Child and Family Mental Health Therapist

Job Description Job Description:\n\n#BECOMEANALLYTODAY! #ALLIESNEEDSALLIES Full Benefits Package offered, including:  Competitive Pay  12 Holidays per calendar year  2 Personal Days - birthday and anniversary of employment  10 Vacation Days per year (increases with tenure)  10 Sick Leave Days per year  10 Jury Duty Days  100% Employer Contribution to: Health - Kaiser or Anthem, Dental, Vision  401k Retirement Plan with a 50% employer match for the first 4%  100% Employer-Paid Life and Accidental Insurance  Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – for team members and dependents  Additional benefits: o Pet Insurance o Supplemental Life Insurance o Discounts on movie tickets, amusement parks, travel, hotels, sporting events, shows, and more. o Initial and ongoing training and professional development opportunities o Opportunities for growth and advancement o Employee referral incentive - $1,500 o Public Service Loan Forgiveness o Credit Union Membership AGENCY OVERVIEW: Every child needs a childhood. Allies for Every Child (Allies) exists to provide at-risk children and children living in poverty with the foundation they need to expand their life choices and lead fulfilling lives. For nearly 40 years, Allies has been providing thousands of at-risk children and their families with critical, high-quality child development and family wellness programs (including comprehensive early education and Early Head Start services), family strengthening interventions, foster care and adoption services, and a range of vital, integrated services, including mental health services, educational assessments, trauma and disabilities screenings/advocacy, nutrition services, dental and vision screenings, and pediatric health consultations. In 2024, Allies expanded its reach, serving even more children and youth in foster care and those transitioning to adulthood through Extraordinary Families, a program of Allies for Every Child. JOB SUMMARY Under the clinical supervision of the Early Childhood Mental Health Clinical Supervisor (Clinical Supervisor), the Child and Family Mental Health Therapist (Therapist) promotes healthy social-emotional development in children (typically ages 0-5) by providing assessment, evidence-based therapy, support to families and caregivers, and other related services and activities. The Therapist specializes in strengthening attachment, addressing behavioral challenges, and supporting parenting through home visits, observations, and clinical therapy. This role involves working in field-based settings and engaging with high-risk, marginalized, or otherwise vulnerable populations (e.g., child welfare involvement, homeless, etc.) and individuals in crisis. This role also conducts community outreach and helps coordinate care and family events as needed. ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES To successfully perform this job, an individual must believe in and act in accordance with the Agency's mission/vision statements, adopted theoretical frameworks, and philosophy, and adequately carry out each essential duty. The requirements below outline the knowledge, skills, and abilities required. Reasonable accommodations may be provided to assist individuals with disabilities in performing the essential functions. In accordance with our "team" philosophy, the person in this position may occasionally be required to perform or assist with tasks beyond the duties listed in this job description. Direct Services: • Conduct client interviews and comprehensive biopsychosocial assessments to gather information on the child's and family's histories (e.g., family, social, medical, trauma, substance use, risk factors, and mental health treatment). • Conduct developmental and mental health screenings (e.g., ASQ-3, ACEs, etc.). • Conduct suicide risk assessments, domestic violence assessments, and other safety assessments. • Develop urgent crisis care plans, in collaboration with the Clinical Supervisor, to resolve acute mental or emotional problems and help clients cope, which may include referrals to other treatment sources, such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, rehabilitation counselor, or another agency. • Develop individualized treatment plans in collaboration with clients and the Clinical Supervisor using modalities like play therapy or dyadic (parent-child) therapy to address trauma or emotional issues. Monitor client progress and update treatment goals accordingly. • Educate caregivers and parents on child development, trauma, meaning of behaviors through developmental and trauma lenses , emotional regulation techniques, and other strategies that support children’s emotional wellbeing. • Plan and conduct the client's therapy plan under the guidance of supervisory staff to address presenting problems identified through the assessment process, considering the client's treatment goal and the length and modality of therapy. • Provide crisis intervention, mental health treatment (i.e., dyadic, individual, couples, family, and/or group therapy, as applicable), and other related mental health care services to clients. • Utilize evidence-based treatment modalities that are consistent with program goals and that best fit with clients' age and treatment needs (e.g., motivational interviewing, trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, child-parent psychotherapy, etc.). • Prepare reports, letters, and clinical summaries as needed with the Clinical Supervisor’s support. Present cases in supervision and integrate supervisory feedback into treatment. • Coordinate supportive services by linking clients to community resources as needed to maximize client selfsufficiency and well-being. • Maintain accurate and up-to-date documentation in accordance with agency policies, licensing and regulatory standards, and COA accreditation requirements. • Evening and weekend work is required as needed. Interagency and Cross-Departmental Collaboration • Offer support related to trauma-informed services across programs. • Support integrated care planning across programs (Foster Care, Adoption, Family Preservation, Early Childhood Education, etc.) to create a holistic view of the child/family, share information as needed and appropriate, develop joint service plans as appropriate, ensure access to necessary services, and provide specialized input to improve client outcomes. • Assist in providing relevant training across programs on topics such as complex trauma, ACEs, child development, etc. • Participate in a multi-disciplinary team to review client cases, treatment approaches, clinical issues, client progress, and treatment recommendations, and to coordinate services. • Partner with the communications team to develop and share impact stories. Quality and Performance Improvement: • Manage, maintain, and update client files, complete and update case records, and perform other administrative duties as required. • Ensure timely, accurate completion of monthly, quarterly, and annual program activity reports, as well as other required documentation. • Understand and implement regulations, policies/procedures, and relevant contract requirements. • Maintain confidentiality and compliance with HIPAA, state board regulations, and ethical standards per state board guidelines. • Support the program/department in reaching annual plans and agency-wide goals. • Attend and participate in all mandated trainings, work groups, program activities, focus groups, and staff development/training activities to enhance skills and develop professional knowledge. • Support audits, reporting, and quality improvement efforts. Community and Stakeholder Engagement: • Collaborate with the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), Juvenile Probation, Los Angeles County Office of Education, and community-based organizations to support child and family needs. • Coordinate with community-based organizations and other providers to ensure continuity of care. • Represent Allies in community stakeholder or partner meetings and forums as needed. • Maintain effective relationships with public and private organizations, including county departments, advocacy groups, and community-based organizations. QUALIFICATIONS & EDUCATION Preferably, the ideal candidate will: • Have at least two years of experience and specialized training working with children 0-5. • Have experience conducting dyadic therapy with parents or caregivers and their young children, focusing on supporting attachment, protective factors, and parenting skills. Knowledge and experience with key evidence-based models like Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP). • Understand child development and how adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and positive childhood experiences impact development. • Have knowledge of child abuse/neglect prevention. • Be adept at developing relationships with community members and community-based organizations to reach shared goals and foster engagement. • Be dedicated to creating and supporting culturally responsive services provided by a culturally diverse workforce. • Know of or have experience working with the LGBTQ+ community and familiarity with issues of particular relevance to LGBTQ+ people. • Have experience providing field-based and/or home visitation services. • Be bilingual in English and Spanish. • Be experienced with DMH contracts, Medi-Cal billing/documentation, or EHR systems. The candidate must have: • A master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy, Social Work, Counseling Psychology, or Clinical Psychology. Child and Family Mental Health Therapist • A current Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT) or Associate Clinical Social Worker (ASW) registered with BBS in the state of California. • Previous experience providing direct mental health services (psychotherapy) to adults, school-age children, and/or children 0-5 in community-based settings. • Previous experience of recent, related experience in child/family crisis intervention and mental health services. • Fingerprint background clearance (DOJ, FBI & Child Abuse Clearance Index), or approved exemption • Successful completion of pre-employment physical, PPD risk assessment, proof of immunizations for pertussis (Tdap), measles (MMR), and influenza (can decline). • Class “C” driver’s license, proof of automobile insurance, and access to reliable transportation. Personal transportation is required. • Alignment with Allies’ mission and philosophy. • Excellent Knowledge of: o Crisis Intervention Theory, Systems Theory, Attachment Theory, Child Development, and other relevant theoretical approaches (and an ability to incorporate this into both the mental health assessments and treatment interventions). o Wellness and recovery practices, evidence-based clinical interventions (e.g., trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, child-parent psychotherapy), and crisis intervention skills. o The broad range of issues related to high-risk populations (e.g., people experiencing homelessness, domestic violence, commercial sexual exploitation, etc.) and related mental health concerns. o Knowledge and understanding of the diagnostic criteria pertaining to the psychiatric diagnoses most prevalent in the target population. o Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook). • Experience with/Ability to: o Respond effectively in fast-paced, dynamic, and sometimes high-stress environments. o Respond quickly, effectively, and with equanimity to client/family crises and life situations. o Promote and safeguard the rights and well-being of LGBTQ+ clients through education, advocacy, and community support. o Provide field-based services. Travel throughout Los Angeles County is required. o Seek and synthesize information and produce detail-oriented work. o Organize workload and prioritize responsibilities. Ability to plan, organize, and prioritize work in a continuously changing and complex environment. o Communicate effectively with diverse audiences, verbally and in writing. o Develop productive relationships with colleagues and clients. Exceptional interpersonal skills required. o Work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team, and welcome opportunities to work across diverse cultures. o Handle and manage confidential information in compliance with HIPAA standards and agency policies. o Serve as a role model for children/youth, TAY, and families served by Allies. Allies for Every Child is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals and are committed to building a team that understands the communities we serve and maintains core values as an organization. All employment decisions at Allies for Every Child are based on individual merit, qualifications, and job-related requirements. We welcome candidates from varied backgrounds, including those whose personal or professional experiences enhance Allies’ ability to serve children and families effectively. The organization does not use demographic quotas or preferences in employment decisions.\n\nCompany Description:\n\nEvery child needs a childhood. Allies for Every Child (Allies) exists to give at-risk children and children living in poverty the foundation they need to increase their life choices and lead fulfilling lives. For nearly 40 years, Allies has been providing thousands of at-risk children and their families with critical, high-quality child development and family wellness programs (including comprehensive early education and Early Head Start services), family strengthening interventions, foster care and adoption services, and a range of vital, integrated services, including mental health services, educational assessments, trauma and disabilities screenings/advocacy, nutrition services, dental and vision screenings, and pediatric health consultations. In 2024, Allies expanded its reach, serving even more children and youth in foster care and those transitioning to adulthood through Extraordinary Families, a program of Allies for Every Child. Company Description Every child needs a childhood. Allies for Every Child (Allies) exists to give at-risk children and children living in poverty the foundation they need to increase their life choices and lead fulfilling lives. For nearly 40 years, Allies has been providing thousands of at-risk children and their families with critical, high-quality child development and family wellness programs (including comprehensive early education and Early Head Start services), family strengthening interventions, foster care and adoption services, and a range of vital, integrated services, including mental health services, educational assessments, trauma and disabilities screenings/advocacy, nutrition services, dental and vision screenings, and pediatric health consultations. In 2024, Allies expanded its reach, serving even more children and youth in foster care and those transitioning to adulthood through Extraordinary Families, a program of Allies for Every Child.