About PLN
Founded on Skid Row in 1980, Para Los Niños (PLN) partners with more than 10,000 children, youth, and families each year through integrated education, wellness supports and advocacy, addressing individual and systemic barriers to create pathways to success. In addition to operating early education centers, charter elementary and middle schools, youth workforce development sites and family services, PLN is the only children’s mental health provider in the Skid Row neighborhood. PLN's community transformation work brings together community members, community-based organizations, city and county agencies, elected officials, and businesses to tackle issues that impact PLN families. Ninety-three percent of families served by PLN live in areas with the highest levels of food insecurity and homelessness in L.A. County.
Position Overview
The Early Childhood Wellness Coordinator (ECWC) plays a critical role in ensuring the delivery of high-quality, trauma-informed mental health services within the Head Start and Early Head Start programs. This position provides early childhood mental health consultation to children, families, and staff while supporting compliance with the Head Start Act, Head Start Program Performance Standards, and applicable federal, state, and local regulations.
The ECWC partners with education, family services, disabilities, health, and leadership teams to promote children's social-emotional development, strengthen classroom practices, and support individualized interventions. Through consultation, coaching, assessment, training, and multidisciplinary collaboration, the ECWC helps create safe, nurturing learning environments that foster school readiness and family well-being.
As a member of the Head Start Leadership Team, the ECWC supports the implementation of Conscious Discipline, contributes to multidisciplinary decision-making, and provides clinical expertise to ensure effective, coordinated services for children and families.
Duties
- Provides early childhood mental health consultation to support children's social-emotional development and emotional well-being.
- Conducts classroom observations, behavioral assessments, screenings, and other required mental health assessments in accordance with LACOE guidelines and program requirements.
- Coaches, models, and supports staff in implementing developmentally appropriate, trauma-informed behavior guidance strategies and classroom practices.
- Develops, implements, and monitors individualized behavior support and intervention plans in collaboration with multidisciplinary teams.
- Participates in and facilitates multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings by preparing cases, documenting discussions and recommendations, tracking action items, and ensuring timely implementation of interventions.
- Maintains accurate, confidential documentation in accordance with agency policies, LACOE Guidance Information Memoranda (GIMs), and applicable regulations.
- Identifies service trends, barriers, and opportunities for continuous quality improvement and communicates recommendations to leadership.
- Partners with families through conferences, consultations, and parent education to address children's behavioral and social-emotional needs.
- Coordinates referrals and connects families with appropriate internal and external resources, including mental health, disability, occupational therapy, and community-based services.
- Communicates and collaborates with external agencies, including child welfare, courts, probation, behavioral health providers, and other partners, when legally required.
- Delivers training and consultation to staff on early childhood mental health, trauma-informed care, Conscious Discipline, and social-emotional development.
- Completes Tier 1 Learning Environment Observations in alignment with LACOE Mental Health GIM and Program Information Report (PIR) requirements.
- Supervises Mental Health interns in accordance with California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) supervisory requirements, when applicable.
- Participates in required supervision, professional development, continuing education, and other activities necessary to maintain clinical licensure and current knowledge of early childhood best practices.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Other Characteristics
- Master's degree in Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, Psychology, Counseling, or a related behavioral health field required.
- Currently registered and in good standing with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences as an Associate Clinical Social Worker (ACSW), Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT), or Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (APCC) or currently registered and in good standing with the California Board of Psychology as a registered psychologist.
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC), Licensed Psychologist (Psy.D. or Ph.D.), or license-eligible clinician is strongly preferred.
- Minimum five years of professional experience working with EHS and Head Start (0-5) families and teachers.
- Experience providing direct clinical services to children from birth to age five and their families conducting behavioral assessments and developing behavior support plans.
- Experience working with children and families from historically underserved or low-income communities preferred.
- Must meet California Board of Behavioral Sciences supervisory requirements if supervising interns.
- Knowledge of Head Start Program Performance Standards, the Head Start Act, California Community Care Licensing regulations, and applicable health and safety requirements.
- Strong consultation, coaching, communication, organization, and documentation skills.
- Ability to build collaborative relationships, maintain confidentiality, manage competing priorities, and work effectively both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
- Utilizes Microsoft Office Suite and other business systems to perform daily administrative functions, including data entry, document management, and professional correspondence.
- Strong written and oral communication skills in English are required, and we celebrate linguistic diversity, valuing the unique perspectives and strengths that multilingual team members bring to our organization.
- Travel Requirements: Up to 25% within Los Angeles County and requires a valid driver's license, personal vehicle, and automobile insurance.
Physical Requirements
To perform this job the individual must be able to carry out all essential functions satisfactorily.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individual with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.
- Approximately 50% of time is spent sitting, while frequently required to walk, stand and bend.
- Must be able to speak and hear well.
- Good vision is imperative.
- Occasionally required to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl.
- Employee will be required to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds without assistance.
- TB test clearance to be renewed every two years.
- Verification of Immunizations required by the California Department of Health (Pertussis, Measles and Influenza).
This job description does not encompass all essential functions and responsibilities. Para Los Niños reserves the right to modify or add to the typical duties of a position at any time.
Expectations for All Para Los Niño's Staff
Candidates for employment at Para Los Niños, regardless of position, will consistently demonstrate the following:
- Unwavering belief in and commitment to fulfill the mission of Para Los Niños.
- Deep commitment to the success of all PLN students and families.
- Commitment to excellence and high standards -- for self, students, and colleagues.
- Continuous learning by engaging in reflection, self-assessment, and individual professional development.
- Use of data to inform decisions and drive continuous improvement.
- Ability to thrive as a member of a collaborative team.
- Self-motivation and initiative with solutions-oriented disposition.
- Belief in and ability to develop respectful relationships with families and children informed by the students’ cultural and socioeconomic characteristics.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Ability to effectively handle challenging situations.
- Comfort with basic Microsoft Office applications and a curiosity and propensity to push own adoption of new technology and approaches.
- Regular, punctual attendance and professional appearance.
Para Los Niños is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer
It is the established policy of Para Los Niños (PLN) to provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees without discrimination with regard to race, religious belief (including dress or grooming practices), color, sex, sex stereotype, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions (including breast feeding), age, national origin (including possessing a driver’s license issued under Vehicle Code § 12801.9), ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identification and expression, transgender status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic characteristics, genetic information, family care, marital status, enrollment in any public assistance program, status as military, a veteran or qualified disabled veteran, status as an unpaid intern or volunteer, or any other classification protected by law. PLN also prohibits discrimination based on the perception that anyone has any of those characteristics or is associated with a person who has or is perceived as having any of those characteristics.
