Disabilities & Mental Health Coordinator

Summary: The Disabilities & Mental Health Coordinator (Coordinator) plans, coordinates, and implements disabilities and mental health services for children enrolled at the Blind Children’s Center (BCC). As part of BCC’s program management team, the Coordinator ensures services are integrated across all areas, meeting state and federal regulations. Responsibilities include data entry, record keeping, reporting, and fostering relationships with colleagues, families, and community partners.

Supervisory Responsibilities: None

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Coordination of Disability Services:

• Collaborates with the program management team to develop and implement outreach programs to recruit children with visual impairments and disabilities into the program.
• Establishes agreements with school with school districts or resource groups to provide disabilities services for incoming and transitional students.
• Attends LAUSD inter-agency meetings, Individualized Education Plans (IEP) trainings, and Welligent trainings.
• Works with multidisciplinary teams to use screening and assessment outcomes for referrals, individualization, and accommodations.
• Coordinates IEPs, monitors classroom service, and collects therapists sign-in sheets
• Develops and implements tracking systems that monitor progress through IEP or Individual Family Service Plans (IFSPs).
• Evaluates the types of curricula, instructional materials, and traditional and alternative teaching methods to be used to meet the school readiness needs of children with disabilities.
• Prepares and presents progress reports related to disabilities services to administration, the Policy Committee and Board of Directors as requested.
• Provides families with information on community resources and supports related to disabilities.
• Facilitates trainings for staff includes disabilities law, referral process, inclusion/individualization, transition support, and support during the IFSP/IEP process.
• Conducts parent training on referrals, screening, IFSP/IEP processes, advocacy, and program transitions.
• Leads Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) meetings and ensures documentation is uploaded to ChildPlus or other required systems.
• Conducts Tier 1 monitoring using Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) Disability monitoring forms. Participates in and plans for Tier 2 monitoring. Prepares and informs staff and monitors prior to observations/monitoring.

Coordination of Mental Health Services:

• Plans, organizes, and monitors mental health services provided by consultants for children, families, and staff.
• Advocates for family and child mental health needs, communicating policies and resources to stakeholders.
• Manages mental health referrals, tracks services, maintains confidential files, and updates ChildPlus.
• Interfaces with consultants, parents, students, school district staff and community agencies/resources.
• Ensures timely documentation collection from mental health consultants.
• Supports staff in recognizing potential mental health issues and making appropriate referrals, ensuring follow-through.
• Coordinates and provides staff and parent training.
• Provides mental health information at parent committee meetings.
• Interacts with public and private service agencies.

Other:

• Prepares monthly monitoring reports and contributes to funding applications, budgeting, self-assessments, and quality improvement plans.
• Attends Disabilities and Mental Health Coordinator meetings through LACOE.
• Participates in agency multidisciplinary and collaborative team meetings to support integrated service delivery to children and families and for ongoing monitoring and evaluation of services.
• Adheres to established Standard of Conduct, maintains confidentiality and adheres to mandated reporter requirements.
• Continues with data-driven professional growth, inclusive of action planning and completion of at least 15 hours of professional development annually.
• Attends all meetings and trainings as required and directed.
• Performs additional related duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Special Education, Psychology, Early Childhood Education, Social or Behavioral Science is required. A Master’s degree in a related field is desirable.
• Three years of experience as a disabilities specialist, or in a social services agency involving social work, family, special education, or mental health counseling.
• Capacity to read, analyze, interpret, and use data for planning, monitoring, internal and
• external reporting, and continuous quality improvement.
• Ability to effectively communicate (written and verbally), present information, and respond to questions from a variety of groups.
• Bilingual preferred (Spanish/English).

Other Requirements:

• Must possess and maintain criminal background clearance.
• Must meet immunization requirements including pertussis, measles, and flu, Covid-19 vaccination, clear health exam, and proof of TB clearance.
• Valid California driver’s license and availability of private transportation, as this position requires travel for training, meetings and other events.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Excellent people skills and an upbeat, positive attitude
• Strong work ethic and attention to detail.
• Resourcefulness and problem-solving ability.
• Demonstrated interest in building new skills, and the ability to learn.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment, while managing multiple projects and deadlines.
• Ability to adapt and respond to changing circumstances and priorities.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential responsibilities and functions of the job and are not meant to be all inclusive. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential responsibilities and functions of the job.

Unless reasonable accommodations can be made, while performing this job, the staff member shall:

• Use strength to lift items needed to perform the functions of the job.
• Sit, stand and walk for required periods of time.
• Speak and hear.
• Use close vision, color vision, peripheral vision and depth perception along with the ability to focus vision.
• Communicate effectively in English, using proper grammar and vocabulary.
• Reach with hands and arms and use hands and fingers to handle objects and operate tools, computers, and/or controls.

Environmental Demands

The environmental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential responsibilities and functions of the job and are not meant to be all inclusive.

• Exposure to a variety of childhood and adult diseases and illnesses.
• Occasional exposure to a variety of weather conditions.
• Exposure to heated/air conditioned and ventilated facilities.
• Exposure to a building in which a variety of chemical substances are used for cleaning, instruction, and/or operation of equipment.
• Function in a workplace that is usually moderately quiet but that can be noisy at times.

The Blind Children’s Center is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital or veteran status, or any other protected class.