Social Emotional Specialist

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EMBRACING ABILITIES. EXPANDING POSSIBILITIES. At Easterseals of Chicagoland and Greater Rockford, we are committed to two interconnecting pillars of work—early learning and disability. Through these pillars, we transform the lives of early learners and individuals of all abilities through access to expert educational, family, and community support. As an affiliate of America’s largest nonprofit healthcare organization, we have proudly served the communities and families of Chicagoland and Greater Rockford since 1936.

Job Type: Full-time

Under the direction of the Inclusion and Mental Health Manager, the Social Emotional Specialist provides expertise, training, and consultation in mental health services for Easterseals Head Start/Early Head Start programs in compliance with the Head Start Performance Standards and the Head Start Act. The Social Emotional Specialist
, in collaboration with the Inclusion and Mental Health Manager, develops and monitors systems for identification, referral, and planning for children with social-emotional concerns. The Social Emotional Specialist is responsible for the delivery of all social-emotional services, including classroom observations and staffing, social-emotional education to families, training to staff, and referrals of parents and children.

This position is headquartered at Easterseals Chicago Location at 1939 W 13th Street, Chicago, IL 60608.

• Perform individualized child observations as necessary, providing comprehensive feedback and tailored strategies to the Child Service Coordinator, families, and staff to support holistic child development.
• Assist in the creation and completion of individualized child plans as required.
• Evaluate family and child needs to develop targeted action plans that support social-emotional growth for both parties.
• Deliver a variety of trainings on current mental health and wellness topics, adhering to Head Start Standards and the Head Start Act.
• Facilitate reflective meetings with classroom staff to address and analyze social-emotional and wellness issues.
• Lead or assist in wellness initiatives for classroom staff.
• Provide crisis counseling services to Head Start families when needed.
• Offer immediate crisis support to classroom teams as situations arise.
• Maintain regular communication with designated families through home visits.
• Support teams in monitoring and tracking progress toward established goals for children and families.
• Contribute to program planning for mental health services by analyzing outcomes related to children, programs, and families.
• Coordinate referrals to appropriate services and agencies as outlined in action plans and assist in identifying and cultivating natural and professional community supports.
• Model, encourage, and coach best practices in early childhood education, including effective parenting techniques and behavior management strategies. Promote caregiver self-reflection to assess the effectiveness of daily routines and practices.
• Participate actively in the School Readiness Team, contributing to the design and implementation of the School Readiness Plan within an integrated leadership framework.
• Engage in program planning and service area implementation as a member of the integrated leadership team.
• Support enrollment and recruitment efforts as part of the Head Start/Early Head Start Team, ensuring full program participation.
• Participate in the self‑assessment process and strategic planning initiatives.
• Assist in the development of service and management plans and implement systems to ensure the consistent delivery of high‑quality mental health services throughout all Head Start and Early Head Start programs, in accordance with all Head Start Performance Standards.
• Provide training to staff, teachers, and parents in mental health, in compliance with Head Start Standards and the Head Start Act.
• Conduct classroom and individual child observations to prepare documentation for referrals and collaborate with…