School Based Mental Health Counselor

About us: Wallowa Valley Center for Wellness (WVCW) is an innovative nonprofit providing comprehensive services to individuals impacted by mental health, addictions and developmental disabilities. We hire individuals that are skilled and motivated to meet our mission through outcome-based strategies that foster personal and community transformation.

What you will do: In your role, you will provide trauma-informed, culturally and linguistically appropriate screening, mental health counseling, and referral services to students within a school setting. This is a full-time outpatient clinician role based at school sites during the academic year and at the Hearts for Health (H4H) main office during school breaks. You will deliver brief interventions and counseling to students from kindergarten through grade 12, collaborating closely with teachers, school staff, and parents to address emotional and behavioral needs and to connect students and families with WVCW services and other community resources. You will also provide education and training for students and staff on a range of social issues and serve as a school-based resource for suicide intervention and prevention. In addition to your school-based work, you will perform screening, mental health assessment, treatment planning, counseling, and care coordination for individuals of varying ages.

Responsibilities:

• Provide school-based services on site in one to two county schools approximately four days per week, including conducting screenings, providing mental health counseling, and ongoing educational counseling and support for students.
• During all school breaks when students are not in session, including holiday breaks, spring break, summer months, teacher in-service days, and any other days when school is not in session, report to and work from the Hearts for Health (H4H) main office for the full 40-hour work week, providing outpatient services including individual counseling, family counseling, mental health assessments, and treatment planning appointments.
• Arrive at assigned school and office locations at the designated start times and maintain consistent attendance and punctuality, which are essential functions of this position given the nature of school-based services and scheduled client appointments.
• Refer students to WVCW services and to community partners such as Building Healthy Families for mentoring as appropriate.
• Maintain ongoing contact with teachers, parents, and community providers for screening and referral, and provide monthly reports of student contacts to the school administrator and Clinical leadership team.
• Track all contacts in the Electronic Health Record (OCHIN). With support from your supervisor, track the number of individuals served, project accomplishments, and challenges.
• Prepare and deliver trainings for students on various social issues and for school staff through in-service sessions, documenting training hours and submitting prevention, education, and outreach in a timely manner.
• In collaboration with the school, support an accessible, integrated mechanism for individuals to report incidents or threats of violence, and coordinate with school staff to develop and implement intervention plans.
• Serve as a school-based resource for suicide intervention and prevention, completing Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) or another approved suicide prevention and intervention training.
• Screen potential clients to determine needs and present at the weekly treatment team meeting to determine who can best serve the client.
• Conduct comprehensive mental health assessments according to EOCCO, OAR, and ORS guidelines, and collaboratively develop individualized treatment plans with clients prior to the start of services. Update assessments and service plans at least every 90 days.
• Provide evidence-based counseling, which may include cognitive behavioral counseling, motivational interviewing, family of origin counseling, play therapy, solution-focused brief counseling, and psychoeducation, monitoring progress regularly until treatment is complete.
• Maintain a minimum of 20 hours per week of direct client contact, consistent with the organizational productivity expectation of 70%. Direct client contact includes individual counseling, family counseling, mental health assessments, treatment planning appointments, and group counseling when applicable.
• Provide care coordination, including communication with primary care physicians, psychiatrists, and pharmacies, and assistance with transportation, housing, educational, and medical needs. Make referrals to community services and to case management as needed, ensuring service needs identified in the treatment plan are addressed.
• Utilizing the Electronic Health Record (EHR), complete objective, accurate documentation in a timely and consistent manner according to agency policy, with service notes entered within three business days of the date of service.
• Discharge clients when treatment is complete or when the client determines that counseling services are no longer desired or required, documenting a summary and recommendations within 90 days of the last contact date unless an exception is documented in the EHR.
• Attend and participate fully in weekly treatment team meetings and group and individual supervision (as a provider of mental health treatment), and stay abreast of various diagnoses and treatment modalities.
• Complete training and obtain Mental Health Investigator certification, which is an expectation of all QMHPs at WVCW, and participate in the civil commitment process including investigation and examination.
• Adhere to all state and federal privacy and security regulations applicable to the program, and to WVCW policies and agreements regarding confidentiality, privacy, and security. Maintain confidentiality and discretion.

Skills/Abilities:

• Ability to maintain confidentiality, comprehend laws, regulations, and policies, and the ability to follow such laws, regulations, and policies and report when they are being violated.
• Ability to interact with individuals of various backgrounds, sexual and gender orientations, education levels, and socio-economic status effectively, tactfully, and empathetically with a culturally responsive nature, especially with those experiencing a crisis and in stressful situations.
• Ability to communicate effectively in both written and oral formats with clarity and purpose, including the ability to complete objective, accurate documentation in a timely, consistent manner.
• Ability to coordinate care and work collaboratively with community partners to ensure safer and more effective care for the individual.
• Must have strong computer skills including the ability to document in an electronic medical record, use electronic time tracking, and the ability to use Google Workspace, specifically Drive, Meets, Spreadsheets, Word documents, and email.
• Ability to work as a team member, establish priorities, and manage time effectively to meet deadlines.
• Display a non-judgmental attitude, and a willingness to learn new skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and follow verbal and written instructions.
• Experience in navigating environments where individuals may be verbally hostile.
• Detailed-oriented; ability to maintain accurate records and necessary paperwork.
• Ability to provide advocacy, as appropriate, and maintain professional boundaries.

Knowledge and Qualifications:

• Graduation from a college or university with a Master's degree in social work, psychology, counseling or other related human service field equivalent is required.
• Certified Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP) or willingness to obtain your QMHP certification in Oregon.
• Willingness to complete training and obtain Mental Health Investigator certification, which is an expectation of all QMHPs at WVCW.
• Experience working within an electronic health record.
• Skilled in public speaking and a demonstrated ability to represent WVCW to the public as well as internal teams.
• Experience working with underserved populations is preferred.
• Knowledge of de-escalation methods or ability to be trained in de-escalation methods. Experience conducting crisis debriefs.
• Ability to adhere to WVCW's drug-free workplace which encourages a safe, healthy, and productive work environment.
• Physical ability to bend, stoop, kneel, squat, twist, reach, pull and lift heavy objects; climb stairs several times a day.
• *Must pass a pre-employment drug screen and criminal background check PRIOR TO STARTING ONSITE.
• Will be required to carry a cell phone for work use.
• Must possess a current driver's license, pass a DMV background check and be designated an "acceptable" driver as outlined in WVCW's Fleet Safety Policy. Must be willing to provide leadership and services in the community.
• Must adhere to the agency's non-discrimination policies.
• Ability to effectively interact with persons with diverse ethnic backgrounds, religious views, political affiliation, cultural backgrounds, life styles, and sexual orientations and treat each individual with respect and dignity.
• Must have strong computer skills or willingness to learn.

*Wallowa Valley Center for Wellness receives federal funding and adheres to federal guidelines when drug testing, this includes marijuana.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable persons with disabilities to perform the essential function.

Wallowa Valley Center for Wellness is an equal opportunity employer