Child and Family Specialist
$50,000 - $63,000
Full-time, Regular Status, FLSA Non-exempt
(Open until filled; please apply by January 29, 2021 for early consideration.)

ABOUT CHILDHAVEN

Since 1909 Childhaven has been a leader in serving children and families who have experienced trauma and adversity. In the past few years, we have been adding services and locations, becoming more family and community-focused, and forming high impact partnerships to increase our impact. In June 2020, Childhaven consolidated with Renton Area Youth and Family Services and Art with Heart, which further expanded our capacity to better serve more children and families. By combining our 110+ year legacy of early childhood trauma care with the power and expertise of our new partners, Childhaven is building a continuum of care model that is unlike any other in the Puget Sound Region.

Going forward, we are embarking on a new and ambitious strategic plan to strengthen programs, expand impact, and embrace innovation. In the next five years our goals are to double the number of locations and quadruple the number of children and families we are serving - all while developing and strengthening strategic partnerships with other community-based organizations, referral sources, government agencies, and universities. In doing so, we are opening doors to new roles and opportunities within the organization. And that is where you come in.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Child and Family Specialist (CFS) is responsible for providing additional therapeutic services to early learning providers, children and families through an infant early childhood mental health (IECHMH) lens. They will support ECEAP/Head Start and Early ECEAP/Early HS providers, children and their families to build relational health. This role will support all important caregivers in a child’s life by building the skills to create and sustain safe and supportive environments that foster the development of healthy and secure relationships, and overall child well-being.

The CFS will provide a broad range of services, including levels of IEMCH consultation in classrooms and through home visits; training and coaching staff; reflective supervision for early learning providers; screening, assessment, and referral services for children and families; and providing family/caregiver trainings (all of which may be provided in-person and/or virtually). The CFS will also collect data, maintain records, and support compliance in all facets of ECEAP and Early ECEAP Performance Standards and state regulations. This role reports to the Senior Manager of ECLIPSE and works collaboratively with the Mentor Teacher and Relationship Based Professional Development Specialist.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Individualized Child, Family & Provider Centered Services

• Partner with all child caregivers in the screening, assessment and referral processes, including the determination of strengths, needs, dosing of services, and level(s) of consultation required.
• Maintain a full caseload of children and ensure quality, positive relationships with families and early learning providers.
• Conduct observations and assessments of individual children and family needs.
• Provide written and oral observations and strengths-based feedback to classrooms on a regular basis, as determined by each provider partnership.
• Meet with families (at childcare; home; community; virtually) to consult on child and family needs and create or follow-up on plans to support these needs.
• Meet with classroom teams and child’s family to review classroom and home observations and develop and implement plans.
• In partnership with the child’s multi-disciplinary team: create and carry out an Individualized Care Plan (ICP).
• Provide reflective practice and therapeutic services both in classroom and during home visits.
• Though reflection and home visits build capacity in caregiver to meet the child’s social-emotional needs.
• Provide child development information related to social-emotional development and infant early childhood mental health (IECMH).
• Provide guidance and model developmentally appropriate activities for children, individualized interventions, and effective ways to work with and support children both in classroom and home environment.
• Conduct standardized developmental, behavioral, and/or social-emotional screens and assessments for children as assigned or referred for consultation.
• Provide child and family referral and follow-up to community services.
• Conduct home visits to support the behavioral health needs of families and children.
• Collaborate with Relationship Based Professional Development Specialist and Mentor Teachers to ensure all family, provider and program needs and goals are being addressed and met.

Other Duties as Assigned

• Participate in professional development opportunities regarding anti-racism, oppression, and cultural humility/curiosity and regularly assess own performance and program for related improvements.
• Participate in ongoing job-related professional development, in-service trainings and continuing education.
• Assist with internal Childhaven staff training opportunities as available.
• Comply with all Childhaven policies and procedures.
• Comply with the agency's policy and procedures regarding the identification and reporting of child abuse.
• Participate in regular administrative, clinical and reflective supervision with designated supervisor.
• Participate in scheduled team and administrative meetings.
• Contribute to federal, state, and local reporting requirements and reporting of child abuse.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

1. Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in social work, psychology, counseling or a related field.
2. Minimum of 5 years’ relevant work experience with young children and families.
3. Minimum 2 years’ experience home visiting.
4. Ability to occasionally lift up to 50 pounds. Endorsement by the Washington Association of Infant Mental Health (WA-AIMH) or willing to complete the process at onset of employment.
5. Experience working and communicating with immigrant and marginalized communities and families. Excellent written and verbal communication with diverse groups, including programmatic documentation.
6. Knowledge of Washington State Childcare Licensing requirements.
7. Outstanding organizational and prioritization skills. An ability to prioritize work effectively to appropriately manage all job requirements.
8. Cleared portable background check through the Washington DCYF.
9. Must have reliable transportation, valid driver’s license, safe driving record and auto liability insurance or must have acceptable alternative and reliable transportation

Preferred:

1. Bilingual/bicultural background strongly preferred.
2. Specialized clinical training in infant early childhood mental health, including provision of reflective supervision/consultation for individuals and groups.

HOW TO APPLY

Open until filled; qualified applicants are encouraged to apply by January 29, 2021. In addition to completing the application online, attach a resume and cover letter when prompted.

Those who fail to attach resume and cover letter may not be considered.

We strive to make Childhaven a great place to work by living our values: Teamwork, Equity,
Excellence, Dedication, and Respect. Here’s a little bit about what we offer our staff:

• We offer a comprehensive benefit package including medical, dental and vision insurance. Expanded benefits include a flexible spending account, healthcare reimbursement account, a 403(b) savings program with employer contributions. A full listing of benefits is available.
• Opportunities to attend a wide variety of trainings on clinical and education topics, advocacy and more.
• We’re dedicated to serving the full range of cultural diversity in our community, and to providing families with care that’s relevant to them and their values. As a member of Childhaven staff, you’ll be encouraged to contribute to community engagement strategies and to serve on our Racial Equity Team, which makes ongoing recommendations to ensure that our programs and protocols are doing their part to dismantle systemic racism.