FFSP CHILD COUNSELOR

About the role

The primary purpose of the position is to assess and counsel children in families referred to the Family Advocacy Program (FAP) for child abuse/neglect or domestic abuse allegations; provide Problematic Sexual Behavior in Children and Youth (PSB-CY) case management; and deliver direct clinical services focused on family dynamics, healthy parent-child interaction, effective co-parenting, communication, children's adjustment to the military lifestyle, and non-medical clinical counseling for children and parents.

Responsibilities

• FAP Assessment and Treatment of Children (40%)
  • Serve as an authoritative expert on the emotional, behavioral, and mental health concerns of children, including trauma, child abuse, and neglect.
  • Conduct clinical and psychosocial assessments of children in families referred to the FAP for child abuse/neglect and/or domestic abuse allegations, including alleged victims, other children in the home, and children who have witnessed domestic abuse.
  • Perform comprehensive and complex clinical assessments to identify crisis situations (e.g., suicide or homicide risk, danger of physical or sexual abuse, increased risk of family violence).
  • Provide crisis intervention and safety planning as required.
  • Employ various therapeutic approaches (e.g., cognitive-behavioral therapy, play therapy, family therapy) to help children cope with emotional and behavioral issues stemming from trauma.
  • Coordinate assessment findings with the FAP Case Manager, Child Protective Services, and other involved medical or behavioral health providers.
• Problematic Sexual Behavior in Children and Youth (PSB-CY) Case Management (30%)
  • Serve as the designated case manager and primary FAP point of contact for PSB-CY cases, ensuring compliance with Department of Defense (DoD) and Navy instructions and civilian reporting requirements.
  • Receive initial reports of PSB-CY from military and civilian representatives and follow all required steps under the FAP PSB-CY protocol.
  • Complete all required assessments and documentation (clinical notes, collateral contacts, treatment plans, and statistical data) in the DoD Military Community and Family Policy PSB-CY Case Management System.
  • Schedule and account for all PSB-CY appointments and meetings in the Scheduling Module of the automated FFSP management information system.
  • Participate in site/regional quarterly quality assurance procedures to ensure safe and high-quality PSB-CY counseling.
  • Prepare case summary reports and maintain ongoing contact with the FAP Clinical Supervisor for all PSB-CY cases.
• Non-medical Clinical Counseling for Children (20%)
  • Provide assessment and short-term, solution-focused non-medical clinical counseling services to eligible children, parents, and families within the authorized scope of FFSP clinical care.
  • Refer children for behavioral health follow-up for psychological disorders or symptoms requiring longer-term intervention.
  • Manage assigned non-medical counseling cases, consulting with the FAP Clinical Supervisor for highly complex cases or special issues.
  • Comply with reporting protocols for high-risk and high-visibility cases.
  • Receive and assess referrals from military and civilian agencies.
  • Conduct on-site/regional quarterly quality assurance reviews of cases to ensure safe and high-quality non-medical clinical counseling.
  • Schedule, account for, and document all non-medical clinical counseling appointments in the FFSP management information system.
  • Maintain case records and statistics in accordance with Navy policies and regulations.
  • Assess children and family needs, exploring personality structure, behavior patterns, and symptoms; refer and follow up on cases presenting suicidal or homicidal risk.
  • Initiate, develop, and facilitate group treatment programs for families, parents, children, and adolescent groups.
  • Provide immediate intervention and risk assessment in alignment with best practices in the mental health community.
  • Educate military personnel, civilians, and families on suicide intervention and at-risk behavior.
• Community Liaison (10%)
  • Attend community liaison meetings to establish or strengthen relationships with agencies (e.g., civilian community service boards, child protective services, child advocacy centers) serving the target population.
  • Provide summaries of liaison meetings for supervisor review and recommend collaborations to reduce service duplication and expand program offerings for the military population.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Must successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check; discrepancies must be resolved as a condition of employment.
• Must meet federal suitability requirements, including a successful background investigation.
• A valid state driver’s license is required to operate motor vehicles.
• Must be current in continuing education credits/units.
• Must be state-licensed for at least two (2) years.
• May be required to serve in an “on-call” duty status outside of normal work hours.

Qualifications

• A Master’s degree or doctorate in Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, Counseling, Clinical Psychology, or a related field from an accredited U.S. institution.
• Current and valid state clinical license permitting independent practice as a health practitioner, fully meeting Tier II or Tier III SECNAVINST 1754.8 requirements.
• Professional knowledge of and skill in working with children, adolescents, parents, and families in situations of child abuse/neglect or domestic abuse.
• Professional knowledge of family violence dynamics and skill in applying the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders to identify family violence, conduct risk assessments, and coordinate safety planning.
• Professional knowledge of and skill in applying various counseling approaches and group dynamics to address at-risk behavior in individuals and families.
• Professional knowledge of patterns of abusive behavior, abuse response, substance abuse, human behavior, human sexuality, attention deficit disorder, and juvenile delinquency to address a wide variety of behaviors and coordinate appropriate treatment plans.
• Expert knowledge of human behavior, research methods, group dynamics, motivational psychology, developmental psychology, and family systems therapy principles to recognize risk factors associated with child vulnerability and family adversity.
• Expert verbal communication skills to present sensitive and potentially controversial information to diverse groups.
• Skill in interviewing FAP-involved individuals and family members, collaborating with law enforcement and child protective services, and delivering presentations.
• Skill in professional written communication and proficiency in using software programs and Navy/DoD information systems to compose correspondence, develop case documentation, reports, training plans, and presentations.
• Knowledge of community resources for PSB-CY and skill in coordinating community response to provide services and referrals for children, youth, and families affected by PSB-CY.

Additional Information

Executive Order 12564 requires a Federal workplace free of illegal drugs. All Federal employees must remain drug-free throughout their employment. The use of illegal drugs will result in penalties up to and including removal from Federal Service.

Non-U.S. citizens with fewer than three years of recent residential history in the U.S. may be determined ineligible for employment.

Selectee may be required to complete a one (1) year probationary period. Participation in Direct Deposit/Electronic Fund Transfer within the first 30 days of employment is required.

In accordance with the Real ID Act of 2005, candidates or new hires requiring access to a military installation must present either one (1) Acceptable Credential (List A) or a combination of one (1) document from List B and one (1) from List C to establish identity. View acceptable documents.