Head Start Mental Health Consultant

Head Start Mental Health Consultant JobID: 4598 Position Type: Behavioral & Mental Health Services/Mental Health TherapistDate Posted: 9/24/2026Location: Gordon Early Literacy Center Closing Date: 10/2/2026 Additional Information: Show/HideA vacancy exists for a Head Start Mental Health Consultant within the CCIU's Division of Student Services. This position will be providing supporting Head Start programming across Chester County, and will be located at the Gordon Early Literacy Center in Coatesville, PA. Are you motivated to create brighter futures for students, families, and the entire community? If so, we want you on Team CCIU! At the CCIU, we pride ourselves on the creativity, dedication, and collaborative spirit that our employees bring to their work every day, and we know that achieving success together takes a team approach! We strive to hire exceptional, motivated, and passionate individuals that help us achieve our vision of acting as educational leaders who contribute to a better Chester County and beyond. If you are looking for an exciting, challenging opportunity to grow your career, don't wait apply today to make Team CCIU even stronger tomorrow!Summary:The Head Start Mental Health Consultant partners with program leadership, staff, families, and community agencies to promote the social-emotional well-being of children birth to five. This role emphasizes a consultative, prevention-focused model that builds the capacity of staff and families to support children's development, addresses challenging behaviors through evidence-based strategies, and strengthens connections between home, school, and community services. The MHC does not provide direct therapy as a primary function but instead works collaboratively to embed mental health supports into everyday practices, consistent with Head Start Program Performance Standards.Essential Job Responsibilities:Providing classroom consultation and coaching to support positive learning environments, social-emotional development, trauma-informed practices, and individualized behavior support.Collaborating with families by sharing strategies, resources, and guidance to support children's development and strengthen caregiver confidence.Supporting implementation of program-wide social-emotional frameworks, such as the Pyramid Model and PBIS, while delivering professional development on behavior guidance, trauma-informed care, and staff wellness.Working collaboratively with education, disability, health, family services, and community mental health partners to coordinate services and facilitate referrals.Assisting staff during challenging behaviors and crisis situations by developing proactive behavior support plans, coaching effective responses, and promoting suspension and expulsion prevention practices.Promoting staff well-being through reflective consultation, burnout prevention, resilience-building, and integration of staff wellness into program practices.Maintaining required documentation, supporting compliance with Head Start Program Performance Standards, and contributing to program planning and continuous quality improvement.Qualifications:Education and Experience:Master's degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or a related field requiredLicensed or license-eligible mental health professional requiredExperience working with young children (birth5) and families strongly preferredExperience in consultation, coaching, or early childhood settings strongly preferredExtensive knowledge of: Early childhood mental health, Trauma-informed care, Behavior support strategies and/or Pyramid Model Professional or Other Required ClearancesValid Driver's License requiredCurrent police, child abuse, FBI fingerprint, and NSOR clearances within 1 year requiredSchedule:210 day position, 7.5 hours per day, 5 days per weekSalary Range:Project, Level 14, $55,715.42 - $69,644.88/yr. Placement on scale commensurate to years of experience in similar positionsLBEqual Opportunity EmployerChester County Intermediate Unit is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Chester County Intermediate Unit ensures equal employment opportunities regardless of race, creed, gender, color, national origin, religion, age, sexual orientation or disability. Chester County Intermediate Unit has a policy of active recruitment of qualified minority teachers and non-certified employees. Any individual needing assistance in making an application for any opening should contact the Department of Human Resources at 484-237-5085.