Military & Family Life Counselor - School

Magellan Health • Milton, FL

10d • $59,922 - $100,280 • Onsite

About The Position

The Military & Family Life Counselor (MFLC) – School supports schools associated with NAS Whiting Field, Florida. The counselor provides Child and Youth Behavioral (CYB) services to children of military service members and their families at military installations and off-installation locations. Services include non-medical counseling, training and health and wellness presentations, parent consultation, consultation with school personnel, and consultation with installation command regarding behavioral health issues affecting children and youth. School counselors are assigned to Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) and community schools and may also support youth programs, summer camps, and on-demand assignments. Candidates must be local to Whiting Field or willing to become local and hold an independent-level license in a qualifying mental health profession.

The role provides short-term, solution-focused counseling to eligible children and youth, including assessment, brief counseling, consultation, action planning, referrals and follow-up as indicated. Counselors support school and camp personnel, provide parent training and guidance, participate in installation activities, and maintain connections with community resources. Counselors must remain visible and follow line-of-sight protocol when working with children. They coordinate with installation Points of Contact (POCs), maintain professional working relationships, and deliver services within program scope and installation needs.

The counselor records activity data daily using a smartphone or web application while protecting the confidentiality and anonymity of service members and families. The position also involves managing duty-to-warn and restricted-reporting situations according to Department of Defense protocol, consulting with regional supervisors, participating in supervision and training, responding to critical incidents and urgent requests, and taking part in quality improvement and other assigned program activities. Counselors may need to flex their schedules for urgent requests. Additional duties may be assigned consistent with the role.

Requirements

• Master’s degree from an accredited graduate program in a mental-health-related field.
• Valid, unrestricted independent counseling license from a state, the District of Columbia, a U.S. territory, or commonwealth, authorizing independent practice.
• Less than two years of post-licensure clinical experience.
• Intermediate-level technology and software competencies, including Microsoft Suite, internet navigation, smartphone/tablet and application navigation, and video-conferencing platforms.
• Ability to engage and communicate with military members or children and respond quickly to emergent situations on military installations or in school settings.
• Ability to traverse short or long distances, move 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 site-specific requirements; some assignments may require current immunizations or vaccinations and 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.
• 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 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, if required.
• 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 past work experience in a school setting.
• Be local to Whiting Field or willing to become local.

Responsibilities

• Provide non-medical, short-term, solution-focused counseling to eligible children and youth of service members.
• Conduct assessments, brief counseling, consultations, action planning, referrals, resource linkages, and follow-up as indicated.
• Provide training and health and wellness presentations, and participate in health fairs and other installation activities focused on children and youth.
• Support school and camp staff and personnel, and provide parent training and guidance.
• Enter counselor activity data daily through a smartphone or web application while maintaining confidentiality and anonymity.
• Establish and maintain working relationships with community resources focused on children and youth and provide appropriate linkages.
• Maintain visibility in assigned schools and follow line-of-sight protocol when working with children.
• Partner with installation or facility POCs to provide CYB services responsive to local needs and maintain effective working relationships.
• Manage duty-to-warn and restricted-reporting situations according to DoD protocol and consult with regional leadership on cases.
• Communicate with the Regional Supervisor and participate in individual and group supervision, sharing trends and issues from assigned locations.
• Respond to critical incidents and special requests as directed by the POC and approved by the OSD program manager; flex schedule for urgent requests as needed.
• Participate in in-services, training, Quality Improvement activities, studies, pilot programs, and other assigned contract activities, including related documentation and technology use.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• The position may be eligible for short-term incentives.
• Comprehensive benefits package, including a broad range of health, life, voluntary, and other benefits and perks supporting physical, mental, emotional, and financial wellbeing.

What This Job Offers

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