What are the responsibilities and job description for the Mental Health Specialist position at Humboldt County Office of Education?
Position Summary
The Mental Health Specialist is part of the Prevention and Intervention Services Department and provides behavioral and emotional counseling to groups and individuals, assists students in adjusting to school and community life, provides training to school staff on behavioral and mental health and wellness and serves as a liaison to other agencies and students' parents / caretakers and families.
Distinguishing Characteristics
This position is Certificated Management and requires a strong understanding of mental health systems, educational systems and the importance of collaboration and coordination. Oversight of providers, supporting districts in scaling-up school-based mental health and assisting with site-based needs and support are unique characteristics of this position.
Supervision Received and Exercised
This position is under the direct supervision of the Director of Prevention and Intervention Services and will assist with the supervision of Behavior Wellness Coaches, fieldwork students and interns. This position may supervise billable services under the CA multi-payer fee schedule which requires PPS credentialed oversight.
Examples of Duties and Responsibilities
- Assists students in identifying and solving behavioral, mental health, emotional and educational problems, adjusting to school life and coping with life stressors which affect student wellness at school.
- Assists in the planning, development and implementation of programs and professional development, which include initiating group and individual activities to support the social-emotional wellness and social skills acquisition and success of students.
- Provides consultation and training for Social Emotional Learning and other mental health initiatives.
- Supports students during their transition into the school, as needed, by organizing meetings, school visits and coordinating support with site administration.
- Supports districts with technical assistance and coaching to scale-up social emotional learning integration into classrooms and school environments.
- Provides direct support to assigned prevention services and programs.
- Assists school staff in identifying services through a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) lens.
- Provides crisis interventions and threat assessments and coordinates community crisis services for students, as needed.
- Provides training and professional development for staff, community and district / state agencies.
- Documents services according to the multi-payer fee schedule.
- Provides trauma-informed, culturally sustaining services to students and families.
- Recruits, screens and intakes referrals for counseling.
- Develops and implements professional development for parents related to increasing parent capacity and school engagement.
- Collects and analyzes data related to students identified as needing more school mental health / behavioral support.
- Communicates, collaborates and links with community agencies to connect students and families with needed support services.
- Provides direct client services through initial assessment, individual and group counseling, family and group therapy, and makes referrals as needed.
- Maintains confidential files, records and documents for prevention-related activities and outcomes.
- Performs related duties as assigned.
Qualifications
Knowledge of :
Ability to :
Education and Experience
Minimum Qualifications :
Preferred Experience :
Working Conditions
May be required to work evenings and weekends. Position requires the ability to drive throughout the county / region for business purposes.
Environmental Elements
This position will be assigned to an educational setting. The employee will be expected to work closely with other county offices, district personnel, students, families, outside agencies and private partners. Assigned school site settings where multiple students and school staff are present. Employees may be required to walk, stand or conduct work in outdoor educational environments, where there may be loud students or staff, varied temperatures, public interaction and / or upset staff or students.
Physical Demands
Consideration will be given to reasonable accommodation for the following physical requirements :
Other Requirements
Cert Mgmt Mental Health - Class 1
07 / 2024