TITLE: MENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST

QUALIFICATIONS:
1. Master’s or Bachelor’s degree from an accredited educational institution.
2. Certified as Psychologist, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker or other related field.
3. Internship in a school setting or with youth.
4. Such alternatives to the above qualifications as the board may find appropriate and acceptable.

REPORTS TO: Deputy Superintendent of Continuous Improvement 

JOB GOAL: To improve the academic achievement, behavioral/social skills, and emotional well-being of all students through direct contact with students and consultation with other professionals.

PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Ability to develop detailed social/emotional plans with rationale for implementation and conduct assessment of student needs.

2. Help students cope with personal and psychological issues that affect school performance, behavior, and socialization.

3. Ability to interpret statistical data in relation to behavioral scales and social-emotional or mental health tools.

4. Address issues relevant to students, families, and school staff, such as school attendance, behavioral issues, and adjustment to the social setting of the school.

5. Works within a problem-solving model to assist the MTSS school teams and other staff in interventions, and referrals for formal evaluation of students when the data supports it.

6. Writes treatment plans for students and assists in the implementation of such plans.

7. Intervenes with crisis situations.

8. Writes and monitors treatment plans for students and assists in and monitors the implementation of such plans to ensure student success. Monitors and provides follow-up for recommended interventions to ensure student success.

9. Provide coaching and consultation to families and school staff to enhance the student’s full participation in school and positive educational experience.

10. Promote parental involvement in the schools and in support systems for students. This includes making home visits, supporting parent attendance at meetings, providing parent education as needed.

11. Counsels students individually and in small groups when appropriate.

12. Assists in the implementation and monitoring of RtI, MTSS, IEP, and other meetings. Assist in threat assessment protocols with at risk students.

13. Coordinates the conflict resolution process with students both individually and in groups.

14. Trains staff regarding effective interventions, social emotional learning, mental health and behavioral techniques.

15. Focus on helping students overcome the barriers to education and the social and emotional problems interfering with adjustment and achievement in school.

16. Focus on supporting students transitioning to and from Department of Juvenile Justice settings or programs. 

17. Initiates referrals to family services and coordinates outside agency participation with students and their families as needed.

18. Focus on supporting students who are homeless, in foster care, receiving substance abuse treatment, or who are teen parents.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to drive. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.  The employee must be able to demonstrate CPI and other crisis de-escalation techniques.  

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT: Eleven months. Salary and work year to be established by the board.

EVALUATION: Performance of this job will be evaluated by the immediate supervisor.