POSITION SUMMARY
The Child & Family Support Partner(CFSP) reports to the ECLIPSE Program Manager and is an experienced early childhood professional with training in mental health embedded in ECEAP Programs to enhance and advance early relational health practices in ECEAP. The CFSP provides direct services(consultation and intervention) with families of children three to five years old as well as capacity building activities (consultation, professional development, and program development) with the multidisciplinary disciplinary teams in ECEAP Programs.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
Direct Support to Individual Families
- Meet with families (at childcare; home; community; virtually) to assess child and family needs while co-creating or assessing progress of care plans to support these needs.
- Provide consultation, psychoeducation and intervention services to caregivers and young children (3 to 5 years of age). Through a relational lens, the Child & Family Support Partner enhances caregivers’ understanding of and support for their child’s social and emotional development, needs, and behaviors.
- Partner with families to set developmentally and culturally responsive goals and co- create and implement care plans to meet them.
- Work collaboratively with caregivers and children to strengthen their connection, communication, and mutual delight.
- Maintain strong communication with care team, including documenting sessions in secure electronic record.
- Facilitate connections to external mental health services when needed.
Care Transformation and Capacity Building
- Provide reflection and consultation to classroom educators to build their capacity to support early relational health practices at ECEAP settings in the Puget Sound Region.
- In partnership with ECEAP colleagues, develop and implement programs to build capacity to holistically support children from 3 through5 years of age. For example, developing transitions plans for children from ECEAP programs to their Kindergarten program, supporting culturally accessible screening for post-partum anxiety and depression, and building community-based referral connections.
- Provide Intensive Case Management, a team-based approach that supports individuals through a case management approach. The goal of which is to help clients maintain their basic and safety needs to achieve an optimum quality of life. This can happen through developing plans, enhancing life skills, addressing health and mental health needs, engaging in meaningful activities, and building pro-social and community relations.
- Guide socioemotional, protective, and risk-factor screening processes from 3 to 5 years old.
- Develop and maintain knowledge of early childhood and infant mental health community-based organizations and share these with the care team members who will share these resources directly with families and facilitate connections.
Administrative and Professional Development
- Participate in regular reflective supervision and clinical consultation with IECMH colleagues, clinical support meetings, and Akin team meetings.
- Record data relevant to program evaluation and funding requirements.
- Participate in other duties related to program goals and evaluation in collaboration with the Akin ECLIPSE team.
- Participate in ongoing job-related professional development, in-service training, and continuing education.
- Comply with all Akin policies and procedures.
- Comply with the agency’s policy and procedure regarding the identification and reporting of child abuse.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
- Knowledge of child and family development and understanding of various treatment principles, strategies, and interventions
- Ability to develop strength-based, goal-oriented care plans that are guided by an infant/early childhood mental health framework and address the specific needs of the family
- Ability to foster positive relationships with caregivers, using inquiry-based communication skills and motivational interviewing
- Ability to work collaboratively and effectively with children and families, ECEAP educators and support staff, and Akin staff.
- Strengths-based approach to supporting caregivers of young children, and commitment to improving the experience of care for families, particularly those underserved by our current systems.
- Outstanding organizational skills and ability to manage a caseload of multiple families
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
- Technological capabilities sufficient to use electronic medical records and other systems to record visit notes, collect data, and track client progress.
- Familiarity with or interest in the principles of accessibility, inclusion, and belonging; and experience working successfully with colleagues, clients, or communities from a variety of backgrounds.
- Demonstrated openness to learning and contributing to an inclusive workplace environment.
- Ability and desire to be flexible, responsive, and collaborative for this role; there is great opportunity to shape this pilot program as it grows and we anticipate “trying things on” and adjusting as we learn together.
WORKING ENVIRONMENT:
- This job is performed in a childcare/preschool setting. The following list is representative of the work environment employees encounter while performing the essential functions of this job:
- Moderate noise (i.e. classroom activities and interactions, office printers, phones)
- Typical office lighting and temperatures
- Moderate interruptions
- Ability to work in a confined area
- Ability to sit at a computer for an extended period
- Regular travel to site locations within King and Pierce County
HYBRID WORK ARRANGEMENTS:
Hybrid work is a benefit of Akin’s flexible workplace but cannot be offered for all positions. Some positions require daily presence in the office. Hybrid work arrangements may be adjusted or rescinded based upon business needs.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
- While performing the essential duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, sit, talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone keyboard; occasionally to reach, stoop and kneel.
- Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision requirements due to computer work.
- Regular, predictable attendance is required.
- Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s degree in Child Development, Early Childhood Education, Special Education or related human services field required with expertise in Infant Early Childhood Mental Health
- 5 years of experience in early childhood, special education, IECMH, behavioral health, and/or family support systems.
- One-step Mantoux TB skin test prior to start of employment, unless has written proof of a negative test within past 12 months. For those who have previously tested positive, documented proof of treatment from a doctor or a negative chest x-ray must be provided
- Proof of MMR vaccine or positive MMR titer
- Completion of Akin and DCYF criminal history background check, including registry with MERIT to include fingerprinting.
- https://apps.dcyf.wa.gov/MERIT/Home/SignInRegister
- A valid driver's license and a favorable driving record, with no more than three violations within the past three years
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Master’s degree in Child Development, Early Childhood Education, Special Education or related human services field required with expertise in Infant Early Childhood Mental Health
- Bilingual and English and Spanish
- Infant Mental Health endorsement or interest in endorsement
- Experience with Promoting First Relationships (PFR),Circle of Security Facilitator, or similar programs
- Experience working in an ECEAP/preschool setting
- Experience providing reflective consultation and/or training with direct service professionals
SALARY RANGE AND BENEFITS:
We provide a comprehensive benefits package, including competitive pay, medical, dental and retirement benefits and paid time off. As required by various pay transparency laws, we share a competitive range of compensation for candidates hired into each position.
The target starting pay for this position is $28.74 - $34.48 per hour for those with a Bachelor's degree, and $32.28 - $38.74 per hour for those with a Master's degree, typically within the first half of the range. Actual offers will be based on individual qualifications relevant to the role and will not take an applicant’s pay history into account.
The range above allows our employees room for growth during their tenure in the position.