School-Based Mental Health Specialist

Position                                                                                                         

School-Based Mental Health Specialist (1.0 FTE) – 9.5 months

Reports to the Project Coordinator and the District School Psychologist (Project Director)

Salary: $40,000.00 - $55,000.00

Start Date: November 1, 2024                                               

Nature of Position

The School-Based Mental Health Specialist will provide evidence-based prevention training to students, work with parents and community members to help mitigate violence utilizing existing frameworks such as PBIS via an ecological perspective, collaborate with district staff to implement project-specific deliverables, and work as part of a team in developing and coordinating strategies to reduce violence in our schools and in our communities.

Accountability

This position reports to the Project Coordinator and the Project Director.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Coordinates, conducts, and delivers evidence-based violence prevention lessons to students at the targeted sites.
2. Trains staff in conflict resolution and restorative practices.
3. Links individuals and agencies by serving as the bridge to ensure families receive the services they need.
4. Coordinates via case management and planning with students and families returning from juvenile justice facilities, mental health agencies, and other outside agencies utilizing wrap-around services.
5. Provides secondary and tertiary intervention to students at the targeted sites.
6. Works with parents and provides a minimum of 4 parenting classes at the assigned targeted school sites (minimum of once every quarter) per year of the grant.
7. Provides at least 2 community trainings yearly per targeted school sites.
8. Conducts needs assessments and Tiered Fidelity Inventories in conjunction with project and district staff.
9. Facilitates communication between the home, school, and community partners seeking to involve families in the early intervening services directly related to violence prevention and school climate.
10. Serves as a member of the Multidisciplinary Taskforce.
11. Develops, in conjunction with project staff, a school climate sustainability plan.
12. Meets with the PBIS/Leadership/Crisis Prevention team(s) monthly.
13. Assists in implementing project goals and objectives, including surveys.
14. Serves as the liaison between and among schools, families, and community agencies, when needed, for continuity of project deliverables.
15. Conducts follow-up consultation(s) with school personnel, families, and students.
16. Supports home-school connections and ensures parents are informed about programs and services.
17. Recommends and implements trauma informed and restorative practices.
18. Maintains accurate records and data collection as per project deliverables.
19. Assists in the compilation of reports required by federal, state, and local agencies.
20. Assists in review of evaluative measures used, piloted, and adopted by the project.
21. Oversees implementation of the PBIS framework to all children, parents, and families as outlined in the project design.
22. Assists with school site needs assessment and collaborates with the OJJDP Grant team.
23. Assists in planning, designing, producing, and disseminating project developed materials and other resources from the SAMSHA, State Department, and other agencies.
24. Participates in project staff meetings and in project planning, monitoring, evaluation, and staff development activities.
25. Performs any project-related tasks as assigned by the Project Director or Project/Prevention Coordinator.
26. Performs other related duties as required or assigned.

Qualifications

• An individual: a) who holds a minimum of a master’s degree in school counseling, social work, school psychology or a PLPC or LPC from a program accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs or the equivalent and b) and meets criteria (certification/licensing) for an ancillary certificate in these fields by the LDOE (A minimum of 2 years of working in a school setting is preferrable but is not required).
• Has knowledge of and experience with PBIS/MTSS, trauma-informed practices, social emotional learning, prevention and intervention, and school climate as they relate to children and adolescents.
• Is familiar with the community, populations, parents/families as well as schools and communities to be served.
• Is knowledgeable of evidence-based practices.
• Ability to work with and serve diverse populations.

Salary : $40,000 - $55,000