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.

• 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

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
• 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.