California Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC) Specialist

About WestEd As a community of over 1,400 researchers, practitioners, consultants, and administrative professionals from all backgrounds and life experiences, we are committed to making a qualitative difference in the lives of youth, children, and adults. We conduct and apply research, develop evidence-based solutions, and provide consulting services across the country in both rural and urban communities to improve equitable outcomes for individuals from infancy through adulthood. Serving as trusted partners in the areas of education, health, and justice, our teams enhance capacity within communities and school districts to prioritize impact — asking the right questions, customizing methodologies, developing relevant tools, and implementing best practices specific to a diverse range of stakeholder needs. WestEd supports individual initiative, excellence, and hard work of all individuals in our hiring and work practices. WestEd complies with all applicable federal and state anti-discrimination laws, as well as OFCCP requirements. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, or status as a protected veteran. The IECMHC Network is particularly interested in seeking qualified candidates who work in the following counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Fresno, Kern, Kings, Los Angeles, Monterey, Sacramento, San Diego, San Joaquin, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, Sonoma, Tulare, Ventura, and Yolo; and have fluency in the following languages: Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, Farsi/Persian, Hindi, and Arabic. Please note, this position is remote with California travel. Brief Description Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC) Network Consultants (Specialists) work in communities providing direct in-person and virtual support to center-based administrators, teachers, staff, and home-based care providers. IECMHC Network Specialists are matched with assignments based on geographic location, areas of expertise, individualized program needs and consultant availability. The IECMHC Network team coordinates the referral and intake processes with programs and providers. It also provides resources and an array of supports for IECMHC Network Specialists, including individual and group reflective practice. IECMHC Network Specialists adopt the Consultative Stance in applying diversity-informed, reflective and relationship-based approaches to collaborating with home-based providers, center-based staff, and program leaders to build their capacity to:

• Respond effectively to children’s developmental, social, emotional and behavioral health needs.
• Consider all relationships influencing young children’s relational health and well-being, adult-child relationships and those amongst the adults caring for children.
• Engage in self-reflection about personal values, perceptions, beliefs, culture, and connections between adult’s feelings and behavior and children’s feelings and behavior.
• Reframe children’s behavior to problem solve and practice new ways of responding to children’s needs.
• Gain knowledge and skills in understanding the impact of trauma on young children and develop a trauma-responsive lens to inform their approaches working with young children and their families.
• Develop inclusive and equitable policies and procedures that reflect a commitment to serving all children and families.
• Promote staff/provider health and well-being by attending to their feelings and experiences within the context of their relational work and interactions with young children and their families.
• Increase awareness and connection to community resources.

Consultant hours are intermittent and will vary based on program needs and consultant availability.

Qualifications

At a minimum, IECMHC Network Specialists hold a Master’s degree in social work, psychology, mental health, counseling, early childhood special education, early childhood education or child development, and/or a closely related field. Clinical licensure or license eligible preferred but not required. Ideal candidates bring:

• At least 3 years experience providing consultation, coaching, and/or technical assistance with child care and early education staff/providers.
• At least 2 years providing and receiving reflective practice.
• Experience working directly in a child care or early education setting with children birth through five years old and their families.
• Experience working with home-based providers, including family child care home providers and family, friend, and neighbor caregivers.
• Ability to provide relationship- and strength-based consultation using inquiry and reflective practices.
• Knowledge of social, emotional and relational health, and fostering the well-being of young children and the adults who care for them.
• Knowledge of trauma-responsive practices and policies in child care and early education settings.
• Knowledge of community resources for children ages birth to five and their families.
• Knowledge of inclusive practices and IDEA and ADA requirements.
• Endorsement in Infant-Family and Early Childhood Mental Health and Reflective Practice Facilitation.

Travel possibility up to 20%.

• Note: Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. Successful candidates must be authorized to work in the United States and must perform all work physically located in California. We cannot support work-from outside California for this role.

Hourly: $50 WestEd conducts a criminal background check and education verification for all new hires. Any offers of employment will be contingent on receiving a clear background check in accordance with applicable law. For more details about our benefits, go to: https://www.wested.org/work-at-wested/#benefits WestEd is a Drug Free Employer and maintains a drug-free workplace. #Circa-CA Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals With Disabilities The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c) Apply tot his job Apply To this Job