Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist

Title: Infant Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC)

Team: Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health

Status: Non Exempt
Updated: April 2026

Reporting relationships:

Reports to: Infant Early Childhood Mental Health Coordinator, who will assign and oversee the work of the Consultant. In addition, supervision on this project will occur across three levels: model adherence, data input, and reflective/data/group supervision. The additional supervision will be supported by the Early Care & Learning Council, and project consultants.

The Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant (IECMHC) will promote young

children’s social and emotional development by building the confidence, competencies

and skills of caregivers, early care and education staff and systems. The IECMHC will

provide a broad range of services focusing on supporting the relationships between

children ages birth-5 years and the caregivers in their lives. Services include but are not

limited to classroom and programmatic assessments, and consultation cycles to

teaching staff, center directors, childcare providers, and caregivers. Guidance and

project model structure is carried out in partnership with the Early Care and Learning

Council and NYS OCFS. Overall, the goal of the IECMHC project is to utilize a

collaborative, reflective and problem-solving approach, in order to reduce challenging

behaviors, increase pro-social behaviors, impact occurrences of expulsions and

suspensions in early care and education settings, and improve the greater early-education culture.

• 1.Offer consultation that reflects and respects the philosophy of early childhood mental health practices, the assigned program, and that is culturally responsive to the child, the caregiver, and the early care and education setting.
• 2.Assess strengths and challenges within the infant and early childhood setting/environment, as well as teacher/provider practice.
• 3.Support infant and early childhood staff in creating a prosocial learning environment, that is emotionally safe, responsive, and growth promoting by co-developing and implementing classroom plans, specifically designed for each classroom.
• 4.Share resources for social-emotional learning in early care and education environments.
• 5.Guide use of developmental, social and emotional screening tools.
• 6.Support infant and early childhood staff with classroom management strategies to promote the social-emotional development for children in their care.
• 7.Develop and conduct a continuum of training, technical assistance and coaching support for providers, caregivers, and community members
• 8.Maintain participation, service and evaluation records per agency and funder standards.
• 9.Stay current with research, regulations and best practice in the infant and early childhood education mental health fields.
• 10.Incorporate the perspectives of multiple communities, including communities of color, in consideration of the impacts and outcomes of the work.
• 11.Assist infant and early childhood programs in building appropriate referral networks and processes for connecting with outside community-based services.
• 12.Collaborate with early care and education program administration to develop inclusive policies for working with all children.
• 13.Collaborate with early care and education program administration to implement effective policies that promote effective self-care strategies for staff.
• 14.Participate in ongoing continuing education, which may include, but is not limited to the following topics: IECMH best/evidence-based practices, Adverse Childhood Experiences, Cultural Diversity & Humility, DC 0-5 Assessment, Early Childhood Mental Health Assessment and Strategies.
• 15.Complete all required documentation timely and accurately.
• 16.Attend all required supervision meetings including but not limited to: model, data, agency/ departmental
• 17.Participate in monthly data and evaluation support calls with outside partners to assure the consistent & accurate use of data collection systems.
• 18.Data analysis for interpretation & planning for quality improvement
• 19.Maintain documentation specific to position.
• 20.Maintain…