Mental Health Counselor

Position: Outlook Clinic – Mental Health Counselor

FLSA Status: Full Time

Location: MHACF Offices – 901 W. Church Street, Orlando, FL 32805

Reports to: Director of Outpatient Services

Benefits Include:

• 50% Employer Paid Medical
• Vision/Dental
• Professional development assistance
• 10 days (80 hours) Paid Time Off
• Twelve Corporate Holidays

About the MHACF: Established in 1946, the Mental Health Association of Central Florida, Inc. (MHACF) is one of the oldest nonprofits in Central Florida and is the leading community-based nonprofit dedicated to addressing the needs of those living with mental illness and promoting the overall mental health of all. This mission is supported by the Association's commitment to promote mental health as a critical part of overall wellness, including prevention services for all; early identification and intervention for those at risk; integrated care, services, and supports for those who need them; with recovery as the goal. The MHACF also understands that violence, racism, and discrimination undermine mental wellness and are significant contributors to adverse traumas. Therefore, we are committed to breaking cycles of multi-generational distress in marginalized communities and anti-racism in all that we do, pledging to work against individual racism, interpersonal racism, and institutional racism in all their forms.

About the Outlook Clinic: The MHACF Outlook Clinic is guided by the B4Stage4 philosophy, that mental health conditions should be treated long before they reach the most critical points in the disease process. When we think about diseases like cancer or heart disease we start before Stage 4—we begin with prevention, identify symptoms, and develop a plan of action to stop and hopefully reverse the progression of the disease. Like other diseases, it is critical to address symptoms of mental illness early and help the patient plan an appropriate course of action on a path towards overall wellness.

Since 2010 the MHACF has operated Central Florida’s only free and charitable mental health clinic, the Outlook Clinic in downtown Orlando. The program model of providing psychological and medication psychiatric care to the medically underserved and uninsured operates by unique collaborations that bring essential behavioral health care and case management to any person regardless of faith, gender, ethnicity, or ability to provide proof of documentation. Current admissions criteria are patients be 1)11 years ) at or below 200% of Federal poverty guidelines 3) not eligible for any governmental health care entitlements or 4) have no healthcare insurance.

Program Description: Psychosocial counseling services will be offered to targeted Healthy Start clients in order to promote the client's optimal mental health, prevent second births among teens, and to promote healthy growth and development in infants born to those receiving counseling. While each client is unique, the intent of this therapy is generally offered on a short-term basis, ideally less than 6-8 months but is ultimately based on needs of the client; clients with more severe issues requiring

Qualifications:

The candidate will possess superior interpersonal skills and the ability to deliver exceptional customer service to a diverse group of constituents from a wide variety of cultural, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds and lifestyles.

Clinical

A. Manner of Service Provision

1. Service Tasks - Provider will:

a. Make or attempt to make verbal contact with the client within five days of referral.

b. Maintain ongoing and close communication with the Healthy Start program. This may include communication through designated liaisons, regular meetings with Healthy Start staff, phone contacts, and within Healthy Start’s WellFamily System.

c. Complete a psychosocial assessment, diagnosis, and intake summary within 30 working days of referral and develop a master treatment plan; will also administer other evaluation instruments as appropriate.

d. Offer individual counseling sessions in the client's home and/or other location requested by the client; these sessions will be of an average duration of 4-6 sessions, held approximately once/week and for one hour in length, as appropriate for client need. Sessions are meant to be provided face-to-face and it is expected that clients will receive most sessions face-to-face. When a client cannot be seen face-to-face, it is allowable that the session be completed via telehealth; however, this should be done rarely. Telehealth services will be conducted according to state and federal guidelines and in accordance with all standards of confidentiality.

e. Encourage clients to return or stay in school, work towards their GED, enter vocational training or obtain employment as appropriate for their age and situation.

f. With prior authorization from HSCOC, offer group sessions as feasible to pregnant/parenting clients at community sites located in participating zip codes; these sessions will be of a therapeutic nature and may occur weekly and last approximately one hour. Participant data must be collected and shared with HSCOC, including surveys and reports. Other sites may be added or deleted as zip codes change based on need.

g. Review the treatment plan and progress toward goals identified in the client's Family Support Plan with the Healthy Start care coordinator at a minimum of once per month. This review of progress may be by phone or through written documentation, though face-to-face contact between counselor and care coordinator is preferred.

h. Ensure timely entry of client service data into Healthy Start's Well Family System (WFS). Provider staff will be trained on this system by Healthy Start staff annually and as needed. HS MHC 2024-25 11

h. Ensure a letter acknowledging referral from HS is sent within 5 business days to any client who must experience a delay in receiving services; this notification will be documented in WFS.

i. Terminate services to clients based on therapeutic reasons, after the therapist has made three (3) attempts to contact, or if client has failed to keep two scheduled appointments without prior notification. Contact will be made with the care coordinator to confirm that closure is appropriate.

j. Provide a copy of the client's closure letter and feedback form to the Healthy Start care coordinator for inclusion in the client's Healthy Start record within two weeks of closure. See Exhibit A.

k. Develop a closing summary/discharge plan indicating the reason for closure, the progress achieved and any continuing service needs. See Exhibit B.

• Must be enthusiastic for the mission of the MHACF and the clients we serve.
• Bilingual Preferred.

B. Performance Specifications

1. Outcome and performance measures

a. 90% of clients referred for services must receive a contact, or an attempt to contact, within five (5) working days from receipt of referral.

b. 95% of records must indicate appropriate communication has occurred with the Healthy Start program as measured by documentation of a minimum of a once-monthly communication with clients' care coordinators.

c. 90% of Healthy Start Care Coordinators will complete a Provider satisfaction survey measured by HSCOC once per year.

2. Service Location

a. Individual services will be provided to clients in their homes or other locations preferred by the client.

3. Deliverables

a. Service Units - A service unit is defined as fifteen (15) minutes of contact with the client for the purpose of providing mental health counseling services.

b. Records and Documentation - Records and documentation will be coordinated

Working Conditions:

This work is performed primarily out in the community, client’s homes or client’s prefer setting.

Experience Requirements: Master’s degree in social work, mental health, behavioral health treatment or related social services. Licensure eligible and with sound clinical skills working with diverse populations.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $40,000.00 - $45,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

Work Location: In person

Salary : $40,000 - $45,000