Description

Enlace Chicago is dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of the residents of the Little Village Community by fostering a physically safe and healthy environment in which to live and by championing opportunities for educational advancement and economic development. 

Job Summary:

The School-Based Counselor will provide mental health support through one-on-one counseling services to youth who are referred through the Behavioral Health Team from the school they are placed in. The clinician will support students’ care by assessing and connecting participants with primary care centers and will also provide individual treatment planning, group facilitation and community workshops. School based counselor will also facilitate interdisciplinary approaches by collaborating with other services providers in the school or outside the school. 

We are hiring a School -Based Counselor to join our Mental Health Team!

Reports to: Mental Health Manager 

Accountable to: Violence Prevention Director 

Communicates with: Community Schools staff, Violence Prevention staff and Community Health Workers

Informs: Proper school staff members, Enlace staff

Status: Full-time

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Provide one-on-one counseling services to youth at risk of engaging in or becoming victims of aggressive behavior, truancy, suspension, and expulsion. 
• Assess and connects youth to a Primary Care Center via Community Health Workers.
• Facilitate family-based intervention groups during after school and early evening hours. 
• Participate in all designated trainings for individual and group-based work.
• Co-Facilitate with team and Clinical Director variety of workshops for parents, school staff and or students.
• Facilitate youth led groups. 
• Maintain proper documentation and complete weekly and monthly reports to program manager.
• Work collaboratively with Enlace’s Education Department and its resource coordinators, as well as school administration. 
• Conduct home visits to determine student needs.
• Organize and conduct educational field trips that promote cultural enrichment.
• Support direct programming including group interventions, community workshops and Youth services.
• Option to attend Violence Prevention/Mental Health tables such as VPC and LVYSN.
• Other tasks deemed necessary by program manager.

Desired Skills:

• Possess experience in mentorship and advocacy services in addition to experience working in a school-based setting.
• Possess professional knowledge and skills in working with teachers, social workers, school administration, school discipline teams, and law enforcement.
• Ability to engage with vulnerable youth and work with them to set goals to support holistic wellbeing. 
• Possess knowledge of the Community Schools Model, as well as working within a community-based setting
• Experience reporting and adhering to compliance needs related to specific funding requirements.
• Understand the causes and risk factors that lead to youth violence.
• Knowledge of relationship building and youth development, prevention, outreach, and intervention strategies.
• Knowledge of and ability to work with diverse cultures, nationalities, and races. 
• Knowledge and delivery of Trauma Informed mental health services. 
• Highly skilled in Crisis intervention with ability to support with peer consultation in a school setting.
• Strong leadership skills. 

Requirements

Qualifications

• Masters in social work required.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) required.
• Ability to manage multiple and rapidly changing priorities.
• Ability to work independently in a school setting.
• Establish appropriate, confidential relationships with participants, guardians, and other stakeholders; and produce reports, documents, and correspondence activities.
• Experience working with youth with demonstrated or potential tendencies towards violent behavior is a plus.
• Strong knowledge and skills in Trauma Informed interventions.
• Excellent communication and writing skills, writing sample may be requested.
• Experience working with at-risk youth.
• Cultural humility and the ability to work as part of a team.
• Commitment to taking individual accountability in your work, giving, and receiving feedback.
• Experience in crisis intervention.
• Knowledge of Chicago communities, specifically the Little Village neighborhood.
• Valid Illinois driver’s license, insurance, and good driving record.

Compensation: Salary based on experience; comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, life, and short- and long-term disability insurance, 403b retirement options, and generous paid time off. 

Enlace Chicago is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.

Additional Requirements: Enlace Chicago staff are required to provide proof of vaccination or have an approved medical exemption prior to starting employment. If an approved medical exemption is obtained, weekly testing is required. 

Deadline for submission: Open until filled.