Temporary High School Mental Health Counselor

Educators for Quality Alternatives (EQA) serves students who have dropped out, been expelled from, or struggled academically or behaviorally in traditional settings and are looking for an accelerated path to graduation. There are three high school campuses: The NET: Central City (opened in 2011), The NET: Gentilly (opened in 2017), and NET: East / New Orleans Accelerated High School (NOAH, opened in 2020). Students earn a high school diploma and participate in internships, career counseling, and career training in fields including construction, medical, and digital media. EQA also serves middle school students through The Bridge Middle School, a therapeutic program for 7th and 8th grade struggling students. Our goal is that students leave school with the skills, confidence, and experience necessary to succeed in their chosen career and education path.

About the role

EQA Schools is seeking a highly skilled counselor to conduct start-of-school assessments and provide individual and group counseling on a temporary basis while we fill the role permanently. More than half of EQA students have behavioral struggles, and a large percentage suffer from PTSD or C-PTSD due to exposure to neighborhood violence. In a city and state lacking appropriate mental health and crisis services, EQA believes it has a greater responsibility to provide high-quality mental health services. This position joins a team of school counselors, deans of students, family coordinators, attendance coordinators, psychologists, and Special Education personnel. EQA’s culture is based on restorative approaches, and all staff are trained to work with students with high levels of need and trauma.

Responsibilities

• Assessment
  • Select psycho-social assessments informed by knowledge of the impact of race, gender, and social injustice on families and youth.
  • Complete psycho-social assessments for every student each semester.
  • Assess needs, characteristics, and interactions of students, families, staff, and community.
  • Use DSM V and current research to accurately assess student needs.
  • Conduct compliant and productive Functional Behavior Assessments.
  • Maintain electronic and paper records of assessments, sharing them appropriately to empower students and families while adhering to confidentiality mandates.
• Resources
  • Research, vet resources, and build partnerships with high-quality providers.
  • Collaborate with the team to ensure all students are connected with appropriate referrals and supports.
  • Track referral outcomes and advocate for students and families to ensure they receive appropriate care.
  • Assist students in accessing formal and informal community resources.
• Interventions & Counseling
  • Design effective intervention strategies for students, parents, and staff, including those with IEPs, 504s, and BIPs.
  • Serve on the SBLC to review student needs and make decisions regarding interventions, placements, and supports.
  • Manage a caseload of short- and long-term cases, ensuring all students have appropriate treatment plans and make progress.
  • Provide high-quality individual counseling using cognitive behavioral therapy or other best practices.
  • Design and provide group counseling on topics such as grief, trauma, substance abuse, conflict resolution, and anger management using C-BITs and other best practices.
  • Engage families through home visits, mediation, and inclusion in students’ growth and development.
  • Provide services that build on students’ strengths and maximize their agency in healing and growth.
• Crisis Prevention and Intervention
  • Design crisis plans for high-needs students in collaboration with students, families, and staff.
  • Train students and staff to handle crises in safe, restorative, and appropriate ways.
• Staff Training and Consultation
  • Design and provide training for staff on trauma-informed care, mental health issues, best practices, and secondary trauma.
  • Consult with staff and leaders on issues such as attendance, confidentiality, ethnicity and diversity, mental health, behavioral management, discipline, crisis intervention, and child abuse and neglect.
• Program Management & Accountability
  • Design evaluation systems and collect and analyze data to ensure evidence-based decision-making.
  • Collect, communicate, and analyze student records and data to ensure appropriate student progress.
  • Conform to the National Association of Social Work Code of Ethics and Standards for School Social Work practice.
  • Maintain appropriate communication and confidentiality in accordance with HIPAA, FERPA, state law, and school policy.
• Professional Development
  • Set goals for student development and professional growth.
  • Actively reflect on your own work and monitor progress toward goals.
  • Productively seek, give, and use feedback.
  • Positively contribute to the school’s collegial community.
  • Participate in all scheduled professional development activities and seek additional opportunities.
  • Involve yourself in the continual development and improvement of the school’s curriculum, culture, and program.

Requirements

• Education & Experience
  • 5–10+ years of experience effectively counseling adolescents with mental health, behavioral health, and trauma issues.
  • Experience with restorative approaches, SAMHSA’s 6 Principles of Trauma-Informed Approaches, and effective, culturally responsive interventions for adolescents with C-PTSD.
  • Experience in schools preferred but not required.
  • LCSW or LPC required; all Louisiana certification/licensure must be in good standing.
• Skills & Approach
  • Passion for improving educational opportunities for urban students and being part of a strong, mission-driven team.
  • Commitment to EQA’s mission, vision, and growth.
  • Demonstrated record of effective collaboration with diverse teams and building effective partnerships.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Careful, detail-oriented data/file/information management.
  • Flexible and learning mindset focused on effective and innovative problem-solving.
  • Dedicated to continually growing as a professional and as a servant leader.

Pay

Between $100–$200 per hour, commensurate with experience.

Schedule

Start date: As soon as possible.

Location: 6601 Franklin Avenue. Reports to: Principal.