Mental Health Professional/School Counselor

Position Type:

Early Childhood/Early Childhood

Date Posted:

4/10/2024

Location:

Long Early Learning Center

Date Available:

08/01/2024

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Primary Purpose:

The Mental Health Professional/School Counselor, under the direction of the Head Start Director and guidance of the Mental Health Coordinator, is responsible for promoting a climate conducive to positive mental health practices and for the implementation of the mental health plan in compliance with Federal program performance standards on the campus to which he or she is assigned. Responsible for guidance and counseling services of school(s) to which assigned.

Performance Responsibilities:

• Assist in the development of the mental health plan in cooperation with the Policy Council, Mental Health Coordinator, other component coordinators, and staff.

• Implement the mental health plan on the campus assigned in cooperation with the Mental Health Coordinator, and campus staff.

• Track mental health activities contained in the mental health plan, keeping accurate records, and maintaining confidentiality.

• Serve as an advocate for mental health within the Head Start program. Emphasizing wellness and the promotion of good mental health practices.

• Identify and work with available mental health resources in the community. Maintain a list of community resources which are available to assist children, families, and staff as needed for referral and treatment.

• Interact with other component coordinators on issues relating to mental health.

• Assist other staff members in providing an atmosphere of warmth, acceptance, and friendliness in which each child can feel self-worth, acceptance, achievement, and affection.

• Observe students who exhibit atypical behaviors and work with teachers, other staff members, and parents to determine appropriate behavior management strategies. Refer to outside agencies and/ or the special education department if and when appropriate. Meet with parents individually, make home visits, and assist parents with personal concerns as requested.

• Provide guidance to classrooms to aid the student in developing self-understanding, self-acceptance, self-discipline, and problem-solving skills. Provide classroom guidance lessons for students.

• Participate in Response to Intervention (RTI) meetings to help determine a course of action to be taken to best meet the needs of a student suspected of having a disability or behavior concern.

• Prepare transition information to be sent to the elementary counselor for each child seen in the counseling program.

• Distribute monthly mental health suggestions to all teachers to use in their classrooms. Write mental health tips for the monthly newsletter to be sent out to parents.

• Assist in monthly staff meetings with such topics as child development, promoting acceptance of children, multicultural activities, etc.

• Train staff and parents in management techniques that prevent discipline problems. These techniques might include but are not limited to setting up positive classroom rules and discipline plans; rewarding desirable behavior; setting reasonable/developmentally appropriate expectations for four-year-olds; and emphasizing the importance of teacher/parent modeling of desired behaviors.

• Assist in and conduct parent meetings which emphasize the above.

• Serve as liaison for child abuse reporting. Assure that district policy is followed in regard to child abuse reporting. Maintain child abuse reporting forms.

• Meet with teachers after classroom observations to discuss the observations and suggest ways to improve as needed. Provide individualized assistance upon request

• Attend various meetings and conferences both in the community and out-of-district concerning social problems such as drugs, crime, suicide, behavior management techniques, child abuse, etc., to keep up on current practices. Attend meetings in the community in which community resources are discussed. 19. Confer with parents when referrals to outside mental health providers are needed, stressing the positive advantages of such services.

• Advise and assist in developmental screening and assessment.

• Provide crisis intervention for students, parents, and staff.

• Communicate frequently and openly with staff members.

• Work in collaboration with community agencies to secure partnership agreements for services to families and children.

• Participate actively as a member of the EC Development and Health Advisory Services Team.

• Participate actively in scheduled interdisciplinary case management meetings to assure continuity of comprehensive service delivery.

• Meet monthly with Early Head Start Mental Health Coordinator, Head Start Mental Health Coordinator, and contracted LPC.

• Coordinate Red Ribbon Week activities for students and staff.

• Counsel individual students and small groups of students for maximum personal growth and effective social development.

• Participate in self-assessment and planning for program improvement.

• Perform other duties as assigned by the Director/Principal

Wage/Hour Status: Exempt

Pay Grade: Administrative-Professional 3

This document describes the general purpose and responsibilities assigned to this job and is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties that may be assigned or skills that may be required.

The Abilene ISD does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Employment decisions will be made on the basis of each applicant's job qualifications, experience, and abilities.

Attachment(s):

• EC Mental Health Professional-School Counselor .pdf