Job Description

The Fatherhood Mental Health Consultant provides specialized behavioral health services and fatherhood programming for fathers, expectant fathers, and male caregivers enrolled in the Midwest Healthy Start Program. Working on a contractual basis, the consultant facilitates evidence-based fatherhood groups, provides individual behavioral health consultations, supports healthy relationships and positive parenting, and promotes paternal engagement throughout pregnancy, birth, and early childhood.

The consultant works collaboratively with Community Health Workers, Behavioral Health Clinicians, Doulas, Registered Nurses, and other members of the multidisciplinary team to improve family functioning, strengthen protective factors, promote healthy co-parenting relationships, and improve maternal and infant health outcomes.

SCOPE OF SERVICES

Fatherhood Group Facilitation

• Develop, coordinate, and facilitate evidence-informed fatherhood support groups for expectant fathers, fathers, and male caregivers.
• Create a safe, strengths-based environment that encourages engagement, peer support, and personal growth.
• Utilize evidence-based and trauma-informed approaches to strengthen parenting confidence, emotional well-being, and healthy family relationships.
• Promote active father involvement throughout pregnancy, childbirth, infancy, and early childhood.
• Adapt group content to meet the unique needs of participants while maintaining program fidelity.

Individual Behavioral Health Support

• Conduct behavioral health screenings and psychosocial assessments as appropriate.
• Provide brief individual counseling, solution-focused interventions, and supportive consultation for fathers experiencing stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, relationship concerns, or adjustment challenges.
• Develop individualized service plans and connect participants to ongoing behavioral health services when clinically indicated.
• Provide crisis intervention and facilitate referrals for higher levels of behavioral health care as needed.

Parenting and Healthy Relationship Education

Provide education and facilitated discussions related to:

• Positive father engagement
• Healthy relationships and co-parenting
• Communication and conflict resolution
• Child development and infant bonding
• Attachment and early childhood development
• Emotional regulation and stress management
• Trauma and resilience
• Responsible fatherhood
• Self-care and wellness
• Financial wellness and resource navigation (in collaboration with program staff)

Care Coordination and Collaboration

• Collaborate with Community Health Workers, Behavioral Health Clinicians, Registered Nurses, Doulas, and medical providers to coordinate participant care.
• Participate in multidisciplinary case conferences and team meetings as requested.
• Coordinate referrals to behavioral health providers, employment resources, housing services, legal assistance, parenting programs, and community supports.
• Support family-centered service planning that promotes father involvement and family stability.

Training and Consultation

• Provide consultation to Healthy Start staff regarding father engagement strategies and behavioral health considerations.
• Assist with the development of father-friendly program practices and outreach strategies.
• Provide educational workshops for staff related to father engagement, trauma-informed care, healthy masculinity, and paternal mental health.

Documentation and Reporting

• Maintain timely and accurate documentation of services provided.
• Submit required reports, attendance records, and outcome data in accordance with SGA policies and grant requirements.
• Protect participant confidentiality and comply with HIPAA and professional ethical standards.

Requirements

Education

Master's degree in Social Work, Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, Psychology, or a related behavioral health field from an accredited institution.

Licensure

Current Illinois clinical license in good standing, including one of the following:

• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
• Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC)
• Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)
• Licensed Clinical Psychologist

Experience

• Minimum of five (5) years of experience providing behavioral health services to adults, families, or parents.
• Experience facilitating psychoeducational or therapeutic groups.
• Experience working with fathers, expectant fathers, couples, or families preferred.
• Experience providing trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and strengths-based behavioral health services.
• Experience addressing men's mental health, healthy relationships, parenting, and family systems preferred.
• Experience working within community-based, maternal and child health, public health, or family support programs is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated ability to engage fathers from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, and family backgrounds.

KEY COMPETENCIES

• Group facilitation and curriculum delivery
• Clinical assessment and behavioral health intervention
• Trauma-informed and culturally responsive practice
• Knowledge of paternal mental health and father engagement best practices
• Family systems and relationship-based interventions
• Motivational Interviewing and strengths-based counseling
• Crisis intervention and behavioral health referral
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Collaboration within interdisciplinary teams
• Accurate documentation and timely reporting
• Ability to engage and retain fathers in voluntary services
• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and family-centered care