Job description:

Virginia Quality (VQ) is the state's Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS). QRIS is a method used nationally to define, measure, and improve the level of quality in early childhood programs. ACPS serves as a Local Coordinator for the City of Alexandria and is a part of the VQ Northern region. The VQ Mental Health Specialist will increase caregivers/teachers/directors use of strategies and practices to promote the social emotional development of infants, toddlers, and preschool-aged children.

This is a grant-funded position.

Qualifications:

Education: Bachelor's degree in early childhood education, early intervention, educational psychology, developmental psychology, or a related field. Master's degree highly preferred.

Experience: Experience working in early childhood or a related field for five or more years. Experience working with adults (e.g. training, mentoring, or leading caregivers/teachers)

Licensure: Currently holds a Virginia Infant Mental Health Endorsement

Have transportation and be able to travel throughout the Alexandria region.

Essential Functions:

• Provide training sessions on social emotional topics, ASQ:SE-2, Parents Interacting with Infants, and other approved training topics to child care providers and families of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers.
• Provide coaching on identifying, managing, and screening social emotional problems.
• Assess quality of social emotional environments and identify strengths and areas for improvement.
• Work collaboratively with the program director, caregivers to develop a written Quality Improvement Plan (QIP).
• Provide on-site coaching; training; mentoring; modeling; problem-solving; and materials and resources to reach goals and outcomes specified in written plans.
• Provide ACPS with written reports outlining the results of assistance of the assigned programs(s) or class(es).
• Attend regional meetings and local meetings.

Clearances:

• Criminal Justice Fingerprint/Background Clearance
• Tuberculosis Skin Test

WP