Preschool Behavioral Health Specialist - Temporary

The City of Seattle wants every child to have the opportunity to succeed in their education. This journey starts with providing access to high-quality early education to our youngest learners. To achieve this goal, Seattle is investing in early learning programs that aim to provide high-quality early childhood education. The Department of Education & Early Learning (DEEL) has observed a rise in challenging behavior among children enrolled in the Seattle Preschool Program (SPP) and are struggling to serve them, impacting our ability to meet every child’s needs. We are looking for two Preschool Behavioral Health Specialists to provide direct interventions to support children exhibiting severe behavioral challenges. Without intense early intervention, the challenging behavior these children are exhibiting will continue to escalate, resulting in long-term negative educational and life outcomes. 

These two positions are expected to begin in March 2024 and last through the 2024-2025 academic school year. The work of these positions will be broken into three main components:

• Leading up to the start of the 2024-2025 academic school year, you will identify and map out a plan to reduce the impact of behavioral, mental, and developmental problems of children enrolled in the Seattle Preschool Program
• You will spend the academic year providing individual child care plans, in-class interventions, and ongoing assessments, including meeting with educators, coaches, public health staff, and parents and family members
• Finally, at the end of the academic year, you will work with Seattle/King County Public Health and DEEL to design, develop, and recommend a proven long-term comprehensive plan for DEEL to address and respond to intensive child behavior and mental and developmental challenges going forward

Here’s more about what you’ll be doing:

• Developing a comprehensive plan of how to meet the needs of children enrolled in SPP exhibiting challenging behaviors, including protocols, policies, and processes, which will be used internally with DEEL’s coaches and externally with DEEL’s partners we contract with
• Responding to agencies with urgent needs for help with children exhibiting challenging behaviors that can’t be managed by the existing staff and team
• Developing and implementing individual child care plans 
• Providing in-class interventions
• Training teachers and agency directors on intervention plans 
• Presenting professional development to teachers, coaches, and administrators
• Aligning services and interventions with existing teaching instruction and curriculum
• Developing and documenting a guide for DEEL employees to follow going forward  
  

You will be most successful in this role if you possess a combination of the following:

Knowledge of:

• Professional social work principles, methodology, and ethics
• Intervention strategies for children
• Brief therapy theories and techniques and understanding of therapeutic process
• Child psycho-social development within the context of the family, community, school, and culture
• Resources, community education, and health resources available 
• Standard software applications, such as Word, Excel, and Outlook
• Child development (Birth to 6)

Skills or Certification in:

• Infant Mental Health
• Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) or Licensed Mental Health Counselor 
• Special Education
• Child advocacy 
• Case management 
• Communicating in one or more languages in addition to English 
• Rapid response and support of urgent needs in the classroom

Ability to:

• Successfully apply appropriate interventions and best practice models of care based on a variety of client presentations
• Provide professional consultation to manage complex and difficult cases related to challenging behaviors and children impacted by trauma
• Communicate, both orally and in writing, to foster and maintain a variety of interpersonal relationships in a multidisciplinary team
• Triage services across a diverse team of professionals to respond appropriately to intensive child/family and program needs
• Travel in a timely manner within the city of Seattle to locations that may have limited access to public transportation 
• Collaborate with teachers, site Directors, members of DEEL, and Seattle/King County Public Health 
• Help people with a variety of cultural and linguistic backgrounds 
• Multitask and complete tasks on schedule 

In addition to the qualities mentioned above, you will need to possess the below required qualifications (or a combination of education, training or experience which provides an equivalent background required to perform the work of the class):

• Three years of experience involving interviewing, counseling, crisis intervention, child therapy, planning and delivering interventions for young children with significant behavioral challenges (including evaluation and assessment), or a related field
• Bachelor’s Degree in Social Services, Psychology, Behavioral Sciences, Mental Health, Behavioral Health, Clinical Social Work, Child Development, Special Education, Infant Mental Health, or other related field

OR

• Four years of experience involving interviewing, counseling, crisis intervention, child therapy, planning and delivering interventions for young children with significant behavioral challenges (including evaluation and assessment), or a related field
• Associate Degree in Social Services, Psychology, Behavioral Sciences, Mental Health, Behavioral Health, Clinical Social Work, Child Development, Special Education, Infant Mental Health, or other related field

OR

• Five years of experience involving interviewing, counseling, crisis intervention, child therapy, planning and delivering interventions for young children with significant behavioral challenges (including evaluation and assessment), or a related field

OR

• Two years of experience involving interviewing, counseling, crisis intervention, child therapy, planning and delivering interventions for young children with significant behavioral challenges (including evaluation and assessment), or a related field
• Master’s Degree in Social Services, Psychology, Behavioral Sciences, Mental Health, Behavioral Health, Clinical Social Work, Child Development, Special Education, Infant Mental Health, or other related field

In addition to:

• A valid driver’s license
• Ability to pass a criminal background check

This benefits-eligible temporary position is classified as a Counselor*. It is expected to last until May 2025. The full pay range for this step-progression position is $33.78 - $39.28 per hour. New employees begin at Step 1 of the pay progression, which is $33.78 hourly. Current City employees’ starting rate of pay will be based on Personnel Rules regarding promotions.

Interviews for this position are tentatively scheduled for Monday, February 12 and/or Tuesday, February 13, with the second round of interviews scheduled for Wednesday, February 21, 2024.

The work associated with this position will require daily travel to provide on-site coaching and counseling throughout Seattle and parts of King County. The work is expected to be a hybrid combination of telecommuting and onsite work and meetings, as directed by business needs.

Applicants must successfully pass a background check, which will be conducted in accordance with Seattle’s Fair Chance Employment Ordinance, SMC 14.17. Applicants will be given a chance to explain or correct background information and provide verifiable information of good conduct and rehabilitation.

DEEL supports the City of Seattle’s Race and Social Justice Initiative to end institutionalized racism by eliminating barriers to access, providing the staff and public with opportunities for growth, and developing equitable access to the programs and services we offer.  If you share those values and meet the qualifications, we invite you to apply for this position. Please visit http://www.seattle.gov/education to learn more about the Department of Education & Early Learning.

The City of Seattle recognizes every City employee must play a role in ending institutional and structural racism. Our culture is the result of our behavior, our personal commitments, and the ways we courageously share our perspectives and encourage others to do the same. To cultivate an antiracist culture, we seek employees who will engage in the Race and Social Justice Initiative by working to dismantle racist policies and procedures, unlearn the way things have always been done, and provide equitable processes and services.

The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents. More information about employee benefits is available on the City's website at: https://www.seattle.gov/human-resources/benefits/employees-and-covered-family-members/temporary-benefits-eligible-employees. 

APPLICATION PROCESS:

Please submit your application at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/seattle/ no later than 4:00pm Pacific Time on Tuesday, January 30, 2024. To be considered for this benefits-eligible temporary position, in addition to completing your application fully, please attach:

• A PDF of your current resume which illustrates your related skills, experience, and abilities
• Cover Letter explaining your interest in this opportunity with the Department of Education & Early Learning and capability to perform in this role

This benefits-eligible temporary position is open to all candidates that meet the minimum qualifications. The Department of Education & Early Learning values diverse perspectives and life experiences. Applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, disability, religious or political affiliation, age, sexual orientation, medical condition, or pregnancy. The Department of Education & Early Learning encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with diverse life experiences. If you have questions please contact Lindsey King at Lindsey.King@seattle.gov. 

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