Mental Health Clinician

About the role

The Mental Health Clinician at CHCCAA plays a crucial role in advancing our mission to expand opportunities and build self-sufficiency for our community members. This position promotes the social-emotional and mental wellness of children and families enrolled in Head Start and Early Head Start programs.

Responsibilities

• Provide trauma-informed, developmentally appropriate mental health services to children and families enrolled in Head Start and Early Head Start programs.
• Conduct mental health screenings and assessments in partnership with education, health, and family services staff to identify children in need of additional support.
• Collaborate as an active member of the multidisciplinary team—including Disabilities Coordinators, Instructional Coaches, teachers, family service workers, and health staff—to develop and implement individualized support strategies that address the unique needs of each child.
• Engage families as essential partners in their child’s mental health and social-emotional development through regular consultation, education, and collaborative planning.
• Deliver short-term counseling, coaching, or play-based interventions to children exhibiting emotional or behavioral concerns.
• Absorb families in accessing appropriate community-based mental health services and ensure ongoing coordination and follow-up with service providers.
• Maintain clear, confidential, and timely documentation of all services in compliance with HIPAA, agency policies, and Head Start Performance Standards.
• Conduct classroom observations to assess individual child behavior, group dynamics, and the overall social-emotional climate.
• Work collaboratively with teaching teams, Instructional Coaches, and Disabilities Coordinators to develop and implement classroom strategies that support inclusion, regulation, and engagement for all children.
• Provide ongoing consultation and reflective support to classroom staff in managing challenging behaviors and promoting positive, responsive teacher-child interactions.
• Support teachers in implementing individualized behavior support plans developed through the CONCERN process or multidisciplinary team consultation.
• Offer coaching and mental health-informed strategies that help staff build resilience and respond effectively to stress, secondary trauma, and challenging classroom situations.
• Promote a culture of wellness through regular staff engagement, resource sharing, and mental health awareness activities.
• Develop and deliver high-quality professional development for staff on topics including trauma-informed care, social-emotional development, behavioral guidance, and staff wellness.
• Collaborate with program leadership and multidisciplinary team members to ensure integration of mental health supports across education, family services, and health systems.
• Use data and observation trends to inform continuous quality improvement and guide the development of mental health and wellness initiatives.
• Contribute to program self-assessment, community needs assessment, and strategic planning efforts as they relate to mental health services and outcomes.
• Provide timely support and guidance in response to behavioral or emotional crises involving children, families, or staff.
• Partner with classroom staff and the multidisciplinary team to stabilize the immediate situation and develop a plan for follow-up support.
• Assist in debriefing and supporting staff after crisis events, and ensure access to additional resources or referrals as needed.
• Respond to family mental health needs in times of trauma, loss, or other high-stress circumstances, and connect families to appropriate external resources.
• Support staff in managing their own well-being in the wake of stressful or traumatic events in the classroom or program.

Qualifications and Requirements

• Master’s degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or a related field required.
• Independent clinical licensure (e.g., LISW, LPCC, LMFT) required.
• At least three years of experience providing mental health services to young children (ages 0-5) and families, preferably in early childhood or educational settings.
• Knowledge of early childhood development, trauma-informed care, and family systems theory.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary, team-based environment.
• Commitment to working with diverse populations and facilitating culturally responsive mental health practices.
• Proficiency in using technology and electronic health or child development record systems.
• Bilingual (Spanish or other languages) knowledge preferred.
• Experience in a Head Start or early childhood education program preferred.
• Knowledge of local community resources and the ability to make appropriate referrals.

Position-Specific Competencies

• Communication – able to effectively exchange information with others through verbal, nonverbal, and written methods.
• Customer service - willingness and ability to provide high-quality support, assistance and solutions wherever needed.
• Interpersonal - can effectively interact, communicate and build positive relationships with others.
• Listening – active and empathetic listener with the patience to hear people out and understand their needs or concerns, even when they are under stress.
• Organization – able to multi-task, prioritize work and meet deadlines with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Problem-solving - can effectively recognize, assess and resolve issues.
• Initiative/Proactiveness - willing to take the lead, show initiative, and drive tasks or projects forward without constant supervision.

Other Requirements

• A valid driver's license and valid automobile insurance must be maintained.
• Must have reliable Wi-Fi access to support remote work as needed.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements

• Work Location – Main office is 1740 Langdon Farm Road, Cincinnati, Ohio, but will be required to travel to different Head Start centers and occasional travel to meet with families or partner agencies.
• Work Hours – generally 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, with flexibility to support some evening or weekend availability as needed.
• Onsite work is in an office and early education classroom environment.
• This position is eligible for remote work up to two days per week, defined by department schedules, assuming all eligibility and performance criteria are met and maintained.
• Hybrid work is not guaranteed and may be withdrawn or changed at management discretion.
• Planned and unplanned travel to and from Head Start Center and other C-HCCAA or meeting/conference locations, including overnight and/or out of town travel may be required.
• Physical Requirements: Use hands to manipulate, handle, feel, and control items or equipment Walk, bend, kneel, and reach Lift a 20-60 lb. child, using all safety precautions Stand, sit, and play with infants and toddlers for long periods of time Conduct both outdoor and indoor activities, in both warm and cold temperatures Talk, hear, and communicate with parents See and be able to read, write, and interpret written documents.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Cincinnati-Hamilton County Community Action Agency is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.