Disabilities/Mental Health Specialist

SUMMIT is looking for an individual who is passionate about the field of Child Development and has a sincere desire to make a positive impact in the lives of children and their families.

QUALIFICATIONS: We are looking for individuals with a strong belief in the value of early childhood education, problem solving and group facilitation skills, and experience with disabilities and mental health principles and theories.

Required: Bachelor’s degree in special education, early childhood education, or related field and minimum of 2 years’ experience providing disabilities, mental health, or behavior supports to young children.
Preferred: PA Behavior Specialist License, two years’ experience with positive behavioral supports implementation in an early childhood setting.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Establish a trusting and collaborative relationship with a variety of staff/team members.
  • Develop, implement, and monitor positive guidance approaches for children presenting social-emotional challenges.
  • In conjunction with program staff, observe patterns of interaction and define issue of concern related to educational and social-emotional functioning. Support completion of child development screening and assessments. Make timely referrals to outside agencies and conduct regular follow-up. Utilize assessments and observations to determine and evaluate child outcomes.
  • Provide early detection, consultation, and intervention to staff for supporting children at risk for disabilities, mental health, or behavior concerns.
  • Assist parents to understand education and/or social supports needed for their child’s success in the classroom and collaborate on the development and implementation of an individual plan to meet their child’s needs.
  • Coordinate and maintain effective partnerships with community-based early childhood disabilities and mental health service providers. Work with service provider teams to ensure comprehensive, coordinated, and integrated services and social emotion supports for children and families.
  • Assist with developing, implementing, and coordinating the delivery of early childhood disability, mental health, and behavior supports services within classrooms, ensuring that each child/family receives optimal services consistent with the requirements of contractual agreements, laws, regulations, funding documents, and standards.
  • Keep current with best practices and provide leadership assistance, resources, guidance, support, and mentoring and training to staff, parents, and collaborative partners.
  • In coordination with team members, plan and provide staff development and training programs related to disabilities, mental health, and positive behavior supports.

LOCATION: Lewistown Children’s Center

HOURS & SALARY: Full-time (40 hours/week, 260 days/year, 8 hours/day), Monday – Friday, $21.40/hour

E.O.E