Sample Job Description

Head Start Program Mental Health Consultant Position Description

Summary

The mental health consultant is responsible for providing early childhood MHC support to Head Start staff, children, and families. The mental health consultant will provide a broad range of services, including early childhood MHC in classrooms and through home visits; training and coaching staff; screening, assessment, and referral services; promotion and marketing of group services; and providing family trainings. The mental health consultant will also collect data, maintain records, and support compliance in all facets of Head Start Program Performance Standards and state regulations.

Duties and Tasks

1. General Consultation and Coaching (40%)

• Collaborate with staff to explore child development information related to social and emotional development and mental health.
• Provide guidance to staff on selecting, implementing, and interpreting social and emotional screening and assessment tools and findings.
• Answer questions about developmentally appropriate activities for children and effective ways to work with and support young children.
• Provide strengths-based feedback to classrooms on an annual basis.
• Meet with classroom teams to review staff’s classroom observations and develop and implement plans as needed.

2. Staff Training (10%)

• Support, coordinate, and provide staff trainings related to social and emotional and mental health issues at least once per quarter.

3. Programmatic Consultation (5%)

• Participate in weekly staff team meetings.
• Participate in the development and implementation of the mental health program and policy.

4. Family Training (5%)

• Recruit participants for at least one family training per year.
• Coordinate and facilitate family training.

5. Individualized Child- and Family-centered Observations and Consultation (20%)

• Conduct observations and assessments of individual children as assigned or referred for consultation.
• Meet with families to consult on child and family needs and create or follow up on plans to support these needs.

6. Individual Child Screening, Assessment, and Referral (5%)

• Review standardized developmental, behavioral, and social and emotional screens and assessments for individual children as assigned or referred for consultation.
• Provide child and family referral and follow-up to community services.

7. Home Visiting (10%)

• Conduct home visits to support the mental health needs of families and children.
• Provide guidance and model developmentally appropriate activities for children and effective ways to work with and support young children.

8. Other (5%)

• Participate in regular supervision with the administrator and clinical supervisor.
• Contribute to federal, state, and local reporting requirements.

Supervision

The mental health consultant will report to the Head Start administrator, who will assign and oversee the work of the consultant. Supervision meetings will occur on a weekly basis between the administrator and the consultant. Performance evaluations will be conducted at 6 and 12 months post-hire, and annually thereafter. The mental health consultant will also participate in biweekly clinical supervision with a licensed professional, who is contracted with the Head Start site.

Knowledge

• Demonstrated understanding of infant and early childhood mental health
• Demonstrated understanding of differences in mental health services and concepts across cultures
• Demonstrated knowledge of child mental health services system
• Demonstrated experience with clinical documentation
• Experience formulating and writing assessments and support plans, preferably for young children
• Experience with evidence-based practices and curricula to promote early childhood mental health desirable (e.g., Incredible Years, Parents as Teachers)
• Knowledge of Head Start programs is desirable

Skills

• Build and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with service providers and families.
• Partner with providers as a member of a team.
• Lead and facilitate provider training and family education groups.
• Conduct standardized screens and assessments, preferably for young children.
• Use results of screens and assessments to guide work with families, set goals, and develop individualized plans.
• Refer providers and families to appropriate community services.
• Communicate effectively with groups both verbally and in writing.
• Organize tasks and manage time effectively.

Education and Training

• Master’s degree required, preferably in social work, psychology, counseling, or related field
• Clinical license (if not licensed, the consultant must be under the supervision of a licensed mental health professional)
• Minimum of two years of direct experience in a mental health setting providing prevention services or mental health therapy to children and families
• Bilingual or bicultural English-Spanish strongly preferred

Other Requirements

• Ability to manage physically active children ages 3 to 5, including guiding, pursuing, restraining them, and withstanding sudden movements
• Ability to occasionally lift up to 50 pounds
• Must have valid driver’s license and proof of insurance, or must have acceptable alternative transportation
• Maintain first aid and CPR certification
• Maintain compliance with Criminal History Registry

Last Updated: August 6, 2025