Mental Health Counselor/ Social Worker Research Associate

Brown University•East Brooklyn, CT

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Mental Health Counselor/ Social Worker Research Associate within the School of Public Health will report directly to the Principal Investigator within the Hassenfeld Institute. This position will work on the school screening project, Mood Check, traveling to schools in Rhode Island and Massachusetts to conduct educational sessions with students, conduct follow-up assessments with adolescents who report symptoms of depression, and connect with caregivers and school personnel to provide feedback regarding adolescents’ depression risk. The Mood Check clinicians do not offer counseling services beyond the interaction during the screening. This position is a part-time job working up to 15 hours per week. The incumbent will conduct research screening and clinical assessments, follow-up interviews, and motivational interviews in English and Spanish with study participants and with their parents/guardians in English and Spanish. This position will work primarily on a district- and foundation-funded school screening program. This position is responsible for supporting student populations within school districts that are primarily Spanish-speaking. The successful candidate must demonstrate the ability to ensure culturally and linguistically appropriate engagement with students, families, and school personnel to meet the program's research and clinical objectives. The Mental Health Counselor/ Social Worker Research Associate will be required to be licensed in Rhode Island (with a willingness to apply for Mass. licensure upon request). This individual will work closely with members of the research and program teams to address clinical needs of study participants, and to comply with research protocols, and will adhere to study and program timelines and deliverables. In addition, this individual may provide periodic evening clinical coverage for the study team. As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor/Social Worker Research Associate, the position serves as a School-Based Mental Health Screener within our university's research center, and will play a critical role in promoting mental wellness among school-aged children. The position’s expertise in mental health counseling and social work will be utilized to conduct comprehensive screenings and assessments in school or research settings, contributing valuable data to research initiatives aimed at understanding and addressing mental health challenges in youth populations. This role offers a unique opportunity to integrate clinical practice with research, making a meaningful impact on the mental health and well-being of students while contributing to advancements in the field of youth mental health. There are different aspects to the position, which are primarily divided by academic year (Oct-May) and summer (June-September). While in schools for Mood Check, there will be a lot of travel and evening phone calls. During the other months, this individual will focus on research studies, which do not include travel. Ability to travel independently up to 4 days per week to regional sites within 1.25 hours of the Providence metro area. This is a hybrid position. All offers of employment are contingent upon a criminal background check and education verification that are satisfactory to Brown University. This is a fixed term position with a current end date of 3/31/2027, which may be extended based upon available funding.

Requirements

Master's degree required in Counseling, Social Work, Psychology, or a related field, with 2-5 years of clinical experience.
Current independent licensure as a mental health counselor (LMHC) and/or clinical social worker (LCSW).
Experience working with children and adolescents in school or clinical settings.
Demonstrated ability to engage professionally with students and families in Spanish-speaking educational environments.
Competency in documenting clinical observations and assessment findings in English based on interviews conducted in Spanish.
Demonstrated skill in conducting outreach and follow-up calls in Spanish to engage families in the screening and referral process.
Ability to serve as a linguistic bridge between the research team and Spanish-speaking community stakeholders to facilitate project goals and participant retention.
Strong communication skills, in both written and verbal formats, and including under short deadlines.
Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to develop and maintain relationships with a diverse range of partnerships.
Excellent technical clinical skills.
All clinical interviews and documentation are conducted in REDCap (REDCap is a secure, web-based database that is HIPAA- and FERPA-compliant that is also used for our research studies).
Must be able to accurately write and report analyses and review summaries.
Must be observant and self-motivated, able to think critically and problem solve.
The position requires highly developed time management skills.
Must possess a valid driver’s license and access to a reliable vehicle for travel to off-site locations.
This position requires site visits as frequently as four (4) times per week within a 1.25-hour travel distance of Providence, RI."
Ability to travel independently up to 4 days per week to regional sites within 1.25 hours of Providence.

Responsibilities

Conduct research screening and clinical assessments, follow-up interviews, and motivational interviews in English and Spanish with study participants and with their parents/guardians in English and Spanish.
Support student populations within school districts that are primarily Spanish-speaking.
Ensure culturally and linguistically appropriate engagement with students, families, and school personnel to meet the program's research and clinical objectives.
Work closely with members of the research and program teams to address clinical needs of study participants, and to comply with research protocols, and will adhere to study and program timelines and deliverables.
Provide periodic evening clinical coverage for the study team.
Conduct comprehensive screenings and assessments in school or research settings, contributing valuable data to research initiatives aimed at understanding and addressing mental health challenges in youth populations.