Behavioral Health Counselor- Middle School

JOB DESCRIPTION
 

1. POSITION FUNCTION SUMMARY

The School Behavioral Health Counselor will provide individual, group, and family counseling in the general education setting to students based on referrals from staff and the counselor's evaluation of need. A School Behavioral Health Counselor supports school staff in understanding the importance of positive climate and culture, social emotional learning, and practices that support mental health in the school environment. This person will be involved in decision making processes related to the education of students on his/her caseload.
 

• School Behavioral Health Counselor Duties and Responsibilities

1. Employ appropriate methods of practice that enable students and families to function adequately within their educational and community settings by
   1. providing individual, group, and family counseling to students
   2. providing intensive crisis intervention to remedy effects of abuse, neglect, adverse childhood experiences, or
   3. exploitation of children
   4. providing appropriate interventions in situations detrimental to the physical, mental, educational, and/or emotional
   5. well-being of the student
2. Create and implement a referral process for school-based counseling services.
3. Provide interventions in a timely manner and taking into consideration the severity of each case.
4. Evaluate all relevant information regarding a referred case.
5. Coordinate multidisciplinary efforts for the management of cases when appropriate.
6. Document medical and educational necessity within a plan of care and/or progress notes.
7. Formulate goals and objectives for the plan of care for each case and tailor clinical interventions to planned goals and objectives.
8. Maintain a counseling schedule that meets the individual needs of students referred for services.
9. Document services provided and complete supporting documentation using standards set forth by the Medicaid School Based Services (MSBS) program.
10. Provide or contribute to prevention and intervention programs that promote the mental health and physical well-being of students.
11. Supports school staff in understanding the importance of positive climate and culture, social emotional learning, and practices that support mental health in the school environment, both at the school and student level.
12. Determine how services in the local community may be beneficial to the student, their family, and the family involvement in the academic process.
13. Provide support and encouragement to students, parents, and staff in an atmosphere of mutual respect.
14. Develop a caring relationship with students and caregivers and show consideration of their feelings, opinions, and suggestions.
15. Promote respect and positive interpersonal relationships among students and families.
16. Maintain an up-to-date log, indicating types of referrals received, dates, and status of referral and referral sources.
17. Conduct risk and threat assessments, interventions, and referrals as necessary for crisis intervention.
18. Participate in re-entry plan meetings for students returning to school after a mental health related hospitalization, residential treatment placement, or incarceration.
19. Participate in an assessment of need for ongoing behavioral health services in the school setting, for the student.
20. Provide ongoing behavioral health interventions as deemed necessary.
21. Understand the cultural context of relationships, issues, and trends in a multicultural and diverse society related to such factors as culture, ethnicity, nationality, age, gender, sexual orientation, mental and physical characteristics, education, family values, religious and spiritual beliefs, and socioeconomic status, and unique characteristics of individuals, couples, families, ethnic groups, and communities.
22. Demonstrate professional knowledge and skills in dealing with mental health as they relate to students' functioning and achievement in school.
23. Demonstrate knowledge of educational foundations, including:
    1. organization and operation of schools
    2. the organization and administration of school counseling services, including record keeping; the social, philosophical, historical, and cultural issues in education; setting intervention programs and strategies; and the current identification, referral, and placement procedures for students with mental health issues.
24. Demonstrate knowledge of human development and psychopathology and associated biological, cultural, and social influences on human behavior.

• Education and Experience

Required

1. Hold a department-issued license for at least one of the following:
   1. Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
   2. Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC)
   3. Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC)
   4. License Master Social Worker (LMSW)
   5. Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
   6. Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)
2. Valid New Mexico PED School Behavioral Health Counselor license as required by the State of New Mexico.
3. Experience in working with children experiencing behavioral health issues.