Head Start Mental Health Specialist

Job Description:

Head Start Mental Health Specialist

Description

Job Posting Closes at 11:59PM on:
05/21/26
Division:
Head Start Division
Management Level:
Individual Contributor
Scheduled Weekly Hours:
40
Benefit Eligibility:
This position is eligible for Standard Benefits which includes dental, medical, and vision insurance, paid time off and holidays, retirement matching, wellness programs, and tuition reimbursement.

Description:

The Mental Health Specialist (MH) is responsible for providing a range of mental health consultation, wellness support, and therapeutic services that build the capacity of adults-teachers, staff, parents, caregivers -to foster the social and emotional development of children ages 0-6. This role emphasizes teamwork, collaboration, and education to promote mental health that is grounded in current neuroscience and trauma-informed practices across the Head Start community. The candidate is a dynamic resource, providing training, education, and consultation to Head Start staff to enhance staff’s ability to support challenging behavior in the classroom. The Mental Health Specialist also works closely with parents offering training, education, and consultation to enhance parenting skills.

SCHEDULE:

This is a ten-month working position from August through May (stretch) that will be paid over twelve months.

This position is predominantly performed in the office, with some flexibility for remote work when children are not present.

COMPENSATION:

Hiring Range: $53,000.00 - $59,000 USD Annual

Compensation will be determined based on education, experience, and skills.

Stretch Position : Please note, this will be a ten-month working position (stretch) that will be paid over twelve months. Compensation will be determined based on education, experience, and skills.

Blingual Skillset : Staff that are fluent in a language other than English may be eligible for additional compensation for use of bilingual skills.

BENEFITS:

Jefferson County offers a generous benefits package that supports your personal and professional life. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; paid time off and holidays, includinga starting bank of 40 hours of PTO for new hires; retirement matching; wellness programs; tuition reimbursement and more. For more information, click here for our Total Rewards summary.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

• Collaborate with the Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) to develop culturally responsive, developmentally appropriate strategies and interventions that promote the well-being of all children at Head Start.
• Provide, at a minimum monthly, and more frequently as needed or requested, consultation to Head Start staff to ensure that all classroom environments are inclusive, nurturing learning environments and to enhance the skills and confidence of the staff in supporting children’s social-emotional development and addressing challenging behaviors.
• Conduct observations and assessments to identify strengths and needs of individual children and teachers.
• Implement sustainable strategies that promote a program-wide culture of mental wellness and psychological safety and will prevent mental health challenges from developing.
• Support therapeutic services for children ages 0-6 through in-class supports, attachment-based play therapy and small group work.
• Offer consultation and coaching to parents and caregivers to strengthen understanding of social-emotional development, promote positive parenting approaches, and address behavioral concerns. Facilitate parent education classes and workshops designed to empower families with practical tools and strategies.
• Ensure accurate and timely documentation of observations, consultations, and services provided.
• Support the integration of trauma-informed and culturally responsive practices among Head Start staff. Participate in the design and delivery of mental health trainings, facilitate group reflective supervision, and attend program meetings to provide consultation and feedback that enhances staff wellness and program implementation of Trauma-Informed practices.
• Provide appropriate referrals for external services and coordinate care within Head Start and outside of Head Start, as needed, for families accessing additional supports.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Research shows that women and other underrepresented and historically marginalized groups tend to apply only when they check every box in the posting. If you are reading this and hesitating to click “apply” for that reason, we encourage you to go for it! A true passion and excitement for making an impact is just as important as work experience.

Minimum Qualifications:

• One year of work-related experience.
• Master’s degree in a social service, behavioral science, or related field.
• Note an equivalent combination of education and experience is acceptable.

Recent Master’s degree graduates welcome to apply!

Preferred Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Master’s degree in a social service or behavioral science field.
• 1- 2 years’ work-related experience in mental health, early childhood education, Head Start, work with vulnerable populations, diverse cultures and groups, and/orlow-income families.
• Experience with trauma informed care.
• Microsoft Office proficiency.
• Must have or be able to obtain LCSW or LPC within 2.5 years.
• Experience working with and within multi-disciplinary teams.
• Spanish speaking candidates highly preferred.

All Head Start Employees are expected to demonstrate the following competencies:

• Accountability: Holds self and others accountable for measurable high-quality, timely, and cost-effective results. Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail. Determines objectives and sets priorities. Accepts responsibility for mistakes. Contributes to maintaining the integrity of the organization; displays high standards of ethical conduct and understands the impact of violating these standards on an organization, self, and others; is trustworthy.

• Communication: Provides regular, consistent, and meaningful information. Listens carefully to others and ensures message is understood. Ensures important matters are shared with all appropriate parties; uses discretion and demonstrates sensitivity to confidentiality concerns. Communicates in a clear and concise manner. Uses appropriate grammar, pronunciation and tone to enhance understanding. Demonstrates professionalism through body language, including eye-contact and posture. Tailors communication style to needs of the recipient. Engages listener and helps them understand and retain the message.
• Continual Learning: Assesses and recognizes own strengths and weaknesses; pursues self-development. Uses training, feedback, or other opportunities for self- learning and development. Sets well-defined and realistic individual and professional goals; displays a high level of initiative, effort and motivation to achieve goals.
• Flexibility: Responds quickly to change and easily considers new approaches; is open to change and new information; adapts behavior or work methods in response to new information, changing conditions, or unexpected obstacles; effectively deals with uncertainty and ambiguity.
• Teamwork: Encourages and facilitates cooperation, pride, trust, and group identity; fosters commitment and team spirit; works with others to achieve goals.
• Use of Technology: Uses computers, software applications, databases, and automated systems to accomplish work.

ADDITIONAL JOB INFORMATION:

• Offer of employment contingent on review of child abuse neglect database, fingerprint results, criminal background, sex offender registry, motor vehicle record check, and education verification.
• Must have a valid driver's license, if you are from out of state, you must obtain a valid Colorado driver's license within 30 days of hire date and you must not have any major violations, nor more than one DUI, DWI,DWAIconviction in the past three years.
• Willingness to occasionally travel to assigned Head Start Sites (Arvada, Wheat Ridge and Lakewood).

Accommodations Statement:

We encourage people with disabilities to apply and are committed to providing reasonable accommodations throughout our hiring process. For assistance with applications, interviews, or other hiring-related accommodations, contact [email protected] . This contact is for accommodation requests only and cannot provide application status updates.

APPLICATION:

Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply.

All applicants must submit an online employment application by 11:59PM on the posted cut-off date. Follow this link to apply now: Jefferson County Colorado Career Opportunities

• A resume and cover letter submitted with your application is encouraged but will not substitute for the information requested on the application.
• Current Jefferson County employees must apply through their employee profile in Workday.
• In any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.

Applications are reviewed for minimum qualifications listed in the qualifications section of the job bulletin, and applicants are contacted directly by the hiring team if selected. To view the status of your application, please log into your candidate portal .

For more details on the recruitment process, please visit: https://www.jeffco.us/1860/FAQs

Questions? Contact the Jefferson County Recruitment Team at 303-271-8420 or [email protected]

Education:

Experience:
Work Experience: Minimum one year

Certifications:

Languages:

Category:
Health & Human Services