Military and Family Life Counselor - Adult, School and Child Youth

Magellan Health • Norfolk, VA

14d • $59,922 - $100,280

About The Position

The Military and Family Life Counselor provides Child and Youth Behavioral (CYB) counseling services to children of military service members and their families at military installations and off-installation locations. Services include non-medical, short-term, solution-focused counseling; assessment; consultation; action planning; referral and linkage to resources; and follow-up as indicated. Counselors may also provide training, health and wellness presentations, parent guidance, and consultation to schools, personnel, and installation command on behavioral health issues affecting children and youth.

School-assigned counselors work in Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) and community schools and must have prior school-setting experience. Assignments may also include youth programs, summer camps, and on-demand work. Counselors coordinate with installation and military branch Points of Contact (POCs) to tailor services to local needs and remain visible and accessible in schools while following line-of-sight requirements.

The role includes maintaining community-resource relationships, entering activity data while protecting confidentiality and anonymity, managing duty-to-warn and restricted-reporting situations under DoD protocol, and communicating with regional supervisors. Counselors participate in supervision, training, quality-improvement activities, pilot programs, and other contract activities. They may respond to critical incidents and urgent requests, including schedule flexibility when needed. Additional duties may be assigned.

Requirements

• Master’s degree from an accredited graduate program in a mental-health-related field; the job information also lists a master’s in Behavioral Health or Social Work as required.
• Valid, unrestricted independent counseling license from a U.S. state, the District of Columbia, a U.S. territory, or commonwealth, authorizing independent practice. Examples listed include LCSW, LICSW, LCSW-R, LICSW-CP, LPC, LMHC, and LMFT or equivalent independent licensure.
• Less than two years of post-licensure clinical experience.
• 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 and respond quickly to emergent situations in varied physical locations.
• Ability to traverse short and long distances on installations, maneuver through rugged or uneven outdoor locations such as steep inclines, stairs, and grass, and work in outdoor weather and other military-base conditions.
• Ability to meet assignment-specific site requirements, which may include having current immunizations or vaccinations and providing proof of receipt.
• Ability to prove U.S. citizenship and fluency in English.
• Understanding, sensitivity, and empathy for service members and their families; ability to develop trusting helping relationships and work with people from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Ability to pass a National Agency Check and Inquiries (NACI) clearance, Installation Records Check (IRC), criminal background check, and FBI fingerprint check.
• Valid U.S. state vehicle operator’s license unless waived by the FEDSIM COR; personnel may also be required to pass tests for and obtain a U.S. military vehicle operator’s permit for commercial sedans and similar vehicles for TDY locations.
• Meet Magellan MFLC CYB criteria for experience with children and youth and specialty in child and adolescent development or psychology.
• School-assigned counselors must have prior work experience in a school setting.
• Candidates must be local or willing to relocate to become local.

Responsibilities

• Provide non-medical, short-term, solution-focused counseling to eligible children and youth of service members at assigned locations.
• Conduct assessments, brief counseling, consultation, action planning, referrals and resource linkage, and follow-up as indicated.
• Support DoDEA and community-school staff, personnel, youth programs, summer camps, and families through consultation, 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 serving 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 and maintain effective professional working relationships with them.
• Manage duty-to-warn and restricted-reporting situations according to DoD protocol and consult with the Regional Supervisor or Regional Director.
• Communicate with regional leadership and participate in individual and group supervision, sharing relevant trends and issues.
• Respond to critical incidents and special requests as directed by the POC and approved by the OSD program manager; flex schedules for urgent requests when needed.
• Participate in in-services, training, Quality Improvement committees, initiatives, studies, pilot programs, and other assigned contract activities.
• Complete required activity documentation and use applicable technology to support assigned and pilot-program activities.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• The position may be eligible for short-term incentives.
• A comprehensive benefits package is offered, including a broad range of health, life, voluntary, and other benefits and perks supporting physical, mental, emotional, and financial well-being.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level