School Based Counselor

Position Summary

The School Counselor provides counseling services to students, families, and school personnel to promote and support students' academic and social success in a designated school district. This includes case management, mental health support services at the school and in the homes of at-risk students, consultation services to school personnel, liaison for support to community agencies, training programs for school and community populations, and short term counseling services.

Duties & Responsibilities

Services to Students

• Support students experiencing truancy by developing and implementing appropriate interventions and conducting home visits as needed.
• Provide case management for students and families requiring multiple resources.
• Provide home-based services to the families of students who have experienced or are at risk of experiencing trauma, including those who are low-income, homeless, involved in the child welfare system or involved in the juvenile justice system.

Services to School Personnel

• Provide staff with essential information to better understand factors (cultural, societal, economic, familial, health, etc.) affecting a student's performance and behavior.
• Provide direct support and interventions to students exhibiting challenging behaviors.
• Employ evidenced-based strategies and techniques to de-escalate behavioral incidents.
• Offer counseling and coaching to help students understand and manage their emotions and behaviors.
• Develop proactive strategies to prevent behavioral issues including classroom accommodations and modifications when necessary.
• Respond to crisis situations while working closely with school security and counseling teams.

Services to Districts

• Identifying and reporting child abuse and neglect.
• Providing case management for students and families requiring multiple resources.

Services to Parents/Families

• Work with parents to facilitate their support in their children's school adjustment.
• Alleviate family stress to enable the child to function more effectively in school & community.
• Assist parents in accessing and utilizing school and community resources.
• Work with those problems in a child's living situation that affect the child's adjustment in school (home, school, and community).

School-Community Liaison

• Obtain and coordinate community resources to meet students' needs.
• Provide health services and intervention strategies by coordinating the services provided by eligible applicants and coordinated care organizations, public health entities, nonprofit youth service providers and community-based organizations.
• Foster and promote communication between the school entity, community and law enforcement.
• Increase access to quality trauma-informed support services and behavioral health care by linking the community with local trauma support and behavioral health systems.
• Help school districts receive adequate support from social and mental health agencies.
• Mobilize family, school, and community resources to enable the child to learn as effectively as possible in his or her educational program.

Skills & Knowledge

Leadership and soft skills: Excellent communication and relationship building skills; Ability to work effectively on a multi-treatment team.

Technical skills: Proficient in numerous clinical interventions; Knowledge of and ability to access community resources; Strong substance abuse intervention skills.

Education & Experience

• Education: Master's degree required, preferably in counseling.
• School Counselor certification is required.

Work Environment

Boyertown School District

Work Hours

This is a full-time position.

Travel

Travel to the designated school, various homes, and community settings within the designated school district.