Military and Family Life Counselor - Temporary Backfill

Magellan Health•Fort Stewart, GA

About The Position

The Assignment Ready Counselor (ARC) provides temporary coverage for short-term, surge, and on-demand Military and Family Life Counseling assignments, including post-deployment support and coverage for counselors who are absent. The Summer ARC role covers assignments from May 15 through September 15, coinciding with school summer break. Assignments may last one or two days, a weekend, one week, or up to 30 days, with the possibility of longer assignments based on program needs. Candidates must reside near Fort Stewart or be willing to make themselves local and must hold an independent Georgia license as an LCSW, LMFT, or LPC. 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 short-term, non-medical, solution-focused counseling; assessment; brief counseling; consultation; action planning; referrals and linkage to resources; and follow-up as indicated. Depending on assignment, CYB counselors may work in DoDEA or community schools, youth programs, summer camps, and child development centers. School backfill assignments require experience working in a school setting. CYB counselors also support staff and personnel, and provide parent training and guidance. Adult counselors may serve at military community and readiness centers or in surge and on-demand assignments. The counselor provides training and health and wellness presentations, participates in health fairs and installation activities, and consults with parents, school and childcare personnel, and installation command on behavioral health issues affecting military personnel and families. The counselor coordinates with installation and military branch Points of Contact (POCs) to ensure services are within scope and address installation needs. The counselor records activity data daily through a smartphone or web application while maintaining the confidentiality and anonymity of service members and family members. The role requires availability Monday through Friday and occasional weekend assignments, including accepting assignments with short notice and undefined duration. Counselors may work in varied locations and conditions on military installations and in schools, including indoor and outdoor settings. The position may involve responding to emergent situations, traversing short or long distances, and navigating uneven or rugged terrain, stairs, and inclines. Some locations may require current immunizations or vaccinations and documentation. Additional duties aligned with the position may be assigned.

Requirements

Master’s degree from an accredited graduate program in a mental health-related field or social work.
Current independent licensure to practice in Georgia as a Social Worker (LCSW), Therapist (LMFT), or Mental Health Counselor (LPC).
Current licensure must meet applicable state, commonwealth, or customer-specific requirements.
Must be an independently licensed behavioral health clinician.
Must be able to prove U.S. citizenship and be fluent in English.
Must reside near Fort Stewart or be willing to make themselves local.
Must be available Monday through Friday and for occasional weekend assignments; willing to accept assignments on short notice and for undefined periods.
Able to cover full-time assignments of varying lengths, from a weekend to two weeks; assignments may also range from one or two days to 30 days or longer based on program needs.
Advanced knowledge of brief therapy and solution-focused counseling methods.
Able to build rapport quickly with service personnel, family members, students, parents, and coworkers.
Adaptable to new working conditions, locations, and site rules; able to work effectively with minimal instruction and guidance.
Able to listen carefully to instructions and respond quickly to emergent situations on military installations or in school settings.
Able to traverse short or long distances and navigate outdoor or uneven locations, including inclines, stairs, and grass, and work in outdoor weather and other military base conditions.
Able to meet site-specific requirements; some assignments may require current immunizations or vaccinations and proof of receipt.
For CYB positions, must meet Magellan MFLC CYB criteria for experience with children and youth and specialty in child and adolescent development or psychology.
School-based CYB backfill assignments require experience working in a school setting.
Must comply with applicable security responsibilities, controls, legal, regulatory, contractual, and internal requirements.

Nice To Haves

Prior military service, being a military family member, or strong familiarity with military culture.
Valid in-state driver’s license.

Responsibilities

Provide short-term, non-medical, solution-focused counseling to military service members, adults, children, and youth.
Conduct assessments, brief counseling, consultations, action planning, referrals and resource linkage, and follow-up as indicated.
Provide CYB support to personnel at child development centers, DoDEA and community schools, youth programs, and summer camps; provide parent training and guidance.
Deliver training and health and wellness presentations and participate in health fairs and other installation activities.
Record counselor activity data daily using a smartphone or web application while protecting service member and family member confidentiality and anonymity.
Coordinate with installation and military branch POCs to provide services within scope and meet installation or facility needs.
Establish and maintain relationships with community resources and provide appropriate referrals and linkages.
Create an approachable and confidential program presence on installations and, for CYB assignments, in child and youth settings; follow line-of-sight protocol when working with children.
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 trends and issues from assigned installations and facilities.
Respond to critical incidents and special requests as directed by the POC and approved by the OSD program manager.
Participate, with minimal notice, in in-services, training, Quality Improvement committees, and other assigned contract activities.
Accept temporary coverage assignments of varying durations, including short-notice assignments and occasional weekends.