School Counselor - Transition Program

  We are seeking a School Counselor for our transition program, Evolution!

• Are you creative?

• Are you looking for a diverse caseload?               

• Are you hoping to make a real impact?

• Are you excited to work with 18-22 year olds? 

Evolution is Assabet Valley Collaborative’s program for young adults aged 18-22 who have a diverse range of cognitive, social-emotional, and physical needs. 

Assabet Valley Collaborative (AVC)  is an educational service agency in Metrowest/Central Massachusetts. Our services include school programs, wraparound services, transportation services, professional development, cooperative purchasing and consulting. We use a shared leadership model to engage stakeholders across the organization in learning, leading, designing, and decision making. To thrive within AVC’s innovative shared leadership model, team members must be self-reflective, embrace the value of partnering with others through complex challenges, and recognize the mutual responsibility of giving and receiving feedback.

AVC’s  Commitments to Educational Equity are the vision for our future.  To achieve our vision, we are committed to a continuous study of the principles of human-centered design, social innovation, cultural proficiency, and culturally responsive practices.

School Counselor Role Overview:

The School Counselor is a vital role in our team with a primary goal of helping our students become problem solvers and independent decision makers as they transition to adulthood.   The direct caseload includes students with counseling services in their IEPs - typically fewer than 30 students.  Additionally, the counselor has an important responsibility to collaborate with others to address the social-emotional needs of all students.    

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Deliver counseling to students per IEPs:  1:1, group, consultation, case management.
• Develop and deliver rotating psychoeducational classes and groups that address a variety of social-emotional learning topics:  relationships, self-awareness, self advocacy, sexuality, social media & tech safety, etc. 
• Collaborate with community-based mental health providers. 
• Provide students and their families/support networks with resources to navigate transition processes such as guardianship, adult services (DDS, 688, SSI, DMH, etc).
• Participate in multi-disciplinary teams. 
• Conduct assessments in a variety of areas:  clinical, risk, behavioral, transition.
• Collaborate to develop IEP goals and to  monitor and document progress on goals.
• Coach others to implement effective strategies that extend social-emotional learning opportunities across environments:  in classrooms, at  job-sites/internships, during recreation activities, and at home.
• Provide direct behavioral intervention and de-escalation strategies.

The ideal candidate will possess or demonstrate the following:

• Belief in the inherent brilliance of our students and their families
• Strong foundation in social emotional learning, trauma-informed, healing-centered, or restorative practice, and/or cultural responsiveness
• Ability to engage with conflict or discomfort as opportunities for  learning 
• Experience counseling neurodiverse young adults in a variety of formats
• Expertise in special education, assessments, and transition to adulthood
• Experience serving neurodiverse young adults including Autism spectrum,  intellectual disabilities, and multiple disabilities. 
• Familiarity with transitional age topics such as guardianship, alternatives to guardianship, adult services with DDS, DMH & MassAbility, SSI/Masshealth, etc. 
• Bilingual a plus (especially Portuguese)
• Valid driver's license and ability to drive a school van a plus

Qualification Required:    Massachusetts licensure as one of the following – Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW), or DESE licensure as a School Social Worker/ School Adjustment Counselor.

Competitive Benefits Include:

• Compensation competitive within public school educators (salary schedule with steps and lanes)
• School year (185 days)  with additional summer hours available at additional compensation
• 75% health insurance premiums covered by AVC
• High deductible Health Insurance Plan Health Savings Account (AVC contributes 50% of deductible into your HSA)
• Participation in MA State Retirement or Teachers Retirement pension systems
• Voluntary benefits: Health Savings Account, Life, Short-term, Long-term Insurance and Dental Insurance

For more information and to apply https://assabetvalley.tedk12.com/hire/index.aspx