Temporary High School Mental Health Counselor

EQA Schools•New Orleans, LA

2d•$100 - $200•Onsite

About The Position

Educators for Quality Alternatives (EQA) serves students who have dropped out, been expelled from, or have struggled academically or behaviorally in traditional settings and are looking for an accelerated path to graduation. EQA has three high school campuses and a middle school therapeutic program. The goal is for students to leave school with the skills, confidence, and experience necessary to succeed in their chosen career and education path. EQA Schools is seeking a highly skilled counselor on a temporary basis to conduct start-of-school assessments and provide individual and group counseling. Many EQA students face significant challenges, including behavioral struggles, PTSD, and C-PTSD due to exposure to violence. Recognizing the lack of adequate mental health services in the city and state, EQA takes on a greater responsibility for providing high-quality mental health services. This role is part of a multidisciplinary team focused on restorative approaches and supporting students with high needs and trauma.

Requirements

5-10+ years experience effectively counseling adolescents with mental health, behavioral health, and trauma issues
Experience with restorative approaches
Experience with SAMSHA’s 6 Principles of Trauma-Informed Approaches
Experience with effective, culturally responsive interventions for adolescents with CPTSD
LCSW or LPC required
All Louisiana certification/licensure must be in good standing
Passion for improving educational opportunities for urban students and for being a part of a strong, mission-driven team
Commitment to EQA’s mission, vision and growth
Demonstrated record of effective collaboration with diverse teams and with 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
Being authorized to work in the U.S. is a precondition of employment
In compliance with state law, all persons hired will be required to verify eligibility to work in a Louisiana public school via the appropriate background checks

Nice To Haves

Experience in schools preferred but not required

Responsibilities

Conducting start-of-school assessments
Providing individual and group counseling to students on a temporary basis
Assessing student needs
Connecting students to resources
Designing and providing interventions and counseling
Managing crisis prevention and interventions
Training, consulting with, and supporting staff
Selecting psycho-social assessments informed by knowledge of the impact of race, gender, and social injustice on families and youth
Completing psycho-social assessments on every student every semester
Effectively and appropriately assessing needs, characteristics, and interactions of students, families, staff, and community
Using DSM V and current research to accurately assess student needs
Conducting compliant and productive Functional Behavior Assessments
Maintaining electronic and paper records of assessments and sharing them appropriately
Researching and vetting resources and building partnerships with high-quality providers
Collaborating with the team to ensure all students are connected with appropriate referrals, supports, and resources
Tracking referral outcomes and advocating for students and families
Assisting students in accessing formal and informal community resources
Designing effective intervention strategies for students, parents, and staff
Serving on the SBLC to review student needs and make decisions regarding interventions, placements, and supports
Managing a caseload of short and long-term cases, ensuring appropriate treatment plans and student progress
Providing high-quality individual counseling using cognitive behavioral therapy or other best practices
Designing and providing high-quality group counseling around student needs (e.g., grief, trauma, substance abuse, conflict resolution, anger management) using C-BITs and other best practices
Engaging families, conducting home visits, mediating with family members, and including families in students’ growth and development
Providing services that build upon students’ individual strengths and assets and maximize opportunities for agency, healing, and growth
Designing crisis plans for high-needs students in collaboration with students, families, and staff
Training students and staff to handle crises in safe, restorative, and appropriate ways
Designing and providing training for staff on trauma-informed care, mental health issues, best practices, and secondary trauma
Consulting with staff and leaders on various issues including attendance, confidentiality, ethnicity and diversity, mental health, behavioral management, discipline, crisis intervention, and child abuse and neglect
Designing evaluation systems and collecting and analyzing data for evidence-based decision-making
Collecting, communicating, and analyzing student records and data to ensure appropriate student progress
Conforming to the National Association of Social Work Code of Ethics and Standards for School Social Work practice
Maintaining appropriate communication and confidentiality in accordance with HIPAA, FERPA, state law, and school policy
Setting goals for student development and professional growth
Actively reflecting on own work and monitoring progress toward goals
Productively seeking, giving, and using feedback
Positively contributing to the school’s collegial community
Participating in all scheduled professional development activities and seeking out additional opportunities
Involving oneself in the continual development and improvement of the school’s curriculum, culture, and program