The Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) Licensed Clinical Consultant is a fully integrated staff role dedicated to promoting 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 rooted in reflective, relationship-based practices tailored to individual needs. The IECMH Licensed Clinical Consultant build strong therapeutic relationships with caregiving adults to understand, assess, and respond to children’s needs. Leveraging clinical expertise, responsibilities include case conceptualization, development of individualized support plans, and implementation of effective intervention strategies. As part of a multidisciplinary team within the Mental and Behavioral Health Continuum of Care, the role provides screening, specialized support for complex cases, facilitates referrals, and collaborates with care teams to ensure appropriate interventions and levels of care. Through these tailored approaches, 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.

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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.

• Use clinical knowledge to provide evidence-based IECMH behavior consultation and therapeutic support at child/family, classroom, and programmatic levels, following YMCA’s workflow, caseload, and service timelines
• Conduct assessments, screenings, and observations in natural settings to identify needs and inform individualized support plans
• Develop and implement tailored intervention strategies in collaboration with families and early care providers to promote social and emotional development in children birth–age eight
• Educate and support staff, caregivers, and community partners on child development, mental health, and treatment planning
• Facilitate psychoeducation workshops and training for families and early childhood providers to strengthen relationally based care
• Maintain warm relationships with families, providers, and partners to foster trust and collaboration
• Engage in reflective practice, peer case consultation, and collaborative problem-solving to address complex cases and improve services
• Document case records, progress notes, and program data accurately and on time; collect and report outcomes to meet grant and program goals
• Participate in professional development to maintain licensure, and share expertise through team training, mentoring, and shadowing
• Contribute to cross-departmental initiatives, community outreach, and program development to align with 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

Education:

• Master’s Degree in Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, Social Work (ASW) or Professional Clinical Counselor is required AND,

Years of Experience:

• A minimum of five (5) years of experience in any of the following or a combination thereof:
  • Type of Experience:
    • Clinical experience serving infants, toddlers, and young children (birth–age eight) and their caregivers
    • Coaching, training, or consultation provided in early childhood settings
    • Working in early childhood settings, such as early education, home visiting, family support programs
    • 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
    • Facilitating trainings, workshops, or professional development on child development, attachment, or social-emotional learning
    • Engaging and partnering with families, educators, and community providers using reflective and trauma-informed approaches
    • Collaborating across systems such as education, healthcare, and social services to improve outcomes for children and families
  • Setting/Environment:
    • Professional experience in early childhood settings 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 or mental health setting

License & Certification:

• Licensed by the State of California Board of Behavioral Sciences; Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) required

JOB COMPETENCIES: 

• Strong understanding of infant and early childhood mental health, social-emotional development, and behavior support strategies
• Ability to support families, childcare providers, and staff in emotionally challenging circumstances with empathy and professionalism
• Excellent verbal, written, and listening skills for interacting effectively with children, families, coworkers, and community partners
• Strong collaboration skills for navigating complex systems and working with community partners and interdisciplinary teams
• Strong interpersonal, time management, and organizational skills; detail-oriented and dependable.
• Self-motivated, proactive, and flexible; able to work independently while navigating shifting priorities and minimal supervision
• Self-aware and open to feedback; engages in reflective practice and continuous learning
• Ability to work respectfully and effectively with individuals from all backgrounds and communities
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and capable of maintaining organized, professional documentation
• Ability to respond to emergencies, lift 25–50 pounds, and participate in physical group activities; must sit at a computer for extended periods
• Flexibility to work occasional evenings and weekends to support trainings, events, or presentations as needed

PRE-HIRE CONTINGENCIES:

• Licensing, state law and our funders require that applicants of critical positions within Community Support Services be fingerprinted, prior to reporting to work, and include subsequent arrest notifications  
• CPR/AED, and First Aid Certification, must include Adult and Child/Infant, within 30 days of hire, and must be from one of the following certifying organizations: American Red Cross, American Heart Association, or American Safety and Health Institute
• Position may require additional clearances in order to comply with all program, licensing, state law, and funding requirements: 
  
  • Negative TB test results obtained within the past one year, prior to first day, and annually thereafter, as required
  • Exclusion and Debarment checks prior to first day and monthly thereafter

YMCA will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the San Diego County Fair Chance Ordinance and the California Fair Chance Act. You do not need to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until a conditional job offer is made to you. After making a conditional offer and running a background check, if the YMCA is concerned about conviction that is directly related to the job, you will be given the opportunity to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide mitigating evidence, or challenge the accuracy of the background report. Find out more about the Fair Chance Ordinance by visiting the San Diego County Office of Labor Standards and Enforcement.