Mental Health Specialist 

Definition: 

The  Mental Health Specialist will provide school-based mental health/wellness services and resources to students and families, and lead school sites through Social Emotional Learning and mental wellness strategies. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: include but are not limited to the following: 

• Provides direct individual and group counselling and case management to students at various school sites. 

• Assists in developing and implementing research-based programs/curriculum to improve educational access and academic performance. 

• Develops and provides treatment plans and interventions to serve students with mental health disorders. 

• Provides support and guidance to the site team and conducts threat/suicidal/homicidal risk assessment to promote student safety. 

• Assists parents and families in accessing and utilizing community resources; makes referrals for students and to appropriate community resources and social services.

• Collaborates with student and staff to support student academic progress and attends intervention, 504 and IEP team meetings. 

• Conducts home visits in conjunction with other school personnel as needed. 

• Provides parent/guardian counseling/training and education. Sessions may be in the evenings based on parent preference. 

• Develops and implements classroom-based presentations on mental health related topics as needed. 

• Participates in professional activities, conferences and research to keep apprised of trends, practices and areas of growth for meeting the mental wellness needs of students. 

• Establishes and maintains records utilizing district systems.

• Develops an Internship Program with local universities. Supervise M.S.W. (Masters, Social Work) interns, B.S.W. (Bachelor, Social Work) interns, or MFT (Marriage, Family Therapist) Interns/and PPS (Pupil Personnel Services) Interns involved in fieldwork placements with the program. Provide crisis response services when needed via the intern program.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Knowledge Of:

• Theory and evidence based practices of counseling, ethics and associated legal confidentiality requirements.

• Therapeutic methodologies and family systems theories.

• Applicable sections of the State Education Code and other applicable laws, rules and regulations Specialist- Mental Health & School Wellness. 

• Applicable diagnosis and treatment models for individuals, groups, and families. 

• Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).

• Normal and abnormal child behavior, development and parent-child relationships. 

• Behavior modification techniques and strategies.

• Crisis management and intervention techniques.

• Community referral resources.

• Federal and state laws concerning family rights and behavioral health services..

• Conflict resolution and group dynamics. 

• Knowledge of HIPAA and FERPA laws.

• Evidence-based practices ( TF-CBT/CBT, Restorative Practices, FFT, MI, SFBT).

• Objective and measurable goal writing.

• Effective counseling strategies, adolescent growth and developmental issues, and specific crisis interventions.

Possess Ability and Skill to:  

• Effectively communicate, both orally and in writing with school personnel, students and parents. 

• Establish and maintain effective relationships with families and relatives of students, program staff, and other interested persons and agencies. 

• Knowledgeable about community-based resources and ability to work effectively with outside agencies.

• Flexible work hours; may include evenings and early mornings. 

• Develop and maintain systematic and concise files for student data and progress monitoring.

• Read, interpret, and explain rules, regulations, policies and procedures.

• Manipulate and configure data to form statistical analysis.

• Complete work with many interruptions.

• Observe and analyze situations and make sound effective decisions.

• Travel to a variety of school-site or school-related community organizations within a reasonable time frame.

• Operate a variety of office equipment, a computer and assigned software.

• Define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. 

• Use correct English grammar, spelling, punctuation and vocabulary.

• Demonstrate effective record-keeping and report writing techniques.

• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

• Operate a variety of office equipment including a copier, printer, a computer and assigned software.

• Reach from the waist to at or above shoulder level; bend, stoop, push, pull, grasp, squat, kneel, and twist as needed.

• Bilingual Spanish preferred.

Education/Experience/Licences Required:

• Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in counseling, social work,or psychology, and,

• Possession and maintenance of pupil personnel services credential (PPS: School Counselor; School Child Welfare and Attendance; School Psychology; or School Social Worker), and

• Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW);

• Two years of post-masters experience working with adolescents in an educational, individual and family therapy service setting as LMFT or LCSW.

• Experience working with “at risk” students. 

• Proof of graduate intern supervisor training in order to supervise interns from local colleges or universities, and experience supervising interns is preferred. 

• Valid California Class C Driver’s Licence.