Infant Toddler Specialist, Los Angeles, CA (Temporary)

WestEd is a community of over 1,400 researchers, practitioners, consultants, and administrative professionals dedicated to making a qualitative difference in the lives of youth, children, and adults. We conduct and apply research, develop evidence-based solutions, and provide consulting services to improve equitable outcomes for individuals from infancy through adulthood. Serving as trusted partners in education, health, and justice, our teams enhance capacity within communities and school districts through customized methodologies, tools, and best practices.

About the Role

Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC) Network Consultants (Specialists) provide direct in-person and virtual support to center-based administrators, teachers, staff, and home-based care providers. Assignments are matched based on geographic location, expertise, program needs, and consultant availability. The IECMHC Network team coordinates referrals, intake processes, and provides resources, including individual and group reflective practice.

Consultants adopt a diversity-informed, reflective, and relationship-based approach to help providers build capacity in:

• Responding effectively to children’s developmental, social, emotional, and behavioral health needs.
• Considering relationships influencing young children’s relational health and well-being.
• Engaging in self-reflection about personal values, perceptions, beliefs, and cultural connections.
• Reframing children’s behavior to problem-solve and practice new responses.
• Understanding the impact of trauma and developing trauma-responsive approaches.
• Developing inclusive and equitable policies and procedures.
• Promoting staff/provider health and well-being.
• Increasing awareness and connection to community resources.

Consultant hours are intermittent and vary based on program needs and availability.

Responsibilities

• Provide PITC training and technical assistance/coaching to assigned sites, including:
  • Collaborating with administrative staff to negotiate and implement services.
  • Documenting professional growth hours via participant sign-in sheets.
  • Providing instruction and grading for students enrolled for academic credit.
  • Submitting training schedules, quality improvement plans, and monthly progress comments in established data systems.
  • Submitting weekly timesheets and monthly travel/expense claims by the 5th of each month.
• Participate in onboarding orientation and monthly check-in meetings with the Regional Coordinator.
• Attend professional development events/meetings, including:
  • Annual Advanced Training for PITC Infant/Toddler Specialists.
  • Regional and statewide network meetings.
  • Annual observation and feedback of service delivery by the Regional Coordinator.

Requirements

• Bilingual and biliterate English/Spanish preferred.
• Certification in the Program for Infant/Toddler Care Modules I-IV (Certification in Beginning Together (PITC Module V) preferred).
• BA or higher (MA preferred) in Early Childhood Education or a related field. If BA or higher is in a related field, 24 units in Early Childhood Education are required.
• Completion of California Early Childhood Online Infant/Toddler Learning and Development Foundations and Framework Overviews.
• Experience working with infants/toddlers and families in center-based, family child care, or family, friend, and neighbor settings.
• Minimum 3 years’ experience providing training and technical assistance to infant/toddler center-based and family child care programs.
• Experience supporting program staff with strategies for implementation and change.
• Experience working with diverse communities.
• Computer access and ability to submit required documents electronically.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States. WestEd conducts criminal background checks and education verification for all new hires.

Pay

$55 per hour

Schedule

Intermittent hours, varying based on program needs and consultant availability. Remote work is allowed for this role.

Benefits

For details about benefits, visit WestEd’s benefits page.