Early Intervention Specialist - Head Start

Job overview

Early Intervention Specialist - Head Start. This is an onsite position in Baltimore, MD. Compensation is not specified. The Y of Central Maryland is a charitable, mission-driven organization. This position serves as the Early Intervention Specialist for the Head Start program, primarily responsible for the overall management of all Disability & Mental Health services for children with disabilities and behavioral needs, and their families. This includes coordinating Part B & C and LEA services for children with pending and diagnosed disabilities. Key functions include parent engagement, community partnerships, recordkeeping, reporting, and supervision of mental health clinicians and consultants.

What you'll do

• Overall management of all Disability & Mental Health services to all children with disabilities and children with demonstrated behavioral needs, as well as, their families.
• Overall management and coordination of all Part B & C and LEA services for children with pending and diagnosed disabilities.
• Parent Engagement: Development of family goals related to child’s IEP and/or behavioral needs.
• Community Partnerships: Ongoing management and coordination of mental health services with consultants and educational services with local education agencies.
• Recordkeeping & Reporting: myHeadStart/ COPA.
• Supervision: Supervise/monitor services provided by Mental Health Clinicians, Mental Health Interns and Special Education Consultant.
• Planning: Collaborate with the Director of Family Services and Senior Director, ERSEA to coordinate the recruitment and enrollment of ten percent (10%) children with disabilities into the program with Part C community agencies and LEA.
• Work closely with the Early Intervention Program and other community programs to recruit and enroll eligible children into Head Start/Early Head Start.
• Establish and utilize a referral process for any suspected disability/mental health concerns, including a tracking system for follow-up.
• Ensure individualized services are effectively provided to children with diagnosed or suspected disabilities and/or mental health concerns.
• Establish policies and procedures for implementation of the Head Start Disabilities/Mental Health services into the program with parents and associates.
• Work with the Senior Executive Director to ensure the program maintains a level of fiscal support to children with special needs consistent with IDEA.
• Assist Director of Family Services in compiling current resources and information related to disabilities/mental health services.
• Complete annual service plan for area of responsibility.
• Implement a system of continuous monitoring and evaluation of activities.
• Ongoing Monitoring and Recordkeeping: Coordinates with leadership team and other center staff to promote parent involvement in the program as a classroom visitor, volunteer, employee, and/or participate in family events.
• Tracks disabilities, transition efforts and outcomes on individual and center-wide basis, analyzes data and makes program development recommendations to the leadership team.
• Ensure compliance with Head Start program standards for children with disabilities/mental health, health, and transition.
• Monitors budget for Disabilities/Mental Health service area.
• Records, monitors and follows up on referrals for support services for reporting requirements.
• Submits reports as needed and requested, such as monthly summary tracking reports, etc.
• Understands, generates and documents in-kind and other available costs applied toward the non-federal share requirements.
• Attends parent committee and other meetings as requested.
• Maintain filing, tracking and documentation systems for the disabilities/mental health service area and ensure confidentiality of child and family records.
• Parent Engagement: Provides parents with information and assistance in understanding and advocating for services and support needed to address their child’s special needs.
• Provides “Transitional” services to Head Start families in cooperation with other agencies/providers, including providing referrals of parents and children to other agencies/providers as needed.
• Work with Administrative Assistant and Director of Family Services to ensure goal development, related to child’s disability and child’s behavioral needs, are developed by families.
• Community Partnerships: Ensures the timely assessment of special education and/or related services needs of children with disabilities in coordination with the Part C agency and/or LEA.
• Develop and implement a strategy which supports a successful transition for children with disabilities/mental health concerns or other special needs into the Head Start Program or from Head Start into kindergarten or another community program.
• Assists in locating, setting up, and accessing contract services on community resources for children with special needs and initiates community partnership agreements.
• Collaborates with the Director of Family Services to ensure information on community resources for children with special needs is present in the Family Resource Guide distributed to all families.
• Manage and coordinate mental health services provided by consultants.
• General Duties: Participate in staff meetings, conferences, training sessions and workshops as assigned.
• Maintain confidentiality in regards to staff and family information.
• Fulfill role as mandated reporter as stated in Child Abuse and Neglect Policy.
• Perform any other work-related duties as requested by your supervisor.
• Be present at work in order to provide consistency of services.
• Be a contributory team member in a positive/productive manner.
• Demonstrate commitment to mission, values, and policies in the performance of daily duties.

What we're looking for

Education

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Experience

Must have experience in securing and individualizing need services for children with disabilities/mental health concerns

Skills & competencies

early intervention specialist

head start

disability services

mental health

special needs

baltimore md

full-time

no weekends

no on-call

Benefits & perks

• medical, dental and vision benefits, as well as dependent care FSA.
• We offer a generous employer contribution to the Y retirement fund, and opportunities for career advancement.

About the employer

The Y of Central Maryland is hiring for this role. Industry: Other Individual and Family Services. Sector: 62.