Preschool Mental Health Manager (39621)

Lutheran Services Florida (LSF) envisions a world where children are safe, families are strong, and communities are vibrant.

LSF is seeking a talented Mental Health Manager who wants to make an impact in the lives of others.

This is a Monday - Friday role.

Purpose and Impact:

The Mental Health Manager will oversee a broad spectrum of services aimed at supporting children, families, and staff. This role is crucial in promoting mental wellness, preventing mental health issues, and addressing concerns effectively through prevention, early detection, and intervention. Responsibilities include managing mental health staff, conducting screenings, assessments, and referrals, and implementing trauma-informed care practices in line with Head Start Performance Standards. Additionally, the manager will coordinate with local counseling agencies and mental health partners to ensure families have access to necessary resources, aiming to enhance resilience and improve social-emotional outcomes for children within the program. This position participates in the HS/EHS Quality Assurance efforts.

Essential Functions:

• Facilitate collaboration among program leadership and staff to integrate mental health services, evidence-based and trauma informed practices across all program aspects, including health, education, and family engagement.
• Implement and monitor the execution of social emotional well-being by utilizing Trust Based Relationship Interventions (TBRI) to support classrooms and provide techniques to enhance the educational and social environment for children and staff.
• Oversee and coordinate the implementation of child observations, mental health screenings, assessments, and evaluations to identify needs and plan appropriate interventions for children and families with mental health concerns.
• Conduct standardized developmental, behavioral, biopsychosocial, and social-emotional screenings and assessments for individual children who are assigned or referred for support
• Ensure that mental health practices are culturally and linguistically appropriate and inclusive of all children, including those with disabilities.
• Supervise the Mental Health Treatment Counselor, Behavior Support Specialists, Program Interns and contracted mental health staff.
• Provide oversight, guidance and professional development support for program mental health team to ensure they are coordinating and implementing mental health services requirement in the Head Start performance standards.
• Provide guidance and model develop appropriate activities for children and effective ways to work with and support young children in collaboration with education staff  and service area managers/supervisors
• Train staff to recognize signs of emotional distress, mental health issues, and both typical and atypical child development. This includes providing behavior management training, on-site support, and psychoeducational assistance to enhance staff capabilities in managing and understanding diverse behavioral and developmental issues.
• Provides training and support to staff and leadership on evidence-based practices and strategies with a particular focus on childhood mental health and Trauma Informed Care.
• Coordinate and ensure that mental health classroom observations are conducted at the beginning and mid-year of the school year by a license or master level mental health counselor in addition to meet withing with education leadership and classroom teachers to review classroom observations and develop and implement plan of action based on results and findings.
• Oversee and monitor mental health partnership agreements and contracts, ensuring compliance with implementation of contract obligations, accurate billing, and the timely submission of reports, service plans, and required documentation.
• Lead, coordinate, and oversee the implementation of the Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) meeting to ensure a cohesive approach and seamless communication among team members with various expertise.
• Responsible for facilitating MDT team discussions on student progress, developing strategies, and creating and executing comprehensive, student-centered service plans.
• Coordinate and ensure on-site or remote mental health consultation services that are available to children and families that focus on their specific mental health needs or concerns; and builds on strengthening and supporting the mental health and social emotional development of children.
• Implement, coordinate, and schedule monthly mental health consultation meeting that offers guidance and support to staff and families on how to address and integrate mental health goals and strategies in the classroom and at home for each program location.
• Provide immediate consultation and intervention during crises that affect the children, families, or the program, such as behavioral incidents or traumatic events.
• Participate in the development and implementation of mental health program’s policies, and procedures.
• Coordinate and facilitate parent training on trauma informed practices and principles; and about mental health issues, treatment options, and ways to support children’s mental health and emotional well-being
• Conduct home visits to support the mental health needs of families and children as needed.
• Collect data, maintain records and ensure compliance with all facets of Head Start Performance Standards and state regulations for the Mental Health department.
• Contribute to federal, state and local reporting requirements, and participate in the quality assurance efforts for HS/EHS.
• Develop, review, and support Behavior Support Plans or Service Plan for quality and ensure compliance with program standards.
• Responsible for maintaining state licensure requirements through the Florida Board.
• Report suspected cases of child abuse and neglect in accordance with regulations and policy.
• Participates in management meetings and works closely with members of the management team to plan, problem-solve and implement continuous improvement plans as needed.
• Maintains strict confidentiality with respect to Head Start/Early Head Start children, families and staff in accordance with HIPAA standards and established program policies and procedures.
• Attends all workshops and meetings as deemed necessary by the supervisor.
• Attends all required staff and parent meetings and activities.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Other Functions:

Note: The duties above are illustrative and not exhaustive. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position. Depending on assigned area of responsibility, incumbents in the position may perform some or all of the activities described above.

Physical Requirements:

Must be able to lift at least 45 pounds.  Reasonable accommodation may be made for otherwise qualified persons with disabilities.

Education: Master’s degree in social work, Mental Health, Marriage and Family Counseling, Human Services or related field from an accredited college or university. 

Licenses/Certification:   A current State of Florida clinical license in Social Work, Mental Health Counseling, or Marriage and Family Therapy (LCSW, LMHC, LMFT) required.

Experience: At least three years of experience providing mental health services in an ESE\School District, Early Head Start, Head Start or a social services environment that serves culturally diverse low-income children and families.  Experience working with community partners and utilizing comprehensive record keeping systems.  Must have the ability to identify special needs children.  Experience formulating and writing assessments and support plans  for young children.  Experience with evidence-based practices and curricula to promote early childhood mental health is desirable.

Bilingual preferred: English/Spanish or English and other languages present in the local area. 

Also required: Certification in First Aid and CPR within six months of the date assigned to this position; and successful completion of a Level II background screening and drug screening prior to hiring.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Demonstrated understanding of infant and early childhood mental health issues related to young children ages 0-5.
• Strong cultural competence with significant experience working within diverse communities.
• Experience working with children with backgrounds of trauma and knowledge of trauma informed care.
• Knowledge of human behavior, child development, social issues, family dynamics, and infant mental health.
• Demonstrated understanding of differences in mental health services and concepts across cultures.
• Demonstrated experience with clinical documentation.
• Knowledge of social services and health services available in the area.
• Ability to build and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with service providers and families.
• Knowledge of family-centered practices.
• Knowledge of Head Start is desirable.
• Ability to communicate ideas and instructions orally and in writing.
• Ability to write reports and business correspondence.
• Ability to speak before groups of individuals, such as Committees and Staff meetings.
• Ability to interpret laws, regulations, and policies related to state and federal requirements.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to make recommendations and develop implementation strategies.
• Computer skills, including MS Office Suite (Word, Access, Excel, PowerPoint, etc).

Other:

Must demonstrate sensitivity to our service population’s cultural and socioeconomic characteristics and needs.

Principal Accountabilities:

• Team player with co-workers and central service office staff.
• Cost effective program operations.
• Adherence to LSF and Head Start/Early Head Start policies and management practices.
• Effective leadership skills.

Why work for LSF?

LSF offers 60 programs across the state of Florida serving a wide range of populations in need. Mission Driven staff members become part of the LSF community while transforming the lives of those in need. Our staff additionally find growth opportunities as they explore areas of interest within the organization.  

Amazing benefits package including:

• Medical, Dental and Vision
• Telehealth (24/7 online access to Doctors)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Employer paid life insurance (1X salary)
• 13 paid holidays + 1 floating holiday
• Generous PTO policy (starting at 16 working days a year)
  • Note: Head Start employees paid time off and holiday schedule may differ
• 403(b) Retirement plan with 3% discretionary employer match OR 3% student loan repayment reimbursement
• Tuition reimbursement

Lutheran Services Florida embraces diversity, equity and inclusion in all business practices. LSF is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.