ARC Therapist and Social Worker/Counselor

General Description of the Job

We are seeking a full-time Mental Health Therapist and School Social Worker/Counselor for the 2024 – 2025 school year, and beyond. This role is an integral part of the Academy’s Achievement Resource Center Student Support Services and Individual Pediatric Therapy Services. The ARC Therapist will provide individual treatment services and provide school-wide support and programming to the Academy Community.

We are looking for a smart, dynamic candidate with a warm and engaging personality. This individual must be dedicated to serving children and families. The ideal candidate will be a quick learner who can work autonomously and with sound judgment. We strongly prefer candidates who are flexible and who demonstrate a strong sense of empathy.

The ARC Therapist is expected to maintain a clinical caseload (18-20 sessions a week) with children ranging in age from infancy through middle school. This is a unique opportunity for a dedicated and experienced clinician to provide high-quality individual treatment services, evaluation, and screening on-site at school. Treatment services are billed through insurance. The ARC therapist will work collaboratively with the school’s occupational therapist, speech/language pathologist, and classroom teachers to support children’s growth, learning, and development and impact positive outcomes for their clients through a strength-based whole-child approach.

The ARC Therapist and Social Worker/Counselor will make important contributions to the overall school culture and well-being of the school community through student support and consultation, parent education and presentations, engagement with our Social-Emotional Learning program RULER, and classroom visits, lessons, and small groups. They will report directly to the Director of our Achievement Resource Center.

MAC has a highly team-oriented culture, both within departments and across programs. We are collaborative, dedicated, and committed to the highest levels of excellence and integrity. This is an exciting opportunity for anyone who wants to be part of a wonderful clinical team and contribute to a supportive learning community. Located in one of the country’s most dynamic and fastest-growing neighborhoods. MAC is growing too, and we’re looking for someone who is excited to help us build that future.

Skills, experience, other requirements:

• Master's degree in social work or related field from a school of Social Work accredited by CSWE.
• Licensure in Illinois. Licensed Clinical Social Worker or Counselor
• CAQH credentialing preferred
• Independent, innovative, strength-based clinician
• A high level of interpersonal skills to affect positive outcomes.
• Organizational skills necessary to prioritize and manage an appropriate caseload coupled with performing the Social Worker functions and school needs.
• Self-direction and self-management required for daily work.
• Analytical skills necessary to independently collect, analyze, and interpret data, resolve problems requiring innovative solutions and to negotiate in sensitive situations.

Competence working with the following:

• Children of all ages, experience with 0-6 is preferred
• Competence with insurance billing
• Family systems
• Diverse populations
• Play-based therapy
• Social-emotional learning and child development
• Neurodivergence and learning differences
• Multi-disciplinary teams
• Experience in therapeutic or school settings

Academy Vision

• Upholds the ethical standards of Montessori Academy of Chicago.
• Acts in accordance with the Academy’s mission, vision, and organizational purpose at all times
• Contributes positively to school climate and culture
• Honors confidentiality of student, family, and financial information
• Acts with integrity, transparency, and professionalism at all times
• Partners competently with children and families from diverse backgrounds

Duties as assigned:

• Maintain clinical caseload of approximately 18 – 20 clinical sessions per week
• Provide school-based resources and support with small groups, classroom lessons, school-wide programming and “extra-curricular” classes as needed
• Provide “push-in” supports to students based on student, classroom, and operational need
• Assist in the provision of student support which may include team planning, teacher consultation or training, observation, developing classroom tools and strategies, and direct support and intervention
• Assist with crisis response and management
• Collaborate effectively with multiple stakeholders (e.g. faculty, parents, ARC team, and administration)
• Commitment to the academic calendar and MAC community and ARC School Support Services goals and needs throughout the year
• Be an active member of the school community including maintaining a supportive presence on campus and at occasional off-hour events
• Other duties as assigned