Head Start Mental Health Manager

Job Summary: Oversees the mental health services within the KS Head Start (HS) program. Collaborates with the grantee HS team to orchestrate program-wide initiatives that promote culturally responsive and equity-based social-emotional practices.  Engages community resource agencies to meet the needs of the HS program.  Supervises the MH Coordinator. Collaborates with Head Start Education/Inclusion and site leadership to improve the social-emotional climate of Head Start site classrooms.  Models age-appropriate social-emotional interactions and provide training and technical assistance (T/TA) to teachers, site administrators, and family support staff.  Manages the Ages & Stages Questionnaire Social-Emotional (ASQ-SE) screening system as well as ensuring compliance with HS requirements. Provides trauma-informed care support and training to staff and HS families. Provides T/TA to parents in the form of mental health consultation, parenting classes, and other topics identified to support positive caregiving practices. Orchestrates grantee-wide and site-level service coordination to meet the needs of children and families.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Recruits, interviews, hires, and trains new staff 

• Oversees the daily workflow of the Head Start Mental Health Coordinator

• Provides constructive and timely performance evaluations.  

• Handles discipline and termination of employees in accordance with company policy. 

• Observe staff in the field and attend training as needed for support.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Oversees the mental health services within the HS program at the following levels: grantee-wide, site level, family, and child to ensure that services are delivered in a client-centered approach.

• Maintains current best practice knowledge of trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and equity-based social-emotional practices that inform the service delivery within the HS program.

• Actively engages with community resource agencies to form informal and formal partnerships to meet the needs of the children, families, and the HS program.  Attends events to raise awareness about HS, and the needs within the program, and to learn about new resources within the community.

• Supervises the MH Coordinator providing at minimum monthly supervision, guidance, and support to promote equity-based and positive social-emotional well-being at the site, family, and child levels.

• Responsible for maintaining the ASQ-SE system and oversight of the recordkeeping and reporting requirements within Head Start related to child social-emotional screenings to ensure completion within the required time frames. Collaborates with the HS Education/Inclusion team to develop strategies to improve the social-emotional climate.

• Monitors and enters child-specific data related to the ASQ-SE screening at the grantee level to evidence site completion.  Collaborates with site-level staff to ensure the completion of all child data, family support, and follow-up. Includes monitoring ChildPlus, child files, compliance with quality improvement plans, and any other identified tasks as identified within Head Start

• Oversees the implementation and completion of the Requests for Support as well as provides technical assistance as needed to meet the needs at the site level, children, and families.  Also provides support during parent conversations to discuss  ASQ-SE screening results, communication, and resource identification.

• Upon the receipt of a Request for Support provides strategies and encouragement to empower parents to implement classroom strategies and Support Plans at home. Also identifies community resources as needed to support ongoing care and early intervention to meet child and family needs.

• Review child and family case notes upon completion of the Head Start intake process to prepare for classroom visits.  Also offers support to families as needed prior to enrollment within the Head Start program.

• Collaborates with Head Start Education/Inclusion staff to improve the classroom climate and instruction utilizing child screening results, child outcomes data, and program quality assessment results.

• Develop relationships with site staff during regularly scheduled visits in order to model and coach positive, trauma-responsive interactions and effective behavior guidance

• Drafts all grantee-wide Mental Health Head Start policies and procedures to ensure compliance with the Head Start Program Performance Standards (HSPPS) related to recordkeeping and reporting requirements for completion of child social-emotional screenings, follow-up, and family engagement. Supports the annual HS grant continuation application process.  Participates within the HS federal monitoring process as defined by the HS Director and monitoring protocols. 

• Partners with site-level Family Advocates, Directors, Administrators, and the HS Education/Inclusion staff to identify and coordinate services needed to meet the needs of children and families.  This may also include engagement within the referral process for an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) and/or an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). May support site staff during the educational home visits or request home visits to observe the child at home.

• Collaborates with site-level Family Advocates to support the family goal-setting process.  This may include identification of community resources and referrals as well as individualized mental health consultation.

• Builds relationships with site-level staff to promote positive workplace climates, provide mental health consultation, community resources and referrals, and provide self-care strategies.

• Supports Head Start sites during the development of their policies and procedures to establish positive program climates including, but not limited to, staff wellness initiatives, and positive teaching practices, define professional development training and topics, and implement parenting curriculum classes.

• Collaborates with the MH Specialist and Education/Inclusion staff to develop training and educational materials related to mental health and social-emotional requirements for site-level staff and parents. Topics may include culturally responsive and equity-based care, inclusive learning environments, positive behavior management strategies, trauma-informed care, and child social-emotional development. These trainings will be provided as requested and may occur during staff meetings, parent activities, and Policy Council meetings.

• Immediately report safety concerns and potential hazards identified at sites to the Head Start Director. Assists with implementation of corrective action as needed to support safe environments and compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.

 Requirements

Required Skills/Abilities: 

• Ability to collaborate with departments, outside sites, and colleagues 

  • Respectful communication

  • Growth-oriented discussion

  • Shared responsibilities

• Commitment to a growth mindset

  • Commitment to professional growth through self-reflection and ongoing education

  • Commitment to supporting sites through transformative change

  • Ability to display patience, flexibility, curiosity, and resilience

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to work as part of a team, communicate effectively both orally and in writing, and receive and provide feedback.

• Demonstrated high proficiency in subject areas of child health, early intervention, emotional intelligence, and problem-solving as well as the ability to prepare comprehensive reports.

• Ability to display cultural sensitivity and understanding required for collaboration with a diverse group of childcare site staff, staff, and families.

• Travel to Head Start sites, throughout the community, and make overnight trips as needed.

Education and Experience:

• Master’s degree in Social Welfare, or related field required.

• Two years prior relevant working experience and expertise in serving young children and families.

Physical Requirements: 

• Must be able to remain in a stationary position 50 % of the time. 

• Frequently moves items weighing up to 20 pounds across the office for various needs.  

The Family Conservancy is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.  

To Apply for this position, please visit our website at: https://www.thefamilyconservancy.org/careers/