Department

Human Services

About the Position

Are you seeking an opportunity to strengthen families of young children, are skillful at building collaborative relationships, and are a licensed mental health counselor in Arizona (or are able to become licensed in Arizona), then look no further and join Maricopa County Human Services team as a Mental Health Associate!

As a Mental Health Associate, you will work collaboratively with multi-disciplinary team members to build positive relationships among children, ages birth to five, families, and the community to enhance awareness and understanding of mental wellness. Your expertise as a Mental Health Associate would be utilized to provide social-emotional and positive behavior support, prevention information, and referrals for mental health services for children under five years of age and their families enrolled in the Maricopa County Head Start Zero-Five Program.

Are you ready to promote the mental well-being of young children and their families in our communities and truly make a difference in someone’s life? Apply now!

About Us

The Early Education Division is dedicated to ensuring children have the knowledge and skills to be successful in school and life through service delivery to children and families in core areas of early learning, health, and family well-being while engaging parents as partners every step of the way. Head Start encompasses Head Start preschool programs, which primarily serve 3- and 4-year-old children, and Early Head Start programs for infants, toddlers, and pregnant women.

Proud to Offer

• Work with a greater purpose

• Tuition reimbursement

• Exceptional work-life balance

• Opportunities for growth and development within Maricopa County

• Low-cost, high-value healthcare for you and your qualifying dependents

• Paid vacation, sick time, and parental leave

• Extensive wellness program, including healthcare premium discounts

• Employee discounts for goods and services

• Maricopa County participates in the Arizona State Retirement System. This defined retirement benefit requires a 12.27% monthly contribution rate and includes a 100% employer match on Day 1

• Learn more at Work With Us | Maricopa County, AZ

Job Contributions

• Assess and assist program staff in implementing program practices that support children’s social/emotional development, including preventative action plans

• Prepare and facilitate training for staff and parents on positive discipline, social/emotional development, and successful techniques for eliminating challenging behaviors

• Provide on-site training and technical assistance to instructional staff and parents related to understanding social/emotional development, handling challenging behavior, using positive discipline, and identifying children with social/emotional development concerns

• Conduct classroom visits/observations and provide mental health, modeling, feedback, and a plan of action for staff and parents based on observations

• Coordinate services with the Inclusion Coordinator, Program Assurance Supervisors, Family Support Specialists, instructional staff, and community behavioral health agencies

• Evaluate mental health data and information to identify trends that affect current and future child/family outcomes monthly

• Develop corrective action plans from trend evaluation and lead efforts to modify that will meet programmatic requirements 

• Monitor outcomes and perform data entry of mental health information to ensure that mental health performance standards are met for all enrolled children

• Provide appropriate professional mental health referrals and resources for both children and parents, as needed, based on behavioral observations, assessments, or family’s needs

• Lead the Wellness group initiatives and related responsibilities for the Human Services Department

Working Conditions

• Work is routinely performed in an office environment, which may require long periods of sitting, reading, and typing

• Requires travel to program sites throughout Maricopa County

• The position requires travel to and from various county, client, and contractor locations during a scheduled workday, subject to County policies regarding the use of County vehicles and/or private vehicles used on County business

• Must be able to pass a medical exam that includes screening for TB, as required by Federal and State regulations, to be free of communicable disease, and must have received the following vaccinations: (MMR) Measles, Mumps, Rubella, and Tetanus if not current, to assure no significant risk exists to the health or safety of others

Selection Procedure

• Only the most qualified candidates will be considered

• Consideration will only be given to candidates who submit online applications

• Candidates will be contacted primarily through email and their Workday online application profile

• Must pass a pre-employment background and/or fingerprint investigation as required by statute or policy, including drug and alcohol testing requirements for positions designated as safety-sensitive

Maricopa County is an equal opportunity employer.

Apply Now!

We Require

• Two years of experience working with families to promote positive social/emotional development in young children

• Master’s degree in counseling, marital and family counseling, social work, psychology, or a closely related field

• Recognized certified mental health professional OR

• A valid, unrestricted license issued by the Arizona State Board of Behavioral Health Examiners as a

  • Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), OR

  • Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), OR

  • Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) OR

  • Applicant must be in the process of obtaining their LCSW, LMFT, or LPC licensure.  If hired, the employee must complete their licensure within 6 months of the hire date to remain employed.

• Must possess or have the ability to obtain a valid Arizona driver’s license by the time of hire.

• Must complete a background check and fingerprint identification upon hire to secure and maintain an Arizona Department of Public Safety Level 1 Fingerprint Clearance Card

We Also Value

• Experience working with monolingual Spanish families and children.

• Experience and/or knowledge of Trauma Informed Care and at-risk families.

• Experience navigating and supporting challenging behaviors.

• Infant Mental Health Endorsement® (IMH-E®)

• Knowledge of clinical documentation

• Three or more years of post-masters experience involving work with young children and infant-child mental health, including working in a classroom setting or consulting with teachers and families

• Three or more years of experience with special education procedures and the special needs of young children with disabilities and their families

Maricopa County Careers