This position is part of the Head Start/Early Head Start Program supporting the Lynwood location.
Hours M-Thurs 8:30-5:30, flex Fri 8:30-4:30 JOB SUMMARY: Under the supervision of the Early Learning Center Area Director, the Mental Health Specialist performs a full-range of social casework and related service activities, including assessment of client needs and the development and implementation of social service plans to meet clients’ needs.
ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES: * Identify and analyze client needs for service and assists in setting priorities, exploring alternatives, and working with clients to resolve problems related to access to child education, child care, housing, money management, health care, citizenship, residence, and employment, training, and parental resources.
* Perform screenings, provides referrals and provides individual and group family therapy, crisis intervention and relevant medication and nutritional education.
* Review screenings for development, sensory and behavioral concerns, on-going observations and medical/dental appointments; to provide guidance to teaching staff on implementation of plans to support children with identified needs in order to best individualize programming.
* Provide information to clients about community resources and assist clients in accessing those resources.
* Investigate situations involving children who are reported to be endangered by abuse, neglect, exploitation, unsafe or hazardous living conditions, and take appropriate action and works with legal authorities to eliminate or reduce the possibility of endangerment, and/or report to appropriate agency.
* Conducts classroom observations, home observations and socialization observations to provide recommendations for evaluation or referrals for mental health services.
* Must be available to discuss individual concerns with parents and help them understand mental health issues and interventions.
* Make referrals as needed.
* Oversee partnerships with mental health treatment and agencies to provide services to families and children who cannot otherwise access mental health services or who have existing mental health providers.
* Participate in community and county advocacy groups for children’s mental health and community trainings helping develop on going resource and network.
* Assist clients and their relatives in locating alternative living arrangements.
* Take appropriate action on referrals from public and private agencies and other jurisdictions.
* Interact with public and private service agencies such as Social Security Administration, Legal Aid, and Public Guardians on behalf of clients.
* Will contact parents to share observations related to their child’s mental health, and seek out additional information as necessary.
* Assist clients with completing the application processes.
* Refer clients to legal counsel and makes referrals.
* Conduct home visits, as needed.
* QUALIFICATIONS: * Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in social work.
* Prefer experience working with at risk populations and/or experience working with children or families served by Head Start.
* Registered or in the process of registering for the BBS preferred.
* Bilingual Spanish.
HOW TO APPLY Internal Candidates (who have been in their current position for at least six months) may submit a Transfer Request Form to Human Resources.
Standard Mail St.
Anne’s
– Human Resources 155 N.
Occidental Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90026 Fax: (213) 385-1533 Via email: resume@stannes.org You may send your resume as a part of the body of your e-mail or attach it as a Microsoft Word document or PDF file.
Once a resume or application is submitted to St.
Anne’s it is screened and processed.
PLEASE DO NOT CALL to inquire about the status of your resume.
If you are deemed a good fit for any of our current openings, we will contact you for an interview.
Please note, St.
Anne’s conducts a physical, including tuberculosis and drug screen; fingerprinting and background check which includes Child Abuse Index, FBI and Department of Justice, as well as reference checks.
Thank you for your interest in St.
Anne’s!