JOB DESCRIPTION
The School-Based Mental Health Coordinator is a member of the district's Social Emotional Learning & Mental Health Department's Leadership Team which falls under the Wellness Department within the Office of Student Services. The Coordinator will work closely with the Director of Social Emotional Learning and Mental Health in coordinating the successful development, implementation and evaluation of a comprehensive, multi-tiered, and integrated approach to social emotional learning, mental health, and academics throughout the school district.

The School-Based Mental Health Specialist's primary role will be generating and coordinating evidence-based mental health interventions, supports and strategies across a layered continuum of supports that are aligned to the strengths and needs of Providence Public School students and families; as well as leading coordination and management of contracts, grant goals, and performance metrics guiding school-based mental health collaboration with community partners. Additionally, the specialist will continuously evaluate and consult on the specific financial and budgetary needs required to develop, maintain, and sustain a school-based mental health system of supports in collaboration with community partners. This includes leveraging Medicaid funding, and being an active member of district and state-level teams focused on school-based mental health grants and supports.

The School Based Mental Health Specialist must demonstrate a deep belief in the capacity of all students to achieve at high levels and have the ability to work collaboratively with a diverse set of leaders and teachers to support continuous growth of students, staff and schools within safe and supportive environments.

***Contingent upon funding***
EDUCATION TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE

• Advanced degree in Social Work, School Psychology, or within the Mental Health field
• Experience providing mental health services and supports within a school setting preferred
• Minimum 3 years' experience providing clinical mental health services and supports preferred
• Experience and Knowledge of Medicaid billing, funding and leveraging funds
• Experience coordinating programs with a diverse set of stakeholders
• Experience and Knowledge of the Multi-Tiered System of Supports framework and implementation

Certification requirements:

• Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW), Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) Licensed Psychologist through the Rhode Island Department of Health, or School Psychologist preferred
• Certificate by the Rhode Island Department of Education preferred, but not required

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITIES AND CURRICULAR LINKAGES

• Contributing member of the Social Emotional Learning and Mental Health Department Leadership Team
• Coordinate, lead and facilitate implementation of district-wide initiatives and grant programs and opportunities that support the social emotional learning, mental health, and behavioral health of PPSD students, schools, and families and advances the SEL and professional competencies of school-based mental health professionals.
• Collaborate with the Director of SEL & Mental Health and district-level and school-based staff to promote and increase awareness of social emotional learning, mental health and wellness, and school-based mental health professionals and continuously improve students' academic achievement, social-emotional development, and well-being.
• Support the implementation of professional development opportunities for school-based mental health support staff in order to expand capacity within the district to effectively support mental health, social-emotional learning, and the behavioral health of students within a Multi-Tiered System of Supports framework.
• Collaborate with PPSD leadership supporting PPSD School Based Mental Professionals to identify and secure materials and resources needed to more effectively provide comprehensive school based mental health.
• Support the development and implementation of a comprehensive plan that increases and improves access to evidence-based culturally competent and developmentally appropriate school and community-based mental health supports that are youth and parent informed with local community agencies.
• Coordinate training for School Social Workers, School Psychologists, and School Counselors in social/emotional development, standards, competencies and ethics, within discipline specific professions.
• Provide coaching, training and support to School Based Mental Health Professionals to enhance knowledge, training and practice.
• Lead district and school-based implementation of identified evidence-based and practice-based interventions with a focus on fidelity and sustainability of appropriate interventions that meets the diverse needs of Providence Public School students, schools and families.
• Lead efforts to collaborate, plan and confer with district and school staff and external partners in strengthening school-based Student Support Teams and their ability to successfully implement and provide access to identified evidence-based behavioral, social, or emotional programs and services along a layered continuum of supports.
• Other duties as assigned.

Coordination & Management of School-Based Mental Health Collaborative with Community Partners

• Generate and coordinate evidence-based mental health interventions, supports and strategies across a layered continuum of supports that are aligned to the strengths and needs of Providence Public School students and families
• Leading coordination and management of contracts, grant goals, and performance metrics guiding school-based mental health collaboration with community partners.
• Continuously evaluate and consult on the specific financial and budgetary needs required to develop, maintain, and sustain a school-based mental health system of supports in collaboration with community partners.
• Leverage Medicaid funding to support sustainability of school-based mental health system of supports
• Active member of district and state-level teams focused on school-based mental health grants and supports.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS STANDARDS

• Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge, understanding of and commitment to social and emotional learning standards and ability to analyze social, emotional & behavioral health data
• Knowledge of the School Social Work Association of America (SSWAA) National Model and Standards
• Understanding of the SHAPE system for comprehensive school based mental health services
• Experience working within a school setting, collaborating with school administrators, teachers and a diverse population of students and families.
• Knowledge of Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) Framework; data collection process/procedures; school and community based interventions and utilization of data-based decision making to inform practices and evaluate programs.
• Experience with operation and facilitation of school-based problem-solving teams (i.e. MTSS Leadership Team, Wellness Teams, Target Teams, Student Support Teams, etc.)
• Knowledge of mental/behavioral health assessment, diagnosis and treatment
• Experience planning, developing and implementing programs with community partners, preferably within a school setting.
• Experience in providing technical assistance and professional development to teachers and administrators on social emotional learning, social emotional health and well-being, trauma informed care and positive behavior interventions and supports.
• Competency in google suite, including google sheets, documents, classrooms etc.
• Experience and Knowledge of Medicaid billing, funding and leveraging funds
• Experience coordinating programs with a diverse set of stakeholders

We offer a complete benefits package to full-time employees including health care, dental, vision, retirement, deferred compensation plans, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, holidays, and Personal Time Off (PTO).