Overview
The Infant Toddler Specialist is responsible for providing developmentally appropriate, research based basic and intensive technical assistance, training, support and assistance to infant/toddler center classrooms and family child care programs serving or having the potential to serve infants and toddlers. As part of a regional component of a statewide initiative, the Infant Toddler Specialist will work collaboratively with regional and state colleagues.
The Infant Toddler Mental Health Consultant will provide a broad range of services that focus on supporting the relationships between young children and the adults in their lives, including infant and toddler mental health consultation in classrooms, family child care homes and through home visits; assessment and referral services; and providing trainings and coaching. The Consultant will also collect required data, maintain records, and support compliance with child care regulations. As part of a regional component of a statewide initiative, the Infant Toddler Mental Health Consultant will work collaboratively with regional and state colleagues.
Responsibilities and Duties
INFANT TODDLER SPECIALIST
Help design and deliver comprehensive intensive technical assistance to infant/toddler programs that is assessment driven, utilizing the ITERS/ECERS/ASQ/ASQ-SE and includes a formal plan of action, technical assistance visits, resources, post assessment and documentation of the process
Assist programs with starting or expanding services via training, technical assistance or information on how to assess training and/or technical assistance
Provide/Develop high quality, interactive trainings in-person or virtually to infant toddler programs that result in increased knowledge as evidenced by a post-training evaluation
Use internal data to prepare comprehensive, well-organized and thoughtful reports as required by grants
Make presentations to community partners about the availability of the services offered by the program
Create and distribute a monthly provider newsletter.
Create and host provider/staff networking sessions at least quarterly.Develop,
Coordinate and host at least quarterly parenting networking/educational/playgroups, rotating locations to serve both counties.
INFANT TODDLER MENTAL HEALTH CONSULTANT
– Provide programmatic and child-specific infant and toddler mental health consultation to teaching staff, center directors, childcare providers, and parents.
– Facilitate the retention of children with challenging behaviors by providing consultation and prevention services and by facilitating positive mental health environments in classrooms and homes.
– Assess strengths and challenges within the infant toddler setting/environment, as well as teacher/provider practice.
– Support infant/toddler staff in creating a prosocial learning environment and classroom management strategies.
– Develop and conduct training and workshops for childcare program staff and parents on a regular and as needed basis. Work with early childhood program administration to develop inclusive policies for working with children.
– Attend site meetings as appropriate, including case conferences. Conduct observations and assessments of individual children as assigned or referred for consultation using developmental, social and emotional screening tools (DECA, IT CHILD).
– Meet with families to consult on child and family needs and create or follow- up on plans to support these needs.
– Facilitate interdisciplinary teams with childcare programs staff, early intervention staff, and community mental health organizations.
– Provide guidance and model developmentally appropriate activities for children and effective ways to work with and support young children.
– Be able to use data analysis for interpretation & planning for effective execution of daily work.
– Maintain consistent and accurate documentation specific to position and navigate the statewide database.
– Attend Staff meetings and training as required by the agency and regional lead IT agency
Qualifications
BA/BA in early childhood education or related field (Psychology, Counseling or Social Work)
At least 3 years’ experience in early childhood education field or family/child counseling.
Knowledge of:
– Infant, toddler, and early mental health and development and service system.
– Differences in mental health services and concepts across cultures.
– Boundaries between consultation and clinical work.
Experience with:
– Infant and Toddler programming and curriculum development in a professional manner
– Formulating and writing assessments and support plans, preferably for infant and toddler children.
– Evidence-based practices and curricula to promote infant and toddler mental health.
– Providing adult learning workshops/classes
– Ability to develop relationships and motivate others to engage in learning and change
– Ability to manage time effectively, set priorities and meet deadlines
– Work independently and make independent judgments.
– Work with a flexible schedule and demonstrate effective time management
– Excellent writing and communication skills
– Bilingual/Spanish speaker preferred
Hours and Pay Rate
This is a full-time, 40-hours per week position based at Family of Woodstock’s Kingston office at 31 Albany Ave.
Pay for this position is: $18.13/hour and included agency-funded health insurance and other benefits.