Military And Family Life Counselor - School Counselor - Yorktown, VA

VetJobs•Yorktown, VA

8d•$59,922 - $100,280•Onsite

About The Position

The Military and Family Life Counselor provides child and youth behavioral counseling services to children of military service members and their families at military installations and off-installation locations. Services may include non-medical counseling, training and health and wellness presentations, consultation with parents, school personnel and installation command, and support for behavioral health issues affecting children and youth. School counselors are assigned to Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools and community schools; school assignments require prior experience working in a school setting. Counselors may also be assigned to youth programs, summer camps and on-demand assignments, working with installation and military branch Points of Contact (POCs) to ensure services meet local needs and remain within program scope. The counselor provides short-term, solution-focused counseling to eligible children and youth, including assessment, brief counseling and consultation, action planning, referrals and follow-up as indicated. The role also supports school, youth-program and camp staff, and provides parent training and guidance. Counselors deliver presentations and participate in health fairs and other installation activities focused on children and youth. The position requires daily entry of activity data through a smartphone or web application while preserving the confidentiality and anonymity of service members and family members. Counselors maintain relationships with community resources and provide appropriate linkages. When working with children in schools, counselors must follow line-of-sight protocol so another responsible adult can see the counselor and child at all times. Counselors partner with installation or facility POCs, manage duty-to-warn and restricted-reporting situations according to Department of Defense protocols, and consult with regional supervisors or directors. They participate in individual and group supervision, share information about trends and issues at assigned locations, and respond to critical incidents and special requests as directed and approved. Schedules may need to flex to respond to urgent requests. The role also includes participation in training, quality improvement activities, studies, pilot programs and other contract activities, along with related documentation and use of applicable technology. Other duties may be assigned.

Requirements

Master’s degree from an accredited graduate program in a mental-health-related field; the posting lists behavioral health or social work as required education.
Current, valid, unrestricted independent counseling license from a state, the District of Columbia, a U.S. territory or commonwealth, authorizing independent counseling practice.
Less than two years of post-licensure clinical experience.
Experience with children and youth and specialty in child and adolescent development or psychology meeting Magellan MFLC CYB criteria.
Prior work experience in a school setting for assignment as a school counselor.
Intermediate-level competency with technology and software, including Microsoft Suite, internet navigation, smartphones/tablets and applications, and videoconferencing platforms.
Ability to engage and communicate with military members or children, perform job functions, and respond quickly to emergent situations in varied locations on military installations or in schools.
Ability to traverse short or long distances, including rugged or uneven outdoor areas, steep inclines, stairs and grass, and work outdoors in varied weather and military-base conditions.
Ability to meet site-specific requirements; some assignments may require current immunizations or vaccinations and documentation.
Ability to prove U.S. citizenship and fluency in English.
Understanding, sensitivity and empathy for service members and their families, and ability to develop trusting helping relationships and work with people from diverse racial, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds.
Pass National Agency Check and Inquiries (NACI), Installation Records Check (IRC), criminal background and FBI fingerprint checks.
Possess a valid U.S. state vehicle operator’s license unless specifically waived by the FEDSIM COR; may be required to pass tests and obtain a U.S. military vehicle operator’s permit for commercial sedans and similar vehicles for TDY locations.

Responsibilities

Provide short-term, solution-focused, non-medical counseling to eligible children and youth of service members at assigned locations.
Conduct assessments, brief counseling and consultations; develop action plans; refer clients to resources and follow up as indicated.
Provide consultation to parents, school personnel, installation command and other relevant personnel about behavioral health issues affecting children and youth.
Support DoDEA and community-school staff, youth programs and summer camps, and provide parent training and guidance.
Deliver training and health and wellness presentations and participate in health fairs and other installation activities focused on children and youth.
Enter counselor activity data daily using a smartphone or web application while maintaining confidentiality and anonymity.
Establish and maintain relationships with community resources focused on children and youth and provide appropriate linkages.
Remain visible and accessible in assigned schools and follow line-of-sight protocol when working with children.
Partner with installation or facility POCs to provide services that address local needs and maintain professional working relationships.
Manage duty-to-warn and restricted-reporting situations according to DoD protocol and consult with regional supervision.
Participate in individual and group supervision and communicate trends and issues from assigned installations and facilities.
Respond to critical incidents and special requests as directed and approved, flexing schedules when needed for urgent requests.
Participate in in-services, training, quality improvement committees, initiatives, studies, pilot programs and other assigned contract activities.
Complete activity documentation and use applicable technology for required activities.
Perform other duties as assigned.