Prevention Home Visiting Therapist

One Hope United•Waukegan, IL

About The Position

The Prevention Home Visiting Therapist works under the assigned prevention home visiting program supervisor, in coordination with the clinical services director. The therapist provides mental health services to selected maternal, family, and child clients to alleviate or stabilize mental health conditions that affect adjustment at home, community integration, or living stability. The role includes providing psychotherapy and crisis intervention, conducting assessments, developing and implementing treatment plans, and coordinating clinical care for individuals, families, and groups. The therapist also implements or leads community groups and supports families referred by community partners. The therapist works with children and families, including dyadic therapy for families with children ages 0–5, and supports home visitors, family support specialists, educators, and community-based providers through consultation, training, observations, and psychoeducation. The position requires collaboration with program and clinical teams, community partners, and other providers; comprehensive documentation and client-file maintenance; participation in supervision, staffing, case reviews, and trainings; and compliance with applicable regulations, funder requirements, professional ethics, and agency policies. The therapist is expected to provide evidence-based, trauma-informed, strength-oriented services and to become familiar with infant mental health practice.

Requirements

Master’s degree in Social Work, Counseling, or a related field.
One to two years of previous supervised work experience serving young children and/or parents or families.
LCSW, LCPC, or LCSW/LCPC eligibility.
Reliable transportation, a valid driver’s license, and an acceptable driving record with OHU.
Auto insurance coverage of at least 50/100/50.
Satisfactory criminal background and Illinois DCFS background checks, including fingerprinting; drug testing; verification of employment and education; official transcripts from the school awarding the degree; a current physical and TB test; and MMR vaccination or proof of immunity.
Knowledge of infant and child development and the effects of intergenerational trauma and adverse childhood experiences on parenting.
Understanding of infant mental health and co-regulation; a strong foundation in perinatal mood and anxiety disorders and trauma-informed care.
Willingness to develop reflective capacity, engage in introspection, recognize oneself in relation to others, and value supervision.
Ability to establish trusting relationships and accept individual differences.
Experience and humility in working with culturally diverse families in underserved communities.
Proficient computer skills in a Microsoft Windows environment, including word processing, email, and internet applications, and ability to learn additional software.
Dependability, punctuality, and strong written, verbal, clinical, and interpersonal communication skills.
Ability to work effectively with an interpreter and, when applicable, communicate in parents’ primary language.
Ability to analyze and interpret data, improve operational strategy, organize and prioritize multiple tasks with minimal supervision, and maintain accuracy and professionalism.
Ability to exercise discretion, maintain confidentiality, reflect on professional development, and set goals for improvement.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team, support staff, and communicate training and curriculum material through written, verbal, and visual methods.
Ability to manage stress, de-escalate crises, respond promptly to unexpected situations or emergencies, and maintain mental and physical alertness.
Ability to write routine reports and correspondence and use analytical thinking in decision-making.
If bilingual Spanish is required, fluency in reading, writing, and speaking both English and Spanish.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of Lake County resources.
Bilingual English/Spanish.

Responsibilities

Assess and evaluate mental health needs in accordance with program policies and funder requirements.
Complete mental health and diagnostic assessments using required assessment tools, and review results to evaluate client needs.
Develop and implement treatment plans using accepted clinical interventions and adapt services based on client needs, evaluation tools, and feedback.
Provide individual and family psychotherapy, including dyadic therapy for families with children ages 0–5, to promote positive cognitive, behavioral, or psychological changes.
Provide crisis intervention and psychoeducation to youth, families, caregivers, parents, and educators regarding clinical needs, development, trauma, and strategies supporting children’s emotional well-being.
Support prevention home visitors, family support specialists, and community providers through consultation and training regarding children’s social, emotional, and behavioral challenges.
Conduct home-visiting observations and consultations to address clients’ mental health and social-emotional needs.
Coordinate care with medical providers and other professionals, ensure medical rule-outs where needed, and integrate mental health and supportive services through ongoing communication.
Participate in client-care decisions, clinical staffing meetings, Child and Family Team meetings, court hearings, and other required meetings; advocate for clients’ emotional and physical well-being.
Maintain client confidentiality and obtain or maintain legal releases of information as needed.
Document services and significant interactions according to agency, program, funder, and Medicaid billing requirements; maintain client files, progress notes, assessments, quarterly reports, closing summaries, and court reports as applicable.
Monitor client progress and periodically reassess functioning, at least every six months, using standard clinical instruments and diagnostic criteria as required.
Collaborate with the Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant to support reflective practice and the parallel process, and attend related team meetings and trainings.
Provide community education, consultation, relaxation exercises, peer counseling groups, and family counseling as assigned.
Build collaborative relationships with agency staff, programs, and partner agencies; coordinate referrals and parental support and document outcomes.
Attend weekly individual supervision, monthly team meetings, group supervision, case reviews, and trainings as needed.
Use evidence-based, trauma-informed approaches and attend trainings on approved treatment modalities.
Assist with internal and external training for the Healthy Families Illinois and Parents as Teachers programs, and collaborate on trainings for staff and families.
Assist with identifying and linking children in home-based settings to infant and early childhood mental health services when the therapist cannot provide those services.
Become certified in CPR, Infant CPR, and First Aid within the first year of hire.
Collaborate with the program supervisor and agency staff to maintain home-visiting model affiliations and agency accreditation standards, including COA standards.
Comply with applicable laws, regulations, program and agency policies, professional ethical standards, and agency and program missions.
Assist with other related duties as needed.

Benefits

$2,000 sign-on bonus.
Tuition assistance up to $2,500 per fiscal year.
Up to four weeks of paid vacation, up to six paid personal days, one paid mental health day, and up to five paid sick days annually.
Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
403(b) retirement plan.
Flexible spending accounts, health savings account, dependent care benefits, and commuter and transit benefits.
Agency-paid life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance up to $50,000 based on salary, and short-term disability coverage.
Agency-paid long-term disability coverage after one year of employment.
Voluntary supplemental life and accidental death and dismemberment, critical illness, accident, and hospital coverage for employees and their families.
Voluntary legal plans.
Voluntary pet insurance.
Employee Assistance Program with six free counseling sessions.
Career ladders, professional development, and promotion opportunities.
Free LCSW and LCPC supervision hours available in some locations.