Behavioral Health Counselor

Commitment to Citizen Service

Service encompasses all aspects of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indian’s governmental operations.  Every employee shares the responsibility to provide exemplary service, dignity, and respect to all Tribal Citizens, the Tribal Council, and staff members.  To this end, all employees have an obligation to identify and report any service problems, issues, or concerns and through designated channels, initiate, recommend, and actively participate in solutions.  

Position Summary:   Counsel and advise individuals, couples, families, or groups with substance abuse, mental health, and co-occurring disorders, or engage in prevention programs.   Facilitate patient/client focused counseling within the Integrative Care Model. Guide individuals served through the available programs with a focus on quality care and personal attention to patient/client needs. 

Essential Functions:

• Counsel patients/clients, individually or in group sessions, to assist in overcoming dependencies, adjusting to life, or making changes.  
• Screen for DSM-IV-TR diagnosis, test and assess mental and behavioral health and substance abuse and dependence.
• Advocate for patients/clients for the protection of their rights and entitlements as recipients of services and as persons eligible for services.
• Develop treatment plans based on research, clinical experience, and client histories focused on outcome-oriented factors.
• Explore options and set goals with patient/client and team of providers; connect patient/client with Tribal, State, and Federal Governmental services with the goal of achieving positive outcomes.
• Assure provided behavioral services are complementary and deliver the coordinated synergies to achieve positive outcomes for each individual served. Assure services are patient/client-centered, empower the patient/client, culturally appropriate, flexible, focus on strengths of the patient/client, normalized and incorporated into natural support systems of the patient/client, meet special needs and are consistent and accountable to the individual being served.
• Coordinate counseling efforts with mental health professionals or other health professionals, such as doctors, nurses, or social workers.  
• Chart progress throughout treatment and maintain progress notes. Prepare reports and enter data into computerized and physical Pokagon Band record keeping systems.
• Plan follow-up or aftercare programs for patients/clients to be discharged from programs.
• Participate in case conferences and communicate results from treatment through timely sharing of outcomes. 
• Assess and assist with various emergency mental health or behavioral health crisis situations off-site where patients/clients or other individuals may be at risk of hurting themselves or others.
• Assist with developing policies and operating procedures in alignment with the Pokagon Band’s Vision, Mission, Expected Outcomes and Strategic Initiatives. Maintain operations by following policies and procedures and tribal and applicable federal, state, and local legal requirements. Participate in quality reviews, and report needed changes. 
• Attend events throughout and beyond service delivery area to provide program services education in the community and improve referral sourcing.  
• Collaborate with outside providers, school systems, outside governmental bodies (DHHS, Legal, etc.).
• Maintain professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops, reviewing professional publications and researching governmental rulings.  Maintain required continual Education credits to maintain required licensures.

 Non-Essential Functions:

• Appear in court when required or request to act as expert testimony.
• Participate at cultural events to promote services and/or assist in crises at events or in community.
• Act as a point of contact for Behavioral Health when Behavioral Health Program Manager and Behavioral Health Clinical Supervisor are not available.
• Perform other related functions as assigned. 

 Equipment:

• Standard office equipment.  
• Systems used:  MS Office Applications, Internet, Electronic Medical Records 

Position Requirements:  

• Licensed Professional Counselor or Licensed Social Worker in the state of Michigan, Indiana, or another state with the ability to meet qualifications for licensing in Michigan if license is in another state required.
• Ability to alleviate stress and anxiety and be supportive of persons and work tactfully, collaboratively, diplomatically and with highest level of confidentiality required.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills required. 
• Proficiency with MS Office Applications preferred.
• Experience working with Native American communities; knowledge of Native American traditional practices and values and Native American issues preferred.

 Indian Preference

• Pokagon Band Preference Code applies.

 Physical Requirements:  

• Work is generally sedentary in nature and will frequently require sitting, however standing and walking will occasionally be necessary. 
• Frequently required to talk and hear. 

 Work environment:

• General office environment. Lighting and temperature are adequate, and there are no hazardous or unpleasant conditions caused by noise, dust, etc. Occasionally work environment will be in other settings, including hospitals, homes, health clinics, schools, jails, and other public facilities. Local travel is necessary, so the ability to travel as needed is required.