The Center for the Advanced Study of Teaching and Learning (CASTL) in the School of Education and Human Development at the University of Virginia seeks applicants for a part-time Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant to join our highly collaborative diverse early childhood education (ECE) team. 

This position will work on the Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (ECMHC) pilot in its second year 2 (2022-2023). The goal in year 2 of the pilot is to refine our birth-to-five mental health consultation model, in partnership with the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) and Child Development Resources (CDR). Our ECMHC model aims to support Virginia teachers to promote young children’s social-emotional skills and prevent expulsion of children from early care and education settings. This person’s work will intersect with the Advancing Effective Interaction & Instruction (AEII) initiative as the service models are integrated.

The individual in this part-time consultant role will provide ongoing consultation services to teachers in classrooms serving 3-5-year-olds and meet occasionally with families as well as program leaders. The consultant will receive training and support to ensure successful, high-fidelity implementation of the CASTL consultation models. We will emphasize follow-through on protocols and up-to-date documentation of the consultation to promote quality of services, intended outcomes for teachers and children, and support the successful evaluation of the pilot. The ECMHC pilot will take place in the Greater Richmond, Virginia area, Charlottesville City and Albemarle County, and select other locations in Virginia.

The individual in this position will conduct in-person work, including sessions with teachers and observations of children in classrooms located in the following Greater Richmond areas: Chesterfield, Henrico, Hanover, Goochland, Powhatan, Charles City, and New Kent County; Richmond, Colonial Heights and Petersburg City. In addition to in-person work, some virtual and hybrid formats will also be involved (e.g., virtual consultation using video). There is potential for in-person, virtual, or hybrid work in Charlottesville City and Albemarle County, as well as virtual work in other locations in Virginia. Reliable transportation is required to provide services to areas in which in-person or hybrid referrals are received.

Role and Responsibilities

• Develop a deep understanding of our consultation model, which includes in-person and virtual formats to support teachers’ use of equitable social-emotional & self-regulation practices.
• Provide high-fidelity one-on-one ECMHC consultation based on established protocols for teachers, as well as leaders and families.
• Use systems to ensure coaching uptake, dosage, and quality (e.g., use consultation logs, checklists, and feedback from lead consultant using a fidelity tool).
• Develop and maintain positive working relationships with educators, school leaders, and internal working teams from diverse backgrounds.
• Develop and maintain positive working relationships with teachers, program leaders, and internal working teams to communicate project expectations and progress.
• Be responsive and attentive to details in all communications.
• Collaborate closely with a diverse team in a deadline-driven environment and follow timelines outlined in protocols.
• In addition to the above job responsibilities, other duties may be assigned.

• Bachelor's degree 
• Three years of relevant experience. Master’s degree will be considered in lieu of experience.