Military and Family Life Counselor - Temporary Backfill

Magellan Health•Washington DC, WA

About The Position

The Assignment Ready Counselor (ARC) provides temporary coverage in short-term, surge, and on-demand situations driven by military needs, such as post-deployment events or covering for counselors who are absent. The Summer ARC position covers assignments from May 15 through September 15, coinciding with school summer break. Assignments may last one or two days, one week to 30 days, or longer depending on program needs. Candidates must reside near Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, the Pentagon, or DC National Guard Armory, or be willing to make themselves local. They must be available Monday through Friday and for occasional weekend assignments. With minimal guidance and oversight, the counselor provides adult or Child and Youth Behavioral (CYB) counseling services to military service members and their families at military installations. Services include non-medical, short-term, solution-focused counseling; assessment; brief counseling and consultation; action planning; resource referrals and linkage; and follow-up as indicated. Additional services may include training and health and wellness presentations, parent consultation, consultation with personnel at childcare centers and schools, and consultation to installation command on behavioral health issues affecting military personnel and families. CYB counselors may support DoDEA and community schools, youth programs, and summer camps, and may provide guidance and training to parents and staff. Experience working in a school setting is required to back up a school assignment. Adult counselors may support MFLC services at military community and readiness centers and in on-demand or surge assignments. Counselors work with installation and military branch Points of Contact (POCs) to ensure services are within program scope and meet installation needs. The role includes entering activity data daily through a smartphone or web application while maintaining the confidentiality and anonymity of service members and family members. Counselors establish working relationships with community resources, installation POCs, and supervisors; follow DoD protocols for duty-to-warn and restricted-reporting situations; participate in supervision and assigned training or contract activities; and respond to critical incidents and special requests as directed and approved. Additional duties aligned with the role may be assigned. This is a Service Contract Act-covered position. Pay and the health and welfare allowance are specified in the applicable wage determination agreement. The employer is an equal opportunity employer and a tobacco-free workplace.

Requirements

Master’s degree from an accredited graduate program in a mental health-related field or social work.
Current independent licensure to practice as a Social Worker (LICSW), Therapist (LMFT), or Mental Health Counselor (LPC) in Washington, DC, meeting applicable state, commonwealth, or customer-specific requirements.
Advanced knowledge of brief therapy and solution-focused counseling methods.
Ability to prove U.S. citizenship and fluency in English.
Valid in-state driver’s license.
Availability Monday through Friday, occasional weekends, and short-notice assignments of undefined duration; must be able to cover full-time assignments ranging from a weekend to two weeks.
Ability to adapt quickly to new work locations, conditions, and site rules, and to work effectively with minimal instruction and guidance.
Ability to quickly build rapport and communicate effectively with military members, spouses, children, students, parents, and coworkers, including in emergent situations.
Ability to respond in varied physical locations on military installations or in schools, including traversing short or long distances, stairs, steep inclines, grass, uneven or rugged outdoor areas, and working in outdoor weather and other military-base conditions.
Willingness to meet site-specific requirements for designated assignments, which may include having current immunizations or vaccinations and providing proof.
For CYB school backfill assignments, experience working in a school setting.
For CYB positions, ability to meet Magellan MFLC CYB experience criteria for working with children and youth and specialty criteria in child and adolescent development or psychology.
Willingness to participate in regular in-services, training, Quality Improvement committees, supervision, and other assigned contract activities.

Nice To Haves

Prior military service, being a military family member, or strong familiarity with military culture.

Responsibilities

Provide short-term, non-medical, solution-focused counseling to service members, adults, children, and youth.
Conduct assessments, brief counseling and consultation, action planning, resource referrals and linkage, and follow-up as indicated.
Provide coverage for short-term, surge, on-demand, backfill, and other assignments based on military program needs.
For CYB assignments, support children and youth in schools, childcare centers, youth programs, and summer camps, and provide parent guidance and training.
Provide training and health and wellness presentations, participate in health fairs, and take part in other base or installation activities.
Consult with parents, childcare and school personnel, and installation command regarding behavioral health needs.
Work with installation and military branch POCs to deliver services within program scope and meet local needs.
Build a welcoming, confidential program presence on installations and, for CYB assignments, in child and youth settings; follow line-of-sight protocol when working with children.
Establish and maintain relationships with community resources and provide appropriate referrals and linkages.
Record counselor activity data daily using a smartphone or web application while protecting service and family member confidentiality and anonymity.
Manage duty-to-warn and restricted-reporting situations according to DoD protocol and consult with the Regional Supervisor or Regional Director.
Communicate with Regional Supervisors and participate in individual and group supervision, sharing relevant trends and issues.
Participate in in-services, training, Quality Improvement committees, and other contract activities as assigned.
Respond to critical incidents and special requests as directed by the POC and approved by the OSD program manager.