Job Description
Mental Health Specialist
Position Summary:
The Mental Health Specialist (MHS) leads the implementation of school-based mental health programs, including EmbraceOKC initiatives, and serves as the technical assistance point of contact for assigned sites. The MHS provides brief individual and group interventions, crisis response, and postvention support, while also consulting with school staff and multidisciplinary teams to guide behavioral and mental health strategies aligned with MTSS. They collaborate across departments and agencies to ensure continuity of care, support transitions from residential treatment, and contribute to IEP teams, data collection, and professional development for staff. Additionally, the MHS supports a culture of wellness through prevention efforts, community partnerships, and compliance with all relevant legal and ethical confidentiality standards.
Essential Duties:
Great Teaching and Learning (Instructional Infrastructure):
Collaborate with staff to ensure students are exposed and supported in rigorous academic learning experiences that support post-graduate opportunities
Monitor student progress in college and career readiness programs
Collaborate with school counselors and staff to address the unique needs of each student and develop specific intervention support.
Collaborate with staff to ensure students are exposed and supported in rigorous academic learning experiences that support post-graduate opportunities.
Great People (Talent Management):
Provides clinical supervision to practicum students while upholding the essential confidentiality of all wellness and mental health programs
Through various presentations, workshops, and training, provide ongoing mental health initiative education and training to students and faculty, including awareness, wellness, and mental health.
Serve on Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) teams, as needed
Provide training and support to school staff on college and career readiness initiatives and resources.
Great Culture (Systems Leaders):
Assist site administration in prevention, intervention, and postvention activities related to wellness and mental health concerns
Conduct brief group psychotherapy interventions for students in crisis or needing emotional and mental health support
Act as the cluster resource for crisis response and mental health issues, including Handle with Care protocols for Instructional Leadership Directors and Building Administrators
Serve on the District Crisis Response Team and provide support at other district sites when assigned.
Coordinate transition support for students returning from mental health residential programs.
Review and provide feedback on in-school support relating to student mental health needs and behaviors.
Collaborate with local, state, federal, and approved private agencies involved with student health and well-being.
Develop relationships with community organizations and therapists to provide parents with referrals.
Great Systems (Support and Accountability):
Implement School-Based Mental Health Programs within assigned school sites, serving as the Technical Assistance point of contact for the EmbraceOKC initiatives programming
Serve as the mental health Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) liaison, consulting with administrators, teachers, and staff on classroom behaviors and interventions per the MTSS guidelines.
Facilitate the referral and coordination of treatment services for students in need, ensuring continuity of care.
Manages comprehensive data collection procedures, including supporting the Oklahoma Prevention Needs Assessment (OPNA) administration, universal screeners, and conducting pre- and post-assessments for Mental Health and EmbraceOKC program initiatives
Adheres to confidentiality requirements, including FERPA (Education), HIPAA, and Oklahoma Statutes Title 43A (Mental Health Law)
Maintain accurate records of student interactions, program activities, and partnership agreements.
Ensure compliance with school, district, and state policies.
Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and/or Abilities):
Master's degree in a mental health-related field such as behavioral health counseling, counseling psychology, marriage or family therapy, criminal justice, school counseling certification, or related field and
Oklahoma licensure or under supervision as a Licensed Mental Health Professional (LMHP), including LCSW, LMFT, LPC, LADC-MH.
Two years of experience in crisis counseling, individual and group counseling, and working with children/adolescents in a public school, social service agency, or health care facility.
Proficient in a number of therapeutic models, including Cognitive Behavior Therapy and crisis response
Must be able to:
Perform assigned tasks.
Adhere to the licensure code of ethics.
Possess and demonstrate leadership qualities.
Follow district policies and procedures.
Maintain professional development by attending workshops and conferences, earning CEUs/ Continuing education credits, reading relevant material, and keeping updated professional records and annual licensure.
Participate in departmental meetings to collaborate with peers.
Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills and/or Abilities):
Five or more years of experience in crisis counseling and working with children/adolescents.
Physical/Mental Requirements:
Must have adequate manual dexterity to write legibly and perform required duties on the computer.
Must have adequate visual acuity to read, interpret, and transcribe written material and other required duties.
Requires normal range of hearing and clear speaking abilities to interact appropriately with others in person and on the telephone.
Requires some stooping, bending, stretching, and occasional lifting not to exceed 25 pounds.
Sitting for prolonged periods of time.
Work may periodically require work outside of normal business hours, including weekends, under sometimes stressful conditions to meet business needs and strict deadlines.
Work Environment:
Office duties will be performed in a well-lighted, climate-controlled environment.
Use of personal vehicles for travel within and outside the district
Reports To: Director of Mental Health Services
FSLA Status: Exempt
Compensation: Schedule 812
Work Days: 186
FTE: 100