Clinical Mental Health Consultant

Position Overview

Peers & Partners, Inc. is seeking an experienced and licensed Clinical Mental Health  Consultant to provide specialized clinical and behavioral health expertise in support of a potential federal contract with the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Head Start (OHS).

The consultant will support Head Start and Early Head Start programs serving children from birth through age five and their families, with particular emphasis on mental health, social-emotional development, trauma-informed practices, and continuity of comprehensive health services.

The ideal candidate will have demonstrated experience supporting early childhood education programs, community-based pediatric or family mental health initiatives, or federally funded health and human services programs. Previous experience with Head Start, Early Head Start or OHS-funded programs is highly desirable.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide clinical consultation and subject matter expertise regarding infant and early childhood mental health, behavioral health, and social-emotional development.
• Support the assessment of mental health service delivery, behavioral health needs, and potential gaps affecting children, families, and staff.
• Advise program leadership on trauma-informed, developmentally appropriate, and family-centered mental health practices.
• Support the development and implementation of mental health service improvement strategies consistent with applicable Head Start Program Performance Standards.
• Provide consultation regarding behavioral health screening, referral pathways, early intervention, and coordination with community mental health providers.
• Assist in identifying mental health service continuity risks during interim management and transitions between Head Start grant recipients.
• Collaborate with program directors, health services staff, family services personnel, mental health professionals, and community partners.
• Provide training, technical assistance, and professional consultation to strengthen staff understanding of early childhood mental health and supportive practices.
• Support quality improvement activities, program assessments, corrective action planning, and related documentation.
• Provide written recommendations, technical guidance, and subject matter input for program planning and reporting.

Required Qualifications

• An active, unrestricted license as a mental health professional in at least one U.S. state or jurisdiction. Examples include licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), licensed professional counselor or clinical counselor (LPC/LPCC), licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT), licensed psychologist, and psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) with APRN licensure. Candidates not yet independently licensed may qualify if they practice under the supervision of a licensed mental health professional, as 45 CFR 1302.91(e)(8)(ii) allows.
• Ability to hold or obtain licensure, or to practice under qualified supervision, in each state where services are provided, and to meet that state’s practice requirements (including for telehealth) throughout the engagement.
• Demonstrated clinical experience in mental health, behavioral health, psychiatric nursing, pediatric behavioral health, or maternal and child health.
• Knowledge of and experience serving young children and their families, as 45 CFR 1302.91(e)(8)(ii) requires. This includes experience with infants, toddlers, preschool-aged children, expectant families, or their families in early childhood settings.
• Knowledge of child development, trauma-informed care, family-centered services, and mental health referral and intervention practices.
• Experience collaborating with multidisciplinary teams and community-based health or human services organizations.
• Strong communication, assessment, consultation, and technical writing skills.
• Ability to maintain professional licensure and meet applicable jurisdictional practice requirements throughout the engagement.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience providing infant and early childhood mental health consultation (IECMHC) to early care and education programs. That includes classroom and home visit observation, coaching teachers and home visitors on social-emotional support and challenging behavior, and supporting staff wellness.
• An infant or early childhood mental health endorsement or comparable credential.
• Experience supporting Head Start, Early Head Start, or other OHS-funded programs.
• Familiarity with Head Start Program Performance Standards, particularly mental health consultations,(45 CFR 1302.45), disabilities, and family support requirements.
• Experience providing mental health consultation, training, or technical assistance to early childhood education programs.
• Experience with federally funded programs, program monitoring, quality improvement, or organizational transitions.
• Experience supporting underserved children, families, and communities.
• Fluency in a language other than English, especially Spanish.

• Ability to provide consultation both on site and by telehealth.

Additional Information

This is a consulting opportunity anticipated to support Peers. Assignments may vary based on program needs, geographic locations, and contract requirements. Significant travel may be required. 

Consultants may be asked to participate in technical assessments, virtual consultations, training activities, and occasional on-site program reviews. Any direct clinical services must be within the consultant's authorized scope of practice and applicable licensure requirements.