Military & Family Life Counselor- Temporary Backfill
About The Position
The Assignment Ready Counselor (ARC) provides short-term, surge, and on-demand coverage for military and family counseling needs, including post-deployment events and coverage for counselors who are absent. The Summer ARC assignment period is May 15 through September 15, coinciding with school summer break. Counselors may cover assignments ranging from one or two days to as long as 30 days, with the possibility of longer assignments based on program needs. Candidates must reside near Stennis Space Center in Mississippi or be willing to become local, hold a SECRET security clearance, and be independently licensed to practice in Mississippi as a mental health counselor, therapist, or social worker. 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 counseling, training and health and wellness presentations, consultation with parents and personnel at child daycare centers and schools, and consultation to installation command regarding behavioral health issues affecting military personnel and families. Adult counselors may serve in military community and readiness centers and on-demand or surge assignments. CYB counselors may serve in DoDEA or community schools, youth programs, summer camps, and other on-demand assignments; school backfill assignments require experience working in a school setting. The counselor works closely with installation and military branch Points of Contact (POCs) to ensure services remain within program scope and meet installation needs. The role requires adaptability across locations and assignment durations, and the ability to work independently with minimal instruction. Counselors may need to meet site-specific requirements, including providing proof of current immunizations or vaccinations for some assignments. This is a Service Contract Act-covered position; the pay rate and health and welfare allowance are specified in the applicable wage determination agreement.
Requirements
- Master’s degree from an accredited graduate program in a mental-health-related field or social work.
- Current independent behavioral-health licensure meeting Mississippi state and customer-specific requirements; the posting identifies LPC among the required credentials.
- SECRET security clearance.
- Ability to prove U.S. citizenship and fluency in English.
- Clinical work experience.
- Availability Monday through Friday and for occasional weekend assignments; willingness to accept assignments of undefined duration on short notice, including weekends.
- Ability to cover assignments on a full-time basis, with durations ranging from a weekend to two weeks; assignments may also range from one or two days to 30 days, with possible longer assignments depending on program needs.
- Advanced knowledge of brief therapy and solution-focused counseling methods.
- Ability to quickly build rapport with service personnel, family members, students, parents, and coworkers.
- Adaptability to new working conditions, varying locations, and site rules; ability to work effectively with minimal instruction and follow instructions carefully.
- Ability to quickly engage and communicate with military members, spouses, or children and respond to emergent situations.
- Ability to traverse short or long distances on military installations and in school settings, including outdoor, rugged, uneven, or steep areas, stairs, and grass, and to work in outdoor weather and other military-base conditions.
- Ability to comply with site-specific work requirements; some assignments may require current immunizations or vaccinations and proof of receipt.
- Valid driver's license is listed among the required credentials.
- For CYB assignments, ability to meet Magellan MFLC CYB experience criteria for working with children and youth and specialty criteria in child and adolescent development or psychology.
- Ability to comply with security responsibilities, position-specific security controls, applicable legal, regulatory, and contractual requirements, and internal policies and procedures.
Nice To Haves
- Prior military service, being a military family member, or strong familiarity with military culture is desired.
- For CYB school backfill assignments, experience working in a school setting is needed.
Responsibilities
- Provide short-term, solution-focused, non-medical counseling to adults, children, and youth of service members, including assessment, brief counseling, consultation, action planning, referrals, linkage to resources, and follow-up as indicated.
- Provide coverage for short-term, surge, on-demand, and backfill assignments, including assignments associated with post-deployment events or counselor absences.
- For CYB assignments, support staff and 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, participate in health fairs, and take part in other base or installation activities.
- Enter counselor activity data daily using a smartphone or web application, ensuring accurate reporting while maintaining service and family member confidentiality and anonymity.
- Build a visible, approachable presence on installations and, for CYB counselors, in child and youth settings; follow line-of-sight protocol when working with children.
- Establish and maintain working relationships with community resources and provide appropriate referrals and linkages.
- Partner with installation or facility POCs to provide Adult and CYB services that address local needs, and maintain an effective working relationship with the POC.
- Manage duty-to-warn and restricted-reporting situations according to DoD protocol and staff cases with the Regional Supervisor or Regional Director.
- Communicate with Regional Supervisors and participate in individual and group supervision, sharing information about trends and issues at assigned installations and facilities.
- Participate, with minimal notice, 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.
- Perform additional duties aligned with the intent of the role as assigned by a leader.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
