Assignment Readiness Counselor - short term and on demand

Assignment Readiness Counselor - Short Term And On Demand

The Assignment Ready Counselor (ARC) will provide coverage in short-term, surge and on demand situations resulting from the Military needs such as a post-deployment event or to cover an existing assignment for counselors who are absent. The Summer ARC counselor position covers assignments during the May 15th through September 15th time period, coinciding with the school summer break. With minimal guidance and oversight, provides the full breadth of Adult or Child and Youth Behavioral (CYB) counseling services to military service members and their families at military installations. These services may include non-medical counseling, training/health and wellness presentations, consultation with parents, personnel at child daycare centers and schools, and consultation to installation command regarding behavioral health issues affecting military personnel and their family members. ARC CYB counselors may be assigned to DoDEA schools and community schools and will need to have experience working in a school setting to qualify for ARC role in backing up a school position. CYB counselors may also be assigned to youth programs, summer camps, and on demand assignments. ARC adult counselors may be assigned to support MFLC services in a variety of military community and readiness centers, as well as on-demand and surge assignments. The counselors work closely with the installation and military branch Points of Contact (POC) to assure that the program is provided within scope and meets the needs of the installation.

Provides non-medical, short term, solution focused, counseling directly to adults, children, and youth of service members. Services include assessment, brief counseling and consultation, action planning, referral to resources (assuring linkage as appropriate), and follow-up as indicated.

CYB counselors will also have a focus on supporting the staff and personnel of CDCs, DoDEA and community schools, youth programs and summer camps as well as providing parent training and guidance.

Provides training and health and wellness presentations, participate in health fairs and other base/installation activities.

Enters counselor activity data daily through smart phone or web application assure that reporting is accurate from assigned installation while maintaining confidentiality and anonymity of service / family member.

Other Job Requirements

Master's Degree from an accredited graduate program in a mental health related field, or social work. With short notice, willing to accept assignments of undefined periods to include weekends. Can cover, on a full-time basis, assignments of varying length from a weekend to two weeks. Quickly builds rapport with service personnel clients, family members, students, parents and co-workers. Adaptable to new working conditions, varying location rules, etc.; adjusts working style to align with each work environment. Able to work effectively with minimal instruction and guidance. Listens carefully to instructions provided. With minimal notice, participates in regular in-services/training, Quality Improvement committees or other contract activities as assigned. Requires ability to quickly engage and communicate with military members, spouses or children as assigned, in order to accomplish job functions, and to respond quickly to emergent situations in any physical location on a military installation and/or within a school setting, which includes the need to traverse short and/or long distances within the base to both indoor and outdoor locations, to maneuver through rugged, outdoor or uneven locations (e.g., steep inclines, stairs, grass), and work in outdoor weather and other military base conditions. Due to the nature of working on military installations or related worksites, counselors may need to comply with various site-specific requirements to work at designated locations. For example, for some assignments, counselors will need to have certain current immunizations or vaccinations and provide record of receipt. Ability to prove US Citizenship and must be fluent in English. Advanced knowledge of brief therapy and solution-focused counseling methods. Prior military service/military family member and/or strong familiarity with military culture desired. For CYB positions must meet the Magellan MFLC CYB criteria for experience with children and youth and specialty in child and adolescent development/psychology. Creates a presence on the installation in which the service and family members feel comfortable approaching the counselor and recognize the program to be confidential; for CYB counselors -- creates a presence in child and youth settings, is available to children, youth, and staff. When working with children, counselor must abide by line of site protocol. Establishes and maintains working relationships with community resources and provides appropriate linkages. Partners with POC to provide Adult and CYB services in a manner that addresses the needs of the installation/facility. Develops an excellent working relationship with the installation/facility POC. Manages duty to warn and restricted reporting situations according to DoD protocol and staffs the cases with Regional Supervisor/Regional Director. Communicates with Regional Supervisors and participate in regular individual and group supervision, sharing information regarding trends and issues on the installations and in facilities to which they are assigned for substitute or on call services. Responds to critical incidents and special requests as directed by the POC and approved by the OSD program manager.