Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant

Overview

The Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) Consultant is a fully integrated staff role that supports the social and emotional development of children from birth through age eight. This role works directly with parents, caregivers, and childcare providers to deliver evidence-informed behavioral consultation, grounded in reflective relationships tailored to individual needs. The IECMH Consultant partners with caregiving adults to understand, assess, and respond to children's needs by developing individualized support plans and intervention strategies. As part of a multidisciplinary team within the Mental and Behavioral Health Continuum of Care, the role focuses on strengthening adult capacities to nurture healthy child development. Aligned with the Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development’s model, it is a staff role, not an independent contractor or external consultant.

Learn more about YMCA Community Support Services programs CLICK HERE For more on Employee Perks, click on this link: Employee Benefits | YMCA of San Diego County (ymcasd.org)

 

WORK DESIGNATION: 

• Hybrid (must work within San Diego County Region)
  • Meet twice a month for staff meetings, trainings, an department events
    • Please note that the work designation may change based on business needs.

PROGRAM SUMMARY:

The IECMH Consultation team supports young children ages 0-8 while supporting caregivers at both home and school to: understand the meaning of challenging behavior, identify and implement strategies to support at home and school setting, and increase capacity building for caregivers.

 

Responsibilities

• Provide evidence-based IECMH consultation at child/family, classroom, and program levels, following YMCA’s workflow, caseload expectations, and timelines
• Conduct social and emotional assessments, screenings, and observations in natural settings to inform individualized support plans
• Collaborate with families and early care providers to design, implement, and monitor strategies that respond to individual needs and promote holistic child development (birth–age 8)
• Educate and support caregivers and staff on child development, mental health, and treatment planning, including guidance on selecting quality early learning settings
• Facilitate workshops and trainings for families and providers to strengthen community-wide understanding and application of IECMH best practices
• Build and maintain warm, collaborative relationships with families, providers, and community partners to foster trust and engagement
• Participate in reflective practice, case consultation, and cross-departmental collaboration to ensure continuity of care and program integration
• Maintain accurate, timely documentation and track program data to monitor outcomes, meet grant deliverables, and support quality improvement
• Engage in professional development, share learnings with the team, and participate in outreach events to promote YMCA Youth & Family Services programs
• Contribute to program development by fostering a collaborative, adaptable team dynamic that responds to evolving community needs
• Other duties as assigned

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:

• Must have access to reliable transportation to travel regularly throughout San Diego County
• Occasional in-state and out-of-state travel

Qualifications

EDUCATION:

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, human development, child development or a related field, or equivalent related experience is required AND,

YEARS OF EXPERIENCE:

• A minimum of three (3) years of experience in any of the following or a combination thereof:
  • Type of Experience:
    • Direct service or case management with young children and their families
    • Working in early childhood settings, such as early education, home visiting, family support programs
    • Coaching, training, or consultation provided to early childhood professionals
    • Application of knowledge of early childhood systems, developmental milestones, and community resources
    • Working with children—including those with developmental disabilities—adolescents, and families with a variety of experiences
  • Setting/Environment:
    • Professional experience in early childhood environments such as childcare centers, preschools, Head Start/Early Head Start programs, home visiting, or family childcare settings, with emphasis on the social and emotional development of children

JOB COMPETENCIES:

• Strong understanding of infant and early childhood mental health, social-emotional development, and behavior support strategies