Clinician-Bilingual Spanish Preferred

Location: On-Site – Santa Cruz, CA | Full-Time, Exempt

About the Role

Aspiranet, a leading California-based nonprofit dedicated to supporting children, youth, and families, is seeking a skilled and compassionate Clinician to join our Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU) in Santa Cruz. In this critical role, you’ll provide clinical assessments, crisis intervention, and therapeutic support to youth experiencing emotional and behavioral challenges. As part of a dedicated, trauma-informed team, you’ll develop individualized safety and service plans, coordinate with county and healthcare partners, and ensure that each young person receives the care and stability they deserve.

About Aspiranet

Founded in 1975, Aspiranet is a mission-driven organization dedicated to helping families thrive. We provide a continuum of care across California through six service divisions: Foster and Adoption, Transitional Aged Youth, Residential, Intensive Home-Based Services, Behavioral Health, and Family and Community. Every role at Aspiranet contributes to something greater: building a future where every child is loved, every family supported, and every individual equipped to succeed.

Responsibilities

• Assessment & Intervention
  • Engage and build rapport with youth upon admission to the CSU.
  • Conduct thorough intake screenings and ongoing risk assessments.
  • Provide trauma-informed crisis intervention and therapeutic services.
  • Monitor and reassess risk, safety, and stabilization progress.
• Planning & Collaboration
  • Develop individualized safety and service plans tailored to each youth’s needs.
  • Train and guide staff on plan implementation and behavior support strategies.
  • Collaborate closely with county staff, nursing staff, and community service providers.
  • Coordinate discharge and aftercare planning to ensure continuity of care.
• Documentation & Compliance
  • Complete all assessments, plans, and documentation according to Medi-Cal, county, and agency standards.
  • Follow all incident reporting procedures promptly and accurately.
  • Participate in individual and group supervision, as well as team meetings.
  • Provide on-call or after-hours support for screenings, assessments, and treatment needs as assigned.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in Social Work, Psychology, or Counseling Psychology.
• Current registration with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) (AMFT, ACSW, or APCC).
• Minimum 2 years of experience working directly with children or youth in a behavioral health, crisis, or residential setting preferred.
• Strong knowledge of crisis assessment, trauma-informed care, and safety planning.
• Meets all state-required employment conditions, including:
  • DOJ fingerprint and Child Abuse Index clearance.
  • TB/Health physical.
  • Valid CA Driver’s License, acceptable driving record, and proof of insurance.

Pay

The pay range for this position is $85,000–$95,000 per year for employees hired in the Santa Cruz, CA area. The range represents the typical starting rate for candidates in the Bay Area region. Candidates hired in other California locations may have different starting salaries based on cost of living and market data variations. Factors determining actual starting salary include education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, market data for the work location, and internal comparisons to similar roles.

Schedule

• Wednesday–Saturday, 6:30 AM–5:00 PM.
• On-site presence in Santa Cruz, CA, including oversight of evening and weekend coverage schedules as needed.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits package.
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer matching.
• Free Aspiranet Employee Perks Program, including discounts on entertainment, travel, wellness, pet care, gym memberships, theme parks, and more.
• Flexible paid time off: 11 paid holidays, 10 vacation days, 10 sick leave days, 2 diversity days, and paid birthday time off.
• Employee assistance program with 24/7 crisis line and up to 6 counseling sessions per issue.
• Training opportunities for ongoing development and career growth.
• Supportive, inclusive, and mission-aligned culture.
• Opportunities to lead initiatives supporting employee well-being.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described are representative of those required to perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform these functions. The position typically operates in a standard office environment with generally quiet noise levels within OSHA safety standards.