MFLC Assignment Ready Counselor (PT On Demand)

About the role

This position supports On Demand Events, Surges, Summer Camps, and Backfills for the MFLC program. The Assignment Ready Counselor (ARC) provides coverage in short-term, surge, and on-demand situations such as post-deployment events or to cover existing assignments for absent counselors. Summer ARC counselors cover assignments from May 15 through September 15, coinciding with the school summer break.

The ARC provides the full breadth of Adult or Child and Youth Behavioral (CYB) counseling services to military service members and their families at military installations. Services may include non-medical counseling, training/health and wellness presentations, consultation with parents, personnel at child daycare centers and schools, and consultation to installation command regarding behavioral health issues affecting military personnel and their family members.

ARC CYB counselors may be assigned to DoDEA schools and community schools and must have experience working in a school setting to qualify for ARC roles in backing up school positions. CYB counselors may also be assigned to youth programs, summer camps, and on-demand assignments. ARC adult counselors may support MFLC services in military community and readiness centers, as well as on-demand and surge assignments.

The counselors work closely with installation and military branch Points of Contact (POC) to ensure services are provided within scope and meet installation needs. They provide non-medical, short-term, solution-focused counseling directly to adults, children, and youth of service members, including assessment, brief counseling and consultation, action planning, referral to resources, and follow-up as indicated.

CYB counselors focus on supporting staff and personnel of CDCs, DoDEA and community schools, youth programs, and summer camps, as well as providing parent training and guidance. They also provide training and health and wellness presentations, participate in health fairs, and other base/installation activities. Counselors enter activity data daily via smartphone or web application to ensure accurate reporting from assigned installations while maintaining confidentiality and anonymity of service members and families.

Responsibilities

• Provide non-medical, short-term, solution-focused counseling to adults, children, and youth of service members.
• Conduct assessments, brief counseling, consultation, action planning, and referrals to resources as appropriate.
• Support staff and personnel in child development centers (CDCs), DoDEA and community schools, youth programs, and summer camps.
• Deliver parent training and guidance.
• Provide training and health and wellness presentations; participate in health fairs and base/installation activities.
• Enter counselor activity data daily via smartphone or web application to ensure accurate reporting while maintaining confidentiality.
• Work with minimal guidance and oversight to provide behavioral health services on military installations.
• Collaborate with installation and military branch Points of Contact (POC) to align services with installation needs.
• Manage duty to warn and restricted reporting situations according to DoD protocol and escalate cases as required.
• Communicate regularly with Regional Supervisors and participate in individual and group supervision, sharing trends and issues from assigned installations.
• Respond to critical incidents and special requests as directed by the POC and approved by the OSD program manager.

Requirements

• Master’s Degree from an accredited graduate program in a mental health-related field or social work.
• Current independent licensure as a Mental Health Counselor, Therapist, or Social Worker in any state.
• Ability to accept assignments with short notice, including weekends, and cover full-time assignments of varying lengths from a weekend to two weeks.
• Ability to quickly build rapport with service members, clients, family members, students, parents, and coworkers.
• Adaptable to new working conditions, varying location rules, and able to work effectively with minimal instruction and guidance.
• Ability to engage and communicate effectively with military members, spouses, or children to accomplish job functions.
• Ability to respond quickly to emergent situations in any physical location on a military installation or within a school setting, including traversing short and long distances, rugged or uneven terrain, and working in outdoor weather conditions.
• Ability to comply with site-specific requirements such as current immunizations or vaccinations for certain assignments.
• Must be able to prove U.S. Citizenship and be fluent in English.
• Advanced knowledge of brief therapy and solution-focused counseling methods.
• Prior military service, military family member, or strong familiarity with military culture is desired.
• For CYB positions: Must meet Magellan MFLC CYB criteria for experience with children and youth and specialty in child and adolescent development/psychology.
• Ability to create a presence on the installation where service members and families feel comfortable approaching the counselor and recognize the program as confidential.
• Ability to establish and maintain working relationships with community resources and provide appropriate linkages.
• Ability to manage duty to warn and restricted reporting situations according to DoD protocol and staff cases with Regional Supervisor/Regional Director.