Military & Family Life Counselor- Child Development Center

Magellan Health • Beaufort, SC

8d • $59,922 - $100,280

About The Position

The Military & Family Life Counselor (MFLC) provides Child and Youth Behavioral (CYB) counseling services to children of military service members and their families at military installations, including civilian expeditionary workforce members and their families when activated. The counselor may be assigned to child development centers, youth programs, summer camps, and on-demand assignments, and works with installation and military-branch Points of Contact (POCs) to ensure services meet installation needs and remain within program scope. Candidates must be local or willing to become local to MCRD Parris Island, South Carolina, and independently licensed as a mental health counselor, therapist, or social worker.

The role provides non-medical, short-term, solution-focused counseling to eligible children and youth. Services include assessment, brief counseling, consultation, action planning, referrals and linkage to resources, and follow-up as indicated. The counselor also supports child development center staff and personnel, youth programs, and summer camps, and provides parent support, training, and guidance.

The counselor provides training and health and wellness presentations, participates in health fairs and other installation activities, and enters activity data daily using a smartphone or web application while maintaining the confidentiality and anonymity of service members and family members. The role establishes relationships with community resources and provides appropriate linkages. Counselors must remain visible and accessible at assigned locations and follow line-of-sight protocol when working with children, ensuring another responsible adult can see the counselor and child at all times.

The counselor partners with installation POCs, manages duty-to-warn and restricted-reporting situations according to Department of Defense protocol, and consults with regional supervisors or directors. The role includes regular individual and group supervision, responding to critical incidents and approved special requests, and flexing the schedule for urgent requests as needed. Counselors also participate in in-services, training, quality-improvement activities, studies, pilot programs, and other assigned contract activities, including related documentation and technology use. Additional duties may be assigned consistent with the position's purpose.

Requirements

• Master’s degree from an accredited graduate program in a mental-health-related field.
• Valid, unrestricted independent counseling license from a U.S. state, the District of Columbia, a U.S. territory, or commonwealth, authorizing independent counseling practice.
• Less than two years of post-licensure clinical experience.
• Intermediate-level competency with technology and software, 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 at military installations or school settings.
• Ability to traverse short or long distances on base, including indoor and outdoor locations, rugged or uneven terrain, steep inclines, stairs, and grass, and to work in outdoor weather and other military-base conditions.
• Ability to meet site-specific requirements for assigned locations; 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 children, service members, and their families; ability to develop trusting helping relationships and work effectively with people from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Pass a Child National Agency Check and Inquiries (CNACI) clearance, Installation Records Check (IRC), criminal history background check, and FBI fingerprint check.
• Possess a valid U.S. state vehicle operator’s license unless specifically waived by the FEDSIM COR; may 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.
• Be local or willing to become local to MCRD Parris Island, South Carolina.
• School-assigned counselors must have prior work experience in a school setting.

Responsibilities

• Provide non-medical, short-term, solution-focused counseling to eligible children and youth of service members at assigned locations.
• Conduct assessments, brief counseling, and consultations; develop action plans; refer clients to resources and ensure linkage as appropriate; and follow up as indicated.
• Support staff and personnel at child development centers, youth programs, and summer camps, and provide parent support, training, and guidance.
• Provide training and health and wellness presentations, and participate in health fairs and other installation activities focused on children and youth.
• Record counselor activity data daily through a smartphone or web application while protecting confidentiality and anonymity.
• Establish and maintain relationships with community resources focused on children and youth and provide appropriate linkages.
• Remain visible and accessible at assigned locations and comply with line-of-sight protocol when working with children.
• Partner with installation and facility Points of Contact to provide services responsive to local needs and maintain effective working relationships.
• Manage duty-to-warn and restricted-reporting situations according to Department of Defense protocol and consult with regional supervisors or directors.
• Participate in regular individual and group supervision and communicate trends and issues at assigned installations and facilities.
• Respond to critical incidents and approved special requests, and flex the schedule for urgent requests as needed.
• Participate in in-services, training, Quality Improvement activities, studies, pilot programs, and other assigned contract activities; complete required documentation and use applicable technology.
• Perform other duties assigned in alignment with the purpose of the position.

Benefits

• The position may be eligible for short-term incentives.
• Comprehensive benefits package, including 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