Behavioral Health and Disabilities Coordinator - P/T

POSITION SUPERVISED:

N/A

BASIC PURPOSE:  

To oversee the behavioral health & disabilities components of all Early Childhood programs including Head Start, Early Head Start, Early Head Start/Child Care Partnership, Child Day Care, and School Readiness.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Observe children to determine need for special services and ensure timely referrals to LEA and Mental Health consultants according to established procedures.
2. Provide expertise and advice to staff and families in the area of special needs.
3. Act as liaison with LEAs to ensure delivery of special education services to eligible children and annual review and required revisions of LEA memorandums of Agreement.
4. Act as liaison to Birth to Three and other agencies specialized in children with special needs to ensure service delivery for children enrolled in Early Head Start and ensure enrollment and smooth transition of children into Head Start.
5. Act as liaison to Mental Health Consultant to ensure delivery of services and annual review and revisions to Mental Health Contract.
6. Ensure resources, advocacy and support for parents during the referral process for special services.
7. Monitor the status of screenings, referrals, PPTs and delivery of special education and mental health services. Provide training on the use of developmental and behavioral screening tools. Communicate effectively with families regarding the needs of their children.
8. Develop and implement staff training and development plans and preservice/inservice trainings to support the delivery of services to children, including children with disabilities and mental health concerns.
9. Develop plans and partnerships for recruiting children with special needs.
10. Monitor federal Head Start requirement re: 10% of all HS children must have documented special needs.
11. Assist in the development and updating of appropriate component plans in compliance with federal performance standards.
12. Actively participate in program and agency staff meetings.
13. Develop policy and procedures that will allow for quality services to be delivered.
14. Periodically monitor home visitation experiences. Share observations and recommendations with staff supervisor.

NON-ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1.  Perform other related duties as required.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Travels between multiple facilities, primary location has two stories without elevator access,  works with children with communicable diseases. Moderate computer use.

QUALIFICATIONS:

EDUCATION:  Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Development or related field with 5+ years of experience.

EXPERIENCE:  Minimum of 5+ years experience in early childhood setting.

SPECIAL SKILLS:  Must have thorough understanding of early childhood development, special needs and services/resources available. Knowledge of Head Start performance standards is required.
Must have solid computer skills.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:  The ability to hear conversational voice, with or without a hearing aid, the ability to see and read newsprint with or without corrective lenses, to speak and be understood under normal circumstances.

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS:  Ability to function within guidelines of Agency’s core values, identification with Agency mission, ability to build consensus and motivate employees.