Part-Time Early Childhood Therapist

About Kansas Children's Service League

Stronger families start at Kansas Children's Service League (KCSL). Founded in 1893, KCSL is a statewide, nonprofit agency that serves thousands of Kansas children and families each year. KCSL's mission is to protect and promote the well-being of children. Our programs work with children and families in the areas of health, safety and education to succeed and break cycles of neglect, abuse and trauma. We help both children and parents develop skills for success in their families, schools and workplaces. KCSL is also the Kansas chapter of Prevent Child Abuse America and Circle of Parents.

As a team member of Kansas Children's Service League, you'll enjoy the following benefit offerings and more based on selected cafeteria options and employment class:

• Family Friendly Paid Wellness Leave
• Paid Vacation & Wellness Time
• Paid Holidays
• Employee Wellness Program
• Earned Wage Access

For more details on our benefits, please visit our KCSL Career site.

EXPECTATIONS FOR ALL EMPLOYEES:

At Kansas Children's Service League, we protect and promote the well-being of children. In doing so, every employee is responsible for supporting the agency's mission, vision, and values. This includes actively and regularly demonstrating high-quality customer service, accountability in all aspects of your position, and respecting the differences in our staff, customers, and communities. Expected behaviors and qualities include professionalism and competence, active collaboration, effective communication, initiative and innovation, respect, and goal achievement. Employees are to be able, at any time, to provide basic information about the breadth of customer opportunities available through KCSL and to help customers make connections within the organization. KCSL is an equal opportunity employer.

JOB SUMMARY

The Early Childhood Therapist provides an ecological model of family and individual therapy which includes crisis intervention and mental health services with an emphasis in service to families identifying concerns related to their child age birth to 18. Provide consultation, as well as mental and behavioral health services to various community partners within Wichita and surrounding areas. This may include but is not limited to providing teacher and parent/caregiver education and classroom support, early intervention services and referrals, as needed. The Early Childhood Therapist will also provide mental health consultation to other KCSL prevention programs.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Mental Health Intervention & Treatment
  • The Early Childhood Therapist's primary responsibility will be to provide intervention and treatment services based on an initial assessment for each family referred or requesting service. The Early Childhood Therapist will use an ecological approach in working with families, incorporating a family systems model which includes human development, cognitive behavioral and attachment theories. Standardized assessments and treatment goal planning will be used and will emphasize solution-focused interventions embedded within the context of the community, external systems, and culture of the family.
• Case Work and Service Coordination
  • The Early Childhood Therapist will facilitate strategies that help the family improve interactions and comfort levels within larger community settings. This will require the Early Childhood Therapist to initiate contact and organize consultation with service providers and systems involved with client families, and to negotiate for needed services and support from systems not involved with the family at the initiation of service. The Early Childhood Therapist will be expected to maintain a professional relationship with community partnerships in Wichita and the surrounding area as services are provided within the community setting
• Consultation
  • The Early Childhood Therapist will provide mental health consultation to program colleagues and other KCSL staff providing direct client services. The Early Childhood Therapist will occasionally be asked to provide informational/educational presentations to KCSL staff, other professionals, and community groups regarding infant/toddler/child mental health. The Early Childhood Therapist will provide mental and behavioral health consultation to individuals within the community. This includes, but is not limited to teachers, social workers, school staff, and other community partners and service providers within the educational and early childhood setting.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Required

• Bachelor's degree in social work, human services, psychology, or a related field
• Currently enrolled in a Master's degree program in social work, counseling, or a related field
• Knowledge of infant, child, adult and family life development
• Knowledge of DSM diagnostic procedure
• Intervention skills that foster individual and family growth