Mental Health & Disabilities Manager

The Mental Health & Disabilities Manager ("Manager") oversees the activities and services related to the Disabilities and Mental Health focus areas within Head Start. This role involves identifying individual special needs and creating a safe, stimulating, and supportive learning environment that enables children to thrive. The Manager must have a solid understanding of the basic requirements of the IEP/IFSP processes and the accommodations needed for children with disabilities. They will provide essential services to support families facing challenges related to mental and emotional health and assist their children with special needs and challenging behaviors. Support will be offered through various channels, including classroom assistance, parental engagement, teacher support, and access to community resources as necessary. The Manager will also coordinate services to help staff and parents address domestic issues, stress management, self-esteem challenges, and other mental and emotional health concerns. Key job responsibilities include observing Head Start children across all settings, collaborating closely with families, teachers, community partners, and service providers for appropriate interventions and referrals, promoting positive mental health and disabilities practices and prevention strategies, and providing staff development training on specific topics within the mental health field.

• Identify Head Start children enrolled in the Program who appear to have a disability, mental and/or behavioral health issue, and ensure through service planning that each child is diagnosed by a qualified diagnostician for the issues presenting
• Provide education for staff and families on the importance and value of mental health and wellness.
• Develop and maintain a system whereby each Head Start child, through observation or referral, is ensured services by:
  • Partnering with the Local Education Agency (LEA), Child Development Services Agency (CDSA), to diagnose suspected disabilities and provide services and/or treatment to children with diagnosed disabilities.
• In cooperation with parents and teachers, providing directly or facilitating the provision of an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) goals for each child with a diagnosed disability.
• Advocating, facilitating, coordinating, and monitoring services of service providers external to the program who may be engaged to provide specialized services.
• Facilitate multidisciplinary coordination and collaboration between mental health and other relevant program services, including education, disability, family engagement, and health services.
• Assist in planning and coordinating the Health and Mental Health Services Advisory Committee in conjunction with the Health Services Coordinator
• Provide regular and requested classroom observations.
• Contact/negotiate with other mental health professionals for provision of mental health services as needed
• Provide and/or facilitate training and technical assistance to staff and families designed to increase understanding and acceptance of disabling conditions and mental health issues, the implementation of positive behavior support concepts and strategies for classrooms and home environments
• Communicate regularly with area public school personnel for the purpose of establishing/maintaining positive regard, open dialogue, and smooth transference of child information between Head Start and public school.
• Cooperate and collaborated with API Leadership Team for advancement of the program and agency goals and mission.
• Maintain an effective working relationship with staff, children and their families, volunteers, and community members.
• Attend all staff meetings, trainings, workshops, and conferences according to Head Start Performance Standards and DCDEE Licensing standards with at least 20 hours in-service training annually.
• Assist in recruitment of children as specified in the Recruitment Process.
• Maintain confidentiality of all information regarding children, families, and staff.
• Supervise the Mental Health and Disabilities staff.
• Accurate and timely completion of all management reports, data analysis, and quality improvement plans.
• Perform any other duties needed to help drive our vision, fulfill our mission, and abide by our organization's values.