Child Development Specialist (ECI)

About the role

The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD (“The HARRIS CENTER”) is looking for a Child Development Specialist to join our team. The position provides Early Childhood Intervention Services, including referral, assessment, intervention, and service coordination for infants and toddlers birth to 3 years old and their families. The Harris Center is the state-designated Local Mental Health Authority and Local Intellectual and Developmental Disability (IDD) Authority serving Harris County, Texas. As the largest behavioral and developmental disability care center in Texas, it serves over 90,000 people with an annual budget exceeding $300 million, operates at 80 sites, and provides services in more than 40 languages plus sign language.

Responsibilities

• Conducts telephone interviews to process referrals and schedule initial evaluations and initial Individual Family Service Plans [IFSP]
• Assesses development for initial and annual eligibility
• Assesses development and ongoing progress to meet the needs of the child and family
• Develops initial IFSPs with team members including the family
• Schedules and reviews IFSPs every 6 months and annually
• Provides Specialized Skills Training to address developmental needs
• Provides Service Coordination to address child and family needs
• Documents every contact and attempts to contact families electronically
• Submits electronic documentation according to agency policy
• Meets requirements to comply with ECI procedural safeguards and confidentiality
• Meets ECI and agency required training policies
• Meets annual requirements to renew EIS Certificate
• Conducts chart audits to meet ECI policies and procedures
• Provides written audit feedback to managers and staff
• Provides ECI required and ongoing training
• Maintains accuracy of EIS Registry
• Assesses ECI training needs
• Develops IPDPs and monitors completion of ECI CSPD
• Provides mentoring visits to complete CSPD activities and as needed
• Contributes to suicide care and prevention by embracing our values and applying a trauma‑informed approach rooted in safety, trust, choice, collaboration, and empowerment

Requirements

Education: Bachelor’s degree (B.A.) or equivalent in Social Science, or a degree with a minimum of 18 credit hours of Social Science courses; a university transcript is required to verify applicable coursework if the degree is not in the social sciences.

Experience: Experience working with children from birth to three years old is preferred.

Other: Texas Driver’s License required.

Skills

The candidate must have well‑developed interpersonal, organizational, and problem‑solving skills, be a team player with a desire to provide a high level of customer service, possess strong verbal and written communication skills, interact effectively at all levels within the organization, demonstrate strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work within a team environment, be cooperative and willing to assist others, and have excellent organizational skills.

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Robust retirement plan with generous company matching
• Prior service credit that accelerates Paid Time Off accrual
• Cell phone discounts
• Exclusive entertainment deals through Tickets at Work
• Free Headspace subscription for mental wellness
• Employee Assistance Program supporting overall well‑being
• Significant financial relief through student loan forgiveness programs (eligible as a qualifying entity)