MENTAL HEALTH/DS MANAGER

JOB FUNCTION:

The Disabilities/Mental Health Manager is responsible for facilitating and directing the delivery of services that address the mental and emotional needs of Head Start children, families, and staff in accordance with Head Start Performance Standards. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Oversees and facilitates the implementation of services for children, families and staff with disabilities or mental health needs including, but not limited to; acting as liaison between families and agencies, conducting home visits, developing a Service Area plan, developing collaborations, and enlisting the aid of Speech Therapists, Mental Health consultants, or other consultants.

1. Coordinate with the Education team to jointly support teaching staff, helping to develop new strategies and techniques, providing one-to-one services as needed, and working with both the staff and the family as needed to support a child’s educational success.

1. Identify children who may have special needs concerns through training staff, observing children in the classroom, meeting with parents and staff, and making appropriate referrals.

1. Provide opportunities for parents and staff to gather and utilize information and services about their disabilities concerns or needs.  This may include trainings/workshops and meetings with community agencies.

1. Develop, implement, and monitor the implementation of Family Partnership Agreements, Individualized Education Plan/Individual Family Service Plan, Individualized Program Plan(or an employee action plan) as it pertains to a disability or mental health needs, including, but not limited to; coordinating with district PIRS teams, making referrals to appropriate agencies (CST/EIP) when a disability or mental health need is identified or suspected, attending IEP/IFSP meetings with center staff (when appropriate), and participating in all phases of the transition process for Head Start children and families.

1. Establish Mental Health Consultant contracts in alignment with HSPPS to ensure consultation access for the Mental Health/Disabilities Team, center staff, and families, as well as to conduct classroom observations and analysis.

1. Ensures the safety of all children by participating in monitoring of center, implementation of child safety procedures, reporting accidents, reporting child abuse or neglect, following Standards of Conduct, and reporting any child health/safety concern to supervisor

1. Maintain an accurate record-keeping system and/or develop reports related to disabilities and mental health needs, including but not limited to; information regarding screenings, referrals, evaluations, and other statistical information.  Develop a system of collecting that information through supervising and training the appropriate staff in the proper interpretation and recording techniques of statistics required to maintain accurate information and records.

1. Provide opportunities for parents and staff to gather and utilize information and services about their disability or mental health concerns or needs.  This may include trainings/workshops and meetings with community agencies.

1. Attend a minimum of two (2) center parent and/or staff meetings per month.

1. Perform all other assigned Head Start duties.

QUALIFICATIONS

1.         Masters Degree in Social Work with license and experience in providing mental health services for young children preferred; Bachelors Degree in Special Education or related field with two years experience working with children with disabilities or mental health field minimum.

1. Must have a valid NJ license and access to an insured vehicle daily.

1. Communication skills a must, written and verbal.  Bi-lingual preferred.

1. Demonstrates an ability to work with, and develop collaborations with, independent contractors as well as State and Local agencies.