Preschool-based, Early Childhood Clinician

Job Description Summary:

Job Description:

In the role of Early Childhood Clinician / Mental Health Consultant you will join the team at the Child Guidance Center of Southern Connecticut (CGC), an affiliate of Community Health Center, Inc. (CHC) since January 2020. CGC and our multidisciplinary teams have been serving the Greater Stamford community since 1954, providing mental health services to children birth to 18 and to their families across seven dynamic programs.

The Blended Early Childhood Clinician Mental Health Consultation Role

Working under the supervision of the Project Director: SAMHSA Early Childhood Therapeutic Partnership, the Clinician / Consultant will be primarily preschool-based to provide a blend of mental health consultation and clinical services to children and families served by CGC and our preschool project partner. This role is partially funded by five year SAMHSA grant (October 2022 to September 2027) and is hybrid position; 4 days per week are on-site in our project partner's Stamford, CT preschools and 1 day per week is remote/virtual. This is subject to change dependent on programmatic need.

Day to Day Responsibilities

• Mental Health ConsultationObserve assigned partner preschool classrooms monthlyGuide monthly reflective consultation with preschool classroom teachers, program administrators, and organization leadership individually and in small groups
• Preschool-based Mental Health ServicesComplete comprehensive, strength- and need-based child and family assessments, diagnoses and clinical formulationsCraft detailed care plans, responsive to the priorities of the family needs and strengths identified in the assessmentEngage families in individualized psychotherapeutic and psycho-educational caregiver and child interventions
• Utilize the agency’s electronic health record (EHR) system to ensure proper and timely completion of clinical documentation, program statistics, and outcome data, in compliance with all applicable agency, program, and government requirements and best practice standards
• Participate in weekly individual reflective supervision, administrative supervision, and CGC’s multidisciplinary consultation team meetings
• Actively participate in CHC/CGC’s exciting array of in-service trainings and staff development activities
• Other role related activities as needed

Clinical Experience You Bring (Preferred)

• Experience providing mental health diagnostic and treatment services to children (birth to 5 years) and families
• Functional practice knowledge in early childhood development; developmental, emotional and behavioral disorders; effects of trauma and environmental stressors on brain development; attachment theory; and mental health consultation.
• Experience in early care and education settings
• Ability to demonstrate an understanding of typical child development and grounding in at least one relevant orientation to treatment ( psychodynamic, trauma informed, family systems, etc.)
• Infant / Early Childhood Mental Health Endorsement by the Alliance for the Advancement of Infant Mental Health

What We Provide You

• Early Childhood specific training in the Pyramid Model for Supporting Social Emotional Competence in Infants and Young Children and Zero to Three’s DC:0–5 Diagnostic Classification of Mental Health and Developmental Disorders of Infancy and Early Childhood Clinical Training
• Training, consultation, and certification in evidence-based trauma treatment framework Attachment, Regulation, and Competency (ARC)
• Access to regular professional development opportunities via both CGC and CHC Grand Rounds series
• Annual funding and specially designated PTO to explore and support your personal continuing education interests
• Reimbursement for annual state clinical licensing fees
• Weekly individual reflective and administrative supervision
• Clinical supervision in required discipline for clinical licensure hours, as needed
• CHC’s complete and competitive benefits package

Education and Skills You Have (Required)

• Completion of a Master’s degree program that tracks to licensure in a mental health profession (Social Work, Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy)
• Licensed mental health professional in Connecticut, or eligible to immediately become licensed (LMSW, LCSW, LPC-A, LPC, LMFT-A, LMFT)
• Experience working with patients from culturally diverse backgrounds and the ability to center cultural humility and curiosity with your practice
• Verbal and written English fluency; candidates with fluency in Spanish, Haitian Creole, or another language widely spoken in our community is a plus
• Technical computer skills; including familiarity with Microsoft Office, Zoom, and EHR systems

Physical Requirements/Work Environment

• Hours will vary; our schedules range Monday-Friday from 7am-7pm and Saturdays.CGC does not work on Saturdays. In this role, hours will be based around our preschool project partners hours of operation
• Minimal physical effort. Must be able to operate computer and telephone continuously.
• Regular regional travel as necessary.In this role, most travel is local to Stamford. Mileage will be reimbursed