Mental Health Clinician - Temporary Contract (26-27)

Mental Health Clinician

KIPP Public Schools Northern California is seeking an experienced Mental Health Clinician to provide on-site culturally responsive and trauma informed mental health and social-emotional support to students on campus. In this position, you will provide an array of therapeutic services to youth in a public school-based setting. This role also provides outreach and education on topics of mental health, substance use, and other wellness subject matters as relevant to the immediate school community. The ideal candidate cares deeply about children and adolescents, especially those who have experienced significant trauma in their lives. Reporting to the school leader and receiving coaching from the clinical supervisor, the Mental Health Clinician will provide psychotherapeutic interventions, behavioral supports, and mental health treatment services including counseling, consultation, treatment and case management for students receiving either Educationally Related Mental Health Services or general education counseling.

Note: This role has an end date of November 30, 2026. There may be a potential for extension or internal transfer.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

• Provide culturally responsive MTSS-aligned school-based mental health and substance abuse services in the forms of individual, group, and family treatment, therapeutic case management, crisis intervention, assessment & treatment planning, clinical evaluation, and consultation services for the school community.
• Work collaboratively with clients' multidisciplinary treatment teams to develop daily programming and interventions that will meet each client's educational, mental health and behavioral needs.
• Provide outreach and education on mental health issues to students, families, community members, other professionals, school staff, and in community settings as necessary.
• Develop and maintain administrative and treatment records related to client care in accordance to standards specified by funding source and Regional Support Office (RSO) policies utilizing an electronic health record and Special Education Information System (SEIS).
• Participate in internal and/or external training as required by the position, school, or RSO.
• Participate in student services meetings (such as COST, SST or IEP meetings)
• Provide crisis intervention, assessments, and triage of students.
• Establish, maintain contact with, and assist in collaboration with local community based social service agencies in order to refer students and families for further services
• May provide on-site coordination of counseling intern(s) from outside agencies.
• Perform other duties as assigned (not to include non-counseling or other duties that could compromise potential counseling relationships, such as disciplining students, duties, advisories, etc).

Qualifications

Experience:

• At least one year (2+ years preferred) of post-master's experience providing mental health and substance abuse services in school-based settings preferred.
• At least one year (2+ years preferred) of post-master's experience providing mental health services in a community mental health setting preferred.

Education:

• Master's Degree in Psychology, Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, or a related field.
• Registered associate (AMFT, ASW, APCC) with the Board of Behavioral Sciences. May consider candidates who qualify under the BBS 90-Day rule and have submitted BBS application within 90 days of graduation from an eligible program.

OR

• Licensed (LCSW, LMFT, LPCC) with the Board of Behavioral Sciences.

Knowledge/skills required:

• Familiarity with community behavioral health systems of care, including the philosophy of care, levels of care for counseling services, and the delivery of such services, highly preferred.
• Familiarity with special education, IEP team participation, and educationally related mental health services and the delivery of such services, highly preferred.
• Familiarity with local community resources/services (which may include health, mental health, substance abuse, vocational, housing, etc) highly preferred.
• Strong commitment to the philosophy, goals, and mission of KIPP Public Schools Northern California and to providing community-based, anti-racist, and client-centered mental health treatment and prevention services for the school community.
• Commitment to engaging in professional development activities such as training, continuing education seminars, case conferences, and reviewing up-to-date material, etc., as related to treatment and intervention strategies for the school community.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively, function independently, and interact professionally with a diverse, multicultural, and interdisciplinary staff of all levels.
• Knowledge of crisis intervention, strong work ethic, demonstrated flexibility, superior time management and boundary-holding skills, and a commitment to KIPP Public Schools Northern California's philosophy as well as to the foundational school-wide systems at this campus.
• Strong skills in self advocacy as well as for advocacy of students and families.
• Commitment to systems change, equity and justice as well as to providing services with a trauma-informed care and healing centered lens.
• Familiarity with socio-emotional learning competencies and restorative practice
• Must be able to effectively communicate with the student or family population.
• Candidate ability to speak primary language of families in the community is preferred, but not required

Physical, Mental and Environmental Demands

Physical:

Ability to navigate office and school campuses, and hold meetings in different spaces. Traditionally, much of the day involves sitting. Ability to access and utilize technology. Occasional lifting/carrying of equipment 1-20 lbs.

Mental:

Stress of deadlines and normal work standards, ability to analyze problems and generate alternatives, work with interruptions, concentrate for long periods of time, read, calculate, perform routine math problems, memorize and recall objects and people.

Environmental:

School and classroom environment subject to constant interruptions and distractions. Adhere to KIPP's health and safety guidelines as outlined by the CDC, CDE, and public health agencies' recommendations.

Classification:

This is a full-time, exempt position on a school year calendar cycle, located at our school sites.

About KIPP Public Schools Northern California:

We are a thriving nonprofit network of free public charter schools open to all students. At KIPP, we believe all children should grow up free to create the future they want for themselves and that schools can and should be a critical factor in making that vision a reality. Together with families and communities, we create joyful, academically excellent schools that prepare students with the skills and confidence to pursue the paths they choose—college, career, and beyond—so they can lead fulfilling lives and build a more just world. Our student community consists of over 7,000 elementary, middle, and high school students in East Palo Alto, Oakland, San Francisco, San Lorenzo, San Jose, Redwood City, and Stockton. 79% qualify for free or reduced price lunch, 23% are multilingual learners, and 10% have special needs. We strive to cultivate a representative team of teachers and leaders that reflect our students' diversity.

Compensation:

KIPP Northern California is dedicated to you and your family's well-being! We offer a competitive salary as well as a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, and transportation benefits. We benchmark annually against school districts and charter schools in the regions where we operate, to offer competitive salaries. The salary range for this position is between $70,000 - $102,000 based on experience & licensure status.

How to Apply:

Please submit a cover letter and resume by clicking apply on this page.