Job Overview 

This position is responsible for assisting the Disability and Mental Health Manager and collaborating with the Disabilities Specialist in the oversight of positive social-emotional development, school readiness, and mental wellness for children and families enrolled in Head Start and Early Head Start programs. Responsible for ensuring that quality services are delivered in compliance with Head Start Performance Standards and all applicable federal, state, local, and agency policies, rules, and regulations. This position with the guidance of Disabilities and Mental Health Manager collaborates with teachers, administrators, families, and community partners to support children's social-emotional growth, address challenging behaviors through evidence-based positive behavior supports, and enhance staff capacity through coaching and professional development.

The Early Intervention Specialist utilizes a strength-based, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive approach to foster inclusive learning environments that support the healthy development and success of all children.

Responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with Head Start Program Performance Standards, confidentiality requirements, and applicable to federal, state, and local regulations.
• Promote and uphold a non-discriminatory environment that respects and values all staff, children, and families. 
• Model AVANCE’s Core Values and maintain knowledge of organizational policies, procedures, and applicable regulations. 
• Conduct classroom observations to assess children's social-emotional development and behavioral support needs.
• Collaborate with the Mental Health and Disabilities Manager, Early Learning and Inclusion Managers, and teaching staff to implement and monitor individualized social-emotional supports, behavior intervention plans, and inclusive practices to provide comprehensive support services for children and families.
• Recognizes that developmental, behavioral, social-emotional, and mental health concerns may overlap and collaborates with interdisciplinary team members to provide coordinated services, interventions, referrals, and family support based on each child's individual needs.
• Identify social-emotional, behavioral, and developmental concerns and recommend appropriate interventions, supports, referrals, and follow-up services.
• Promote children's successful participation in inclusive learning environments and support classroom teams in creating environments that foster emotional regulation, resilience, and positive peer interactions.
• Participate in multidisciplinary team meetings, staffing discussions, and partnership meetings to support children's social-emotional and behavioral development.
• Provide modeling to teaching staff on social-emotional development, positive behavior supports, trauma-informed practices, and evidence-based intervention strategies.
• Support teachers in analyzing behavior patterns and implementing effective interventions to improve child outcomes.
• Provide families with information and resources under the guidance of the Disabilities and Mental Health Manager related to child development and social-emotional wellness and collaborate in the development of support plans, as appropriate.
• Collaborate with community providers, Disabilities staff, and consultants to coordinate services for children and families.
• Assist with the implementation of Mental Health and Disabilities service area goals, program-wide social-emotional initiatives, and school readiness efforts.
• Assist and deliver training and professional development related to social-emotional development, positive behavior supports, inclusion practices, trauma-informed care, and evidence-based intervention practices.
• Support the implementation of evidence-based social-emotional curriculum, screening tools, and intervention strategies.
• Maintain accurate documentation in the software, intervention plans, records, and reports in accordance with agency requirements.
• Participate in program monitoring, self-assessment activities, continuous quality improvement efforts, and other duties as assigned in support of the Mental Health and Disabilities service areas.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Education

Required:

• Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Special Education, Psychology, or Early Childhood Education with an emphasis in behavior.

Certifications

Preferred:

• Texas Special Education Teaching Certification or other related behavioral certification or license.

Work Experience

Required:

• Minimum of three years of experience supporting young children with social-emotional, behavioral, developmental, and/or mental health needs.
• Experience developing and implementing behavior intervention plans and positive behavior support strategies.
• Experience collaborating with teachers, partnerships, consultants, and multidisciplinary teams.

Additional Skills Required

• Awareness and sensitivity to cultural issues in local community practices.
• Extensive knowledge of resources in the health community and public relations.
• Excellent writing, editing, and proofreading skills.
• Proficiency in MS Office software applications with advanced skills using Microsoft Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Adobe Acrobat.
• Spanish fluency.
• Demonstrated ability to achieve high performance goals and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong organizational skills that reflect the ability to perform and prioritize multiple tasks seamlessly with excellent attention to detail.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships with stakeholders, including staff, board members, external partners, and donors.
• Emotional maturity.
• Highly resourceful team player, with the ability to be extremely effective independently with the capability of managing numerous simultaneous projects.
• Forward-looking thinker who actively seeks opportunities and proposes solutions.
• Strong analytical, presentation, verbal and written communication, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to travel to various training sessions.
• Must have dependable transportation daily, valid driver’s license, a clean driving record (subject to annual MVR check and policy), current auto liability insurance and be bondable by AVANCE, San Antonio, Inc.

Disclaimer(s)

This is not necessarily an all-inclusive list of job-related responsibilities, duties, skills, efforts, requirements or working conditions. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, management reserves the right to revise the job or to require that other or different tasks be performed as assigned. Nothing in this job description forms or is intended to form a contract of employment. Neither shall the content in this job description be interpreted to conflict with, or to eliminate or modify in any way, the “at will” employment status of AVANCE San Antonio employees. Employment remains on an “at-will” basis.

Travel

50% annually on average with occasional long-distance travel.

Equipment

Computer, computer software programs and peripherals, resource materials and equipment, copier, fax, and other equipment applicable to the position.

Working Conditions

Mental and Physical Demands

General office and sedentary. Regularly required to sit; use hands to handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. Use of personal computing equipment.

Maintain emotional control under stress; work with interruptions and deadlines; walking, standing, stooping, bending, pulling, and pushing; occasional: lifting/carrying, pulling/pushing 10-30 pounds. Work evenings and weekends as needed.

Environmental Factors

Occasional exposure to biological hazards (communicable diseases, bacteria, insects, mold, fungi, etc.). Occasional exposure to weather related conditions when working in outside environment/neighborhoods and events.

ADA/ADAAA Statement

AVANCE is committed to equal opportunity in employment for persons with disabilities and complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), as amended, and any other applicable state and federal laws. Accordingly, AVANCE does not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities regarding application, hiring, advancement, discharge, compensation, training or other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment. Moreover, it is AVANCE’s policy to provide reasonable accommodations in employment to qualified individuals with disabilities so that they can perform the essential functions of the job, unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of AVANCE’s business or would change the essential functions of the position. Retaliation against an individual with a disability for utilizing this policy or seeking a reasonable accommodation is prohibited. Individuals with any questions or requests for accommodation should contact the Human Resources Department. 

EEO/AAP Statement

AVANCE values diversity and is committed to providing equal employment opportunity to all individuals regardless of their race, color, creed, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by state, federal, or local law. It is also our goal to employ and advance in employment women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and protected veterans, and to treat qualified individuals without discrimination on the basis of their physical or mental disability or veteran status.