Military and Family Life Counselor - School

This position is in person at schools affiliated with Fort Bragg. Candidates must be local or willing to relocate to become local.

About the Role

This position has the primary responsibility of providing the full breadth of Child and Youth Behavioral (CYB) counseling services to children of all ages of military service members and their families at military installations and off military installations. These services may include non-medical counseling, training/health and wellness presentations, consultation with parents, personnel, schools, and consultation to installation command regarding behavioral health issues affecting children and youth.

CYB School counselors will be assigned to Department of Defense (DoDEA) schools and community schools and will need to have experience working in a school setting to qualify for a school position. CYB School counselors will also be assigned to youth programs, summer camps, and on-demand assignments. The counselors work closely with the installation and military branch Points of Contact (POC) to assure that the program is provided within scope and meets the needs of the installation and the schools.

Responsibilities

• Provides non-medical, short-term, solution-focused counseling directly to eligible children and youth of service members at assigned primary and secondary locations. Services include assessment, brief counseling and consultation, action planning, referral to resources (assuring linkage as appropriate), and follow-up as indicated.
• Focuses on supporting the staff and personnel of DoDEA, community schools, summer camps (if available/assigned), as well as providing parent training and guidance.
• Provides training and health and wellness presentations, participates in health fairs and other base/installation activities focused on children and youth.
• Enters counselor activity data daily through smartphone or web application to assure that reporting is accurate from assigned installation while maintaining confidentiality and anonymity of service/family member.
• Establishes and maintains working relationships with community resources focused on children and youth and provides appropriate linkages.
• Abides by line-of-sight protocol (another adult with responsibility for the child must be able to see the counselor and child they are working with at all times).
• Partners with POC to provide CYB services in a manner that addresses the needs of the installation/facility. Develops an effective and professional working relationship with the installation/facility POC.
• Manages duty to warn and restricted reporting situations according to DoD protocol and staffs the cases with Regional Supervisor/Regional Director.
• Communicates with Regional Supervisor and participates in regular individual and group supervision, sharing information regarding trends and issues on the installations and in facilities to which they are assigned.
• Responds to critical incidents and special requests as directed by the POC and approved by the Office of Secretary of Defense (OSD) program manager. Flexes schedule to respond to urgent requests as needed or at the request of the Regional Supervisor/Regional Director.
• Participates in regular in-services/training, Quality Improvement committees, initiatives, studies, pilot programs, and other contract activities as assigned/appropriate as directed by the customer and/or Magellan.
• Complies with all other duties as assigned, including participation in pilot program certification and training processes, completion of activity documentation, integration of pilot activities in non-medical counseling work, and utilization of applicable technology.

Requirements

• Master’s Degree from an accredited Graduate Program in a Mental Health related field.
• Valid unrestricted independent counseling license from a State, District of Columbia, US Territory, or Commonwealth that grants authority to provide counseling services as an independent practitioner (LCSW, LMFT, LPC/LCHMC).
• Less than 2 years of post-licensure clinical experience.
• Demonstrated intermediate-level competencies in technology and software (e.g., Microsoft Suite, Internet navigation, Smartphone/Tablet and application navigation, video-conferencing platform navigation).
• Ability to engage and communicate with military members or children as assigned, and to respond quickly to emergent situations in any physical location on a military installation and/or within a school setting.
• Ability to traverse short and/or long distances within the base to both indoor and outdoor locations, including rugged or uneven terrain (e.g., steep inclines, stairs, grass), and work in outdoor weather and other military base conditions.
• Compliance with site-specific requirements to work at designated locations, which may include current immunizations or vaccinations and providing proof of receipt.
• Proof of US Citizenship and fluency in English.
• Understanding, sensitivity, and empathy for service members and their families.
• Ability to develop trusting, helping relationships and work with individuals and families from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Pass a National Agency Check and Inquiries (NACI) Clearance, Installation Records Check (IRC), Criminal Background Check, and FBI Fingerprints Check.
• Valid U.S. state vehicle operator’s license. May be required to pass tests for and obtain a U.S. military vehicle operator’s permit for commercial sedans and similar vehicles at Temporary Duty (TDY) locations.
• Must meet the Magellan MFLC CYB criteria for experience with children and youth and specialty in child and adolescent development/psychology.
• School-assigned counselors must have past work experience in a school setting to qualify for assignment.

Benefits

This position is included in a bargaining unit. Pay rates are specified in the applicable Collective Bargaining Agreement.