Mental Health Associate

The Stepping Stones Group

Make a Difference Every Day

Empowering Students, Enriching Futures!

School-Based Mental Health Associate | Part-Time | Home and School Settings | AMFT, ACSW, and APCC Associates Welcome

About the Opportunity

Are you a registered associate who wants to build your clinical hours toward licensure while making a difference in children's daily lives? The Stepping Stones Group is hiring a part-time School-Based Mental Health Associate to start right away. You'll gain hands-on experience with children, adolescents, and families in home and school settings, working with IEP teams and school partners in a supportive, mentorship-driven environment. You'll receive paid supervision and take part in a year-long clinical training program.

• Pay: $33-$37 per hour
• Schedule: Monday-Friday, part-time, 20 hours per week
• Setting: Onsite, in-person, in home and school-based settings
• Supervision: Paid individual and group supervision led by experienced clinical mentors
• Training: Year-long Mental Health Training Program, running August 1 through July 31 each school year, with possible extension
• Start date: Immediate
• Employment type: W-2
• Location: Shared with candidates during the application process

What You'll Do

• Provide counseling services to children, adolescents, and families presenting with mood, anxiety, trauma, and neurodevelopmental concerns, using evidence-based treatments
• Deliver short-term, strengths-based counseling and skill-building interventions
• Provide prevention and early intervention services, individually or in groups, to improve coping, behavior, and engagement
• Engage caregivers through psychoeducation and family sessions
• Collaborate with IEP team members and take part in IEP meetings
• Work alongside school staff and multidisciplinary teams
• Facilitate groups and workshops that promote mental health awareness
• Respond to crises, including safety planning and risk assessments
• Complete timely, accurate clinical documentation and protect student confidentiality in line with FERPA and mandated reporting requirements
• Manage your caseload and coordinate care with community resources
• Take part in weekly supervision and required trainings

Minimum Qualifications

• Master's degree in Counseling, Psychology, or a related field
• Current or in-process registration as an associate (AMFT, ACSW, or APCC) with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences
• Availability Monday-Friday and the ability to commit to 20 hours per week
• Willingness to participate in the full training program year
• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation
• Ability to complete required state clearances and background checks
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Authorization to work in the United States

You’ll Thrive in This Role If You Are Open To:

• Starting right away
• Working with children, adolescents, and families
• Providing services in both home and school settings
• Collaborating with IEP teams and multidisciplinary teams
• Receiving regular supervision and training as you build toward licensure
• Traveling between assignments as needed

Preferred Qualifications

• Clinical experience with children and/or adolescents
• School-based service experience
• Experience with trauma-informed care and crisis response
• Experience collaborating on IEP teams
• Bilingual in Spanish and English

Related Experience We Value

Experience as an AMFT, ACSW, or APCC, School-Based Therapist, Mental Health Clinician, Behavioral Health Clinician, Child and Adolescent Therapist, or Family Therapist is highly valued.

Why Candidates Choose This Role

• Child, adolescent, and family hours that count toward licensure (LCSW, LPCC, LMFT)
• Paid individual and group supervision from experienced clinical mentors
• A year-long training program covering psychopathology, DSM diagnosis, evidence-based treatments, crisis management, and legal and ethical considerations
• Exposure to IEP teams and school partnerships
• Flexible scheduling with opportunities for professional advancement

Why You’ll Love Working With Us

• Competitive pay
• PTO and paid holidays
• Paid supervision
• Drive time and mileage reimbursement
• Student loan repayment plans
• Professional development and training opportunities
• Continuing education resources, including free CEUs and approved webinars
• Employee referral bonus program
• Supportive and collaborative clinical leadership
• Opportunities for career growth and advancement
• Meaningful work that directly impacts students and communities

What Makes Someone Successful in This Role?

Successful school-based mental health associates are compassionate, organized, and dependable. They build trust with students and families quickly, document clearly, collaborate well with school teams, and keep children's wellbeing at the center of every decision.

About The Stepping Stones Group

We believe every child is born with a special set of gifts and deserves exceptional support to succeed academically, behaviorally, socially, and emotionally. Through partnerships with more than 14 mission-driven organizations, we are improving the quality of therapeutic and behavioral health services nationwide, and we give our clinicians the training, resources, and support to do their best work.

The Stepping Stones Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.