Mental Health Services Coordinator

                                                                 Mental Health Services Coordinator

This provides a general overview but not an exhaustive description of the services required.

SUMMARY:

With oversight from the Essex County Children’s Advocacy Center’s Multidisciplinary Team Coordinator/Forensic Interviewer, the Mental Health Services Coordinator/Clinician will assist the Multidisciplinary Team in providing referrals and direct services for children and families to evidence based specialized mental health services, build and maintain relationships with mental health providers and facilitate opportunities for linkage agreements between practices and the Essex County Children’s Advocacy Center (ECAC), inform network clinicians of upcoming trainings in trauma-informed evidence-based mental health treatments and work with ECAC staff on creating Mental Health Brochures. Additionally, the Mental Health Services Coordinator/Clinician will attend Case Review Meetings and provide generalized information to the multidisciplinary interview team on possible effects of trauma on child victims and their families.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Assist families in finding and connecting with appropriate evidence-based clinical services,
• Assist ECAC with building mental health referral lists and establishing linkage agreements with providers,
• Connect clinicians to training programs in trauma-informed evidence-based treatment and work with ECAC Multidisciplinary Team Coordinator/Forensic Interviewer to identify and offer scholarship opportunities for providers through Massachusetts Children’s Alliance (MACA), National Children’s Alliance (NCA), and other appropriate training agencies.
• Provide direct services for ECAC staff experiencing secondary trauma,
• Assist in maintaining updated mental health and secondary trauma training records for re-accreditation purposes,
• Participate in program related meetings including representing ECAC on the MACA Mental Health Advisory Group,
• Assist ECAC Multidisciplinary Team Coordinator/Forensic Interviewer in producing narrative reports for grant funding.
• Provide direct clinical services to children and families, specifically evidence-based trauma informed modalities approved by the Family Crimes Unit Chief; including:
  • Trauma symptom assessment, Child and Family Traumatic Stress Intervention (CFTSI), Problematic Sexual Behavior-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (PSB-CBT) and other mental health support services to children, youth and their caregivers served by the ECAC. (If candidate is not currently certified in these modalities, training will be offered)
  • Assist caregivers to identify mechanisms to best support themselves, their child(ren), and other non-offending family members, recognizing that family members often are the key to the child’s recovery and ongoing protection 

• • Educate caregivers and the MDT about the emotional impact of abuse allegations on the family unit, effective coping strategies, addressing issues the allegations may trigger, and dealing with issues of self-blame and grief 

Also, the Mental Health Services Coordinator will perform other duties across various work sites as assigned to her/him by the District Attorney, or other designee of the District Attorney.

In addition to these above responsibilities the Mental Health Services Coordinator is required:

• To be familiar with and to follow the provisions of the Essex District Attorney’s Office Personnel Policies, and the Sexual Harassment Protocol,
• To participate in trainings relevant to Office functions,
• To communicate with or provide timely notification to Office staff, police, and other interested parties, as permitted and/or required by law;
• To interact in a respectful and professional manner with the public, judicial and law enforcement personnel and Office staff,
• To complete work assignments in a timely manner.

The essential functions of the position require the effective ability to receive and distribute information in written, oral, and electronic form, in the English language.

It is the policy of the Essex District Attorney's Office to afford equal opportunity to all qualified persons regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, military status, sexual orientation, sexual identity, handicap/disability, gender, gender identity, ancestry, genetic information, or any other class protected by federal or state anti-discrimination law. The Essex District Attorney's Office is committed to and promotes equal opportunity and diversity.

MINIMUM PROFESSIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Minimum of master’s degree in social work, psychology, or related field. Bilingual in Spanish preferred. 
• LMHC or LICSW.
• Trained in evidence-based therapies that address trauma in children and caregivers
• Certification and fidelity in PSB-CBT and CFTSI OR an interest in being trained in both modalities.
• Knowledge of Children’s Advocacy Centers and multidisciplinary team approach in the investigation of child abuse is preferred, including the unique challenge of a prosecution-based program
• Knowledge of the criminal justice system is preferred
• Solid verbal and written communication skills 
• Personal qualities include adaptable/flexible, deals well under pressure, enthusiastic, sense of humor, ability to work autonomously, strong interpersonal skills

REQUIRED PROFESSIONAL SKILLS:

• Must be prepared to work in a multidisciplinary team environment,
• Must possess excellent interpersonal skills to work effectively with many different constituencies,
• Must be skilled in communicating effectively with families and colleagues,
• Must possess excellent organizational skills as well as a sensitivity to diversity,
• Must demonstrate discretion, flexibility, good judgment and be able to work independently,
• Must hold a current driver’s license.