Job Description

Job Description

Job Description

San Diego Youth Services
JOB ANNOUNCEMENT
Mental Health Specialist

San Diego Youth Services seeks a Mental Health Specialist in the Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) to be based in Spring Valley and La Mesa. This is a full-time, temporary & exempt position reporting to the PEI Program Manager. San Diego Youth Services: Who we are San Diego Youth Services has helped improve the lives of more than 780,000 homeless, runaway and vulnerable youth since its beginning in 1970. We provide safe places to live and long-term solutions through shelter, foster homes, community centers and housing to more than 28,000 youth every year at 100+ community and school locations. Through prevention, early intervention and treatment, we also help youth before they need higher levels of care or become homeless.

We aim to:

1. Meet the basic needs of youth. Hunger, poverty and youth homelessness are on the rise for many youth and their families today. We help meet these basic needs for youth. What could be more vital than food and shelter? We provide safe places to live and long-term solutions through shelter, foster homes, community centers and housing.
2. Create positive connection. We help youth focus on positive life changes and healthy relationships as part of providing needed resources and services. San Diego Youth Services has long provided foster homes and adoption support services for families considering adopting a youth in the foster care system.
3. Help youth develop life skills. In addition to a range of safe and stable housing options, we offer support to  help youth develop the independent living skills necessary to become self-sufficient and keep off the streets.
4. Promote overall health and well-being. Early intervention and care for the whole child are critical. We provide a broad continuum of services to help youth overcome trauma and challenges that put them at risk, including  case management, counseling, mental health treatment and educational support and resources .

SDYS has a staff of approximately 250 employees and 80 volunteers working across San Diego County and an annual budget of approximately $24 million. You can learn more about us at

DEPARTMENT DESCRIPTION OR PROGRAM DESCRIPTION HIRING FOR
Our East County Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) team works with children and their families to improve adult-child relationships both at school and in the home. All services offered are free!
PEI now provides services to children and families at Avondale, Kempton, Bancroft, La Presa, Rancho, Highlands, Sweetwater Springs, La Mesa Dale, and Lemon Avenue elementary schools within the La Mesa-Spring Valley School District. The program’s goals are to prevent behavioral problems and serious mental illness in elementary school-aged children and to support families who are struggling with these concerns. East County PEI uses the Incredible Years evidence-based model to improve the lives of children and families in the community.

CONTEXT OF THE POSITION
This is a school-based program serving specific schools within the La Mesa Spring Valley School District. Responsible for providing comprehensive trauma-informed school-based Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) services to children (preschool to 3rd grade) and their families. Mental Health Specialist responsible for facilitating Incredible Years prevention and early intervention services to school-aged children and their families. Conduct intake assessments for enrollment into IY Child and IY Parenting groups. Work within a team model, networking with community and school partners to support all levels of program services. Responsible for maintaining an awareness and sensitivity to the linguistic and cultural characteristics of La Mesa Spring Valley School District sites.

Essential functions include:

• The development, implementation, and evaluation of an integrated treatment approach for youth with co-occurring psychiatric and substance disorders and quality trauma informed youth programs that adhere to and uphold the rigorous standards of San Diego Youth Services as mandated by its mission, purpose, guiding principles and standards of quality.
• Conduct intake assessments for enrollment for children into IY Child Groups and caregivers into IY Parent Groups. Provide appropriate community resources and referrals based on assessment of needs for families upon intake.
• Participate in training, developing and providing input for evaluating other staff and volunteers within the PEI program.
• Participate in program and agency staff meetings, planning functions and trainings.
• Maintain service documentation, data collection and contract compliance of records as required in a timely, accurate and complete manner through Apricot 360, online case management system.
• Facilitate the Incredible Years evidence-based curriculum in school-based settings with PreK-3rd grade children in IY Child Groups and IY Classroom lessons.
• Teach the Incredible Years evidence-based Parent Education curriculum with adults in school and community-based settings.
• Assist in Family Wellness Events in school and community-based settings that focus on family health, stress reduction, and other wellness-based prevention activities.
• Collaborate with teachers, school staff, Family Support Partners, Program Manager and other team members to provide high quality services to children and families.
• Assist, guide and motivate families toward safe and healthy functioning as defined by agency and school standards.
• Maintain fidelity to evidence-based curricula, as required by the program’s County contract.
• Provide support in the form of reflective listening, emotional support, strengths identification, challenge identification, and solution seeking as needed.
• Remain culturally sensitive and respectful in all interactions with service partners, team members and other community partners.
• Maintain confidentiality and privacy standards of service partner protected health information and other applicable information and material in accordance to agency and program policies, and applicable regulations and laws, including HIPAA.
• Perform other related duties as assigned by PM.

PREFERRED PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred.
• Licensed MFT, LCSW, LPCC or Licensed Psychologist and in good standing with the State of California’s Board of Behavioral Services preferred .
• License-eligible (MFT, MSW, MHC) by the State of California and in good standing with the State of California’s Board of Behavioral Services is required.
• Must be registered with the California Board of Behavioral Science and must be in good standing, please indicate IMF intern number, ASW registration number or MFT/LCSW license number in application.
• Requires a minimum of one year of job-related experience including case management services, mental health assessment and direct mental health service experience with at-risk youth and families in school settings. Knowledge of East County and SDYS resources and experience in alcohol and drug service systems is highly desirable.
• Experience in youth, family, and community development methods along with a working knowledge of Motivational Interviewing.
• Must have an understanding and value the Promotora and Family Partnership model of service. Skilled in building and maintaining collaborative relationships with excellent organizational skills, the ability to multi-task, and be flexible to meet the needs of students and families.
• Must possess excellent oral and written skills and be computer literate.
• Demonstrated leadership, problem-solving abilities, coordinating skills, creativity, and public speaking highly preferred.
• Must show a willingness to work flexible hours, including some evenings and weekends as needed to meet program needs.
• Experience with conducting training, scheduling of program activities, and staff coverage.
• Must be willing to develop or possess working knowledge of trauma-informed care and dual diagnosis treatment; experience working in trauma-informed and dual diagnosis programs preferred. Maintain CPR and First Aid Certificate.
• Maintain good standing with State of California’s Board of Behavioral Sciences.

SDYS EXPECTATIONS

• Adhere to and uphold the rigorous standards of SDYS as mandated by its mission, purpose, guiding principles and standards of quality.
• Maintain confidentiality and privacy standards of service partner protected health information and other applicable information and material in accordance to agency and center policies, and applicable regulations and laws including HIPAA.
• Welcome and support SDYS volunteers and assist them in accomplishing their services whenever applicable.
• Effectively communicate with people from diverse backgrounds and experiences.
• Receive and give supportive feedback to foster equity and inclusion in working relationships.
• Recognize, nurture, and learn from strengths in co-workers.
• Maintain warm, welcoming and safe work environments.
• Possess flexibility to accomplish job responsibilities in several work environments, whether it be from home, on the road, or in an office.

Salary Range : $68,000-70,000/annually + up to $1500 annual bilingual differential based on proficiency

To apply, please send resume and cover letter through job posting on SDYS website.

SDYS offers a comprehensive benefits package to full time employees that includes generous PTO, personal holidays, health, vision, dental, life insurance, parental leave and a 403(b)-retirement plan with matching contribution. SDYS is a Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) employer. Read more about the PSLF program here.

Candidates must be able to follow all the guidelines provided by the agency, government, and health authorities to maintain safety and health when the job requires physical presence and/or contact with others during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the submission of proof of vaccination as mandated by the California Public Health Order. The successful candidate will need to submit verification of vaccination or have a valid religious or medical reason not to be vaccinated.

Commitment to cultivating and preserving a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.  

As an organization working to meet the basic needs of youth, create positive connections, help youth develop life skills, and promote overall health and well-being, SDYS believes its practices and actions must reflect the highest level of commitment to access, equity, and social justice.

The collective sum of the individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, innovation, self-expression, and talent that our members invest in their work represents not only part of the SDYS’ culture, but the SDYS’ reputation and achievements as well. SDYS remains open to feedback from all communities it touches and knows that input from those with direct experience of issues will make the SDYS more effective in achieving its goals.

SDYS is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.
In compliance with the Immigration and Nationality Act as amended, all new employees must verify their eligibility to work in the United States.

SDYS is proud to be a kindness certified company.

 

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Job Tags

Holiday work, Full time, Contract work, Temporary work, Internship, Flexible hours, Afternoon shift,

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