Professional IV, ECMH Therapist; Early Childhood Mental Health - Specialized Classrom

About the position This position plays an important role in advancing our mission and supporting the communities we serve. Make a Difference from Day One At The Centers, we believe that the earliest years of a child's life hold the greatest potential for healing, growth, and transformation. We are seeking a compassionate, skilled Early Learning Mental Health (ELMH) Therapist to join our Specialized Classroom at the Gordon Square Early Learning Site. In this role, you will work alongside educators, families, and a dedicated multidisciplinary team to support children ages birth through five who face emotional and behavioral challenges — meeting them where they are, and guiding them toward brighter futures. This is more than a clinical position. It is an opportunity to be a catalyst for change in one of the most critical developmental windows in a child's life.

Responsibilities

• Provide individual and group counseling to children and their families enrolled in our Specialized Classroom, completing mental health assessments and developing Individualized Service Plans tailored to each child's unique needs.
• Conduct diagnostic assessments and create evidence-informed treatment plans that address mental, emotional, and psychosocial needs using the DSM-5-TR and DC 0-5 frameworks.
• Serve as a day-to-day resource for Early Learning staff, providing coaching, observations, and professional development trainings on behavioral health, classroom management, and social-emotional best practices.
• Use classroom observations and data from Pre and Interim eDECA social-emotional screenings to guide teacher practice and support individual child needs.
• Facilitate small group sessions using selected social-emotional curricula.
• Complete daily behavioral checklists to monitor progress.
• Collaborate in real time with classroom teachers to implement strategies that promote positive mental health and functioning.
• Maintain active relationships with community resources — healthcare providers, WIC, food banks, furniture banks, and other social service organizations — ensuring families can access the full continuum of support they need, and identifying gaps in service delivery.
• Complete all agency-required documentation within established timeframes, maintaining the standards of care expected across The Centers' Behavioral Health and Family Services programs.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Social Work with a minimum of three years of clinical and diagnostic experience required
• Professional III: LSW or LPC required
• Professional IV: LISW or LPCC licensure
• Valid, unencumbered State of Ohio driver's license
• Proficiency with the DSM-5-TR and DC 0-5 for mental health diagnosis
• Working knowledge of child growth and development and family dynamics
• Experience with trauma-informed care and practice
• Commitment to a systems approach to service delivery
• Emotional Intelligence & Communication: Demonstrated ability to lead with empathy while maintaining clinical boundaries; skilled at using storytelling to advance understanding and engagement with families and staff.
• Collaboration & Teamwork: A genuine team orientation — you contribute to shared goals, maintain open communication, ask for help, and encourage others' involvement.
• Diversity & Inclusion: Cultural intelligence and a commitment to equity; awareness of and sensitivity to the diverse populations served, contributing to an environment that is inclusive and cooperative.
• Organization & Time Management: Ability to manage a diverse caseload, prioritize tasks, and meet documentation deadlines while maintaining quality care.
• Flexibility & Adaptability: Comfort with change, new technology, and evolving best practices, with an optimistic orientation toward continuous improvement.
• Professionalism: Confidence, strong conflict-resolution skills, and the ability to receive and integrate feedback constructively.

Nice-to-haves

• Master's degree in Social Work or Counseling preferred
• Minimum two years of experience working with children ages birth through 12 preferred
• Familiarity with community resources including healthcare, WIC, food banks, and social service supports

Benefits

• 2026 USA TODAY Top Workplaces winner
• Meaningful work
• Culture where people feel valued
• Nationally recognized for trust, purpose, and care
• Opportunity to be a catalyst for change

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