Director of Social Emotional Learning

Join our dynamic and diverse team of professionals making an impact!

We believe our team members, clients, and community matter.

Celebrating over 170 years of service, LifeBridge is a leading non-profit behavioral health organization supporting adults, children, and adolescents through mental health and substance use recovery. Our clients benefit from a team of dedicated employees who are diverse, empathetic, warm, experienced, and effective.

As a trauma-informed agency, we acknowledge the physical and mental toll that comes from adverse experiences – but we do not let those experiences be the only defining characteristics for the community or the families we serve. We ensure that all our programs and services are offered through the lens of sensitivity to those lived experiences, and policies, procedures, and spaces are developed to help staff and clients feel physically and psychologically safe.

You’d make a great LifeBridge employee if...

•You seek to understand and relate respectfully with the various cultures and backgrounds of the people we serve.

•You believe all people can overcome what may seem like insurmountable challenges.

•You believe compassion goes a long way in helping individuals manage a crisis, seek help, and achieve wellness.

•You honor clients’ trust by providing your best.

Job Purpose/Function: (the main contribution of the function to the total organization.)

Reporting to the Senior Director of Behavioral Health Services, the Director of SEL Services is responsible for overseeing successful implementation of the Trauma-Informed Multi-Tiered System of Support (TI-MTSS) framework within local schools to increase school and community safety by implementing solutions to promote a positive and healthy school and community climate. Solutions include improving access to school-based behavioral health services, implementing age-appropriate social and emotional learning programs, and providing evidence-based training to school personnel and others in trauma-informed practices and mental health self-care strategies.

Major Responsibilities:

1.Lead TI-MTSS and SEL Programming

• Ensure successful execution of TI-MTSS activities as outlined in funding proposals.

• Ensure project scopes and outcomes are achieved.

• When applicable, oversee contracts and agreements associated with TI-MTSS programming to ensure timely execution of scopes of work.

• Ensure timely administration of evaluation instruments and data collection.

• Develop and submit TI-MTSS activity reports.

• Assist in facilitating meetings, as requested by the Senior Director of Behavioral Health, including, but not limited to, developing the agenda and presenting ideas.

• Build and sustain relationships with schools and child-serving agencies to bolster program engagement and referrals for services.

• Attend meetings and serve as programmatic point of contact between LifeBridge and funding source(s).

• Represent LifeBridge in a professional and positive way.

• Other duties as assigned.

2. Facilitate educational mental wellness-related workshops and training with external stakeholders.

• Facilitate educational workshops and training in the evidence-based Community Resilience Model (CRM), and other trainings related to mental wellness, with external stakeholders (e.g., school personnel, law enforcement, child welfare workers, community members) to create trauma-informed and resiliency-focused communities.

• Coordinate and schedule workshops and trainings with external stakeholders and manage LifeBridge community education and training calendar.Ensure timely administration of evaluation instruments and data collection for each workshop or training.

3. Administer approved SEL curriculum within partner schools.

• In partnership with Senior Director of Behavioral Health, coordinate SEL programming within contracted schools each semester,ensuring minimum student targets are met.

• Facilitate student SEL instruction in alignment with agreed upon schedule and dosage (number of school periods/hours).

• Ensure timely administration of evaluation instruments and data collection for SEL programming.

4. Conduct mental health assessments and provide individual or group therapeutic counseling. * As needed *

• Conduct student mental health assessments and establish treatment goals.

• Develop and implement treatment plans collaboratively with student and family.

• Plan and facilitate individual, family, and group sessions.

• Align with a client-centered, “unconditional positive regard” treatment approach.

• Evaluate and document student’s progress and the effectiveness of therapy interventions.

• Maintain accurate, clear, and complete documentation of all facets of the student’s treatment in the Electronic Health Record (EHR).

• Coordinate student care with other members of the treatment team to ensure effective and efficient care delivery and the achievement of student’s desired outcomes.

• Deliver coordinated services that include assisting the student and family in accessing community support if needed.

• Coordinate referrals for counseling services with LifeBridge Operations Manager.

• Participate in professional development training and individual and group supervision.

• Successfully meet agency access goals and target metrics.

• Provide consultative support to school personnel’s understanding of student problematic behaviors and support restorative practices.

Education and Experience Required:

• License eligible in Connecticut, holding a master’s degree in one of the following areas: Counseling, Social Work, Marriage and Family.

• Must have a minimum of two years of director-level experience.

• Must have a work history demonstrating clear leadership, accomplishment, and the ability to accomplish work on time, on budget, and within predetermined specifications.

• Excellent organizational, verbal, written, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.

• Prior experience in facilitating training is required.

• Ability to navigate an Electronic Health Record (EHR) system.

• High proficiency in Microsoft Office 365, specifically proficiency with SharePoint, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Excel is required.

• Strong understanding of aspects of mental well-being, namely the impacts of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), trauma, and toxic stress.

• Demonstrated experience partnering with community-based organizations and other institutions.

• Must prioritize duties, multi-task, and be punctual.

• Ability to work well independently and in a team.

• Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation.

Benefits, Perks, and Support:

• Agency provides FREE continuing education (CEUs) in evidence-based interventions and professional development.
• Benefits package - comprising of medical dental, vision, STD, LTD, FSA, 403B, generous paid time off.
• Belonging to a community where teammates are recognized and celebrated.
• Working for an agency committed to staff wellness.
• Support through weekly clinical supervision.