising efforts, the director will support activities aimed at raising awareness of SCMH among local media, families, donors, and other important stakeholders. 

• Preferred master’s degree in a social science, non-profit administration and/related field.
• Proven ability to build and sustain relationships with schools and community organizations and strengthen their capacity to support the mental health of children and youth.
• At least 10 years of experience managing and/or designing collaborative ventures.

• Uncompromising integrity and sound judgment; consistently upholds high ethical standards, exercises discretion and protects confidential information in all work.
• Exceptional interpersonal, coaching, and communication skills, with the ability to work closely and build relationships of trust both internally with team members and externally with partners from all sectors across Kansas City.
• Leadership skills, with the ability to establish and develop credibility quickly and create collaborative relationships at all levels within stakeholder groups.
• Excellent writing skills and public speaking ability as demonstrated in high-profile forums.
• Proven group facilitation skills with ability to manage conflict, build consensus, and move stakeholders from discussion to decision to implementation.
• Keen analytical and organizational skills, with the ability to identify and summarize trends emerging from both quantitative and qualitative information to inform high-impact recommendations and strategies.
• Outstanding organizational skills and strong experience leading complex project management efforts.  
• An entrepreneurial spirit, with an ability to thrive in an environment that is characterized by growth and change.
• Cultural competence, humility, and an understanding of issues related to education and leveling the playing field for young people in economically challenged communities.
• An ability to maintain a calm and competent demeanor in uncomfortable or difficult situations.
• Financial acumen and experience working within budget.
• Ability to cultivate resources in support of organizational strategic aims.

COMPENSATION

NON-DISCRIMINATION 

HOW TO APPLY