Family Advocacy Program (FAP) Clinical Counselor for Children

The primary purpose of the position is to assess and counsel children in families referred to the Family Advocacy Program (FAP) for child abuse/neglect or domestic abuse allegations; provide Problematic Sexual Behavior in Children and Youth (PSB-CY) case management; and provide direct clinical services on family dynamics, healthy parent-child interaction, coparenting communication, children's adjustment to the military lifestyle, and non-medical clinical counseling for children and parents.

Major duties

FAP Assessment and Treatment of Children: Serve as an authoritative expert on the emotional, behavioral and mental health concerns of children, including trauma and child abuse and neglect, and as an authority on evaluating a child's emotional and mental health needs through use of various assessments. Conduct clinical and psychosocial assessments of children in families referred to the FAP for child abuse/neglect and/or domestic abuse allegations; which may include assessing children who are alleged victims of child abuse/neglect, other children in the home, and children who have witnessed domestic abuse. Conduct comprehensive and complex clinical assessments to identify crisis situations, e.g., suicide or homicide risk, danger of physical or sexual abuse to family members, and increased risk of further family violence. Provide crisis intervention and safety planning, as required. Employ various forms of therapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, play therapy, and family therapy to help children cope with their emotional and behavioral issues stemming from trauma. Coordinate assessment findings with the FAP Case Manager, Child Protective Services, and other involved medical personnel or behavioral health providers. Coordinate with military offices (BUMED, CYP, DoDEA), community services, and specialized community clinical providers on providing accessible and tailored services to children and families that meet their child development and other special needs, and reflect and accommodate diverse cultures, ethnicities, socioeconomic status', religions, disabilities, genders, gender identities and expressions, and sexual orientations throughout all aspects of the Coordinated Community Response (CCR). Consult with other providers on the selection or development of group treatment curriculum for children and parents by providing session specific materials and research-based justifications, where appropriate. Coordinate and/or provide in-service training on child abuse, neglect, and trauma to other FFSC staff. Problematic Sexual Behavior in Children and Youth Case Management Serve as designated case manager and primary FAP point of contact for PSB-CY cases, ensuring all actions comply with Department of Defense (DoD) and Navy instructions and civilian reporting requirements. Receive initial reports of problematic sexual behaviors in children and youth (PSB-CY) from military and civilian representatives and take all steps required under the FAP PSB-CY. Provide or coordinate clinical services access with other FAP providers or with community clinical providers to include psychoeducational support, assessment, and clinical intervention for exhibiting children, youth, and their families. Provide or coordinate with specialized MTF providers or community providers on specialized assessments and evaluations, as recommended by the CCSM. Provide or coordinate with healthcare providers on safety and supervision planning for children and families affected by problematic sexual behaviors. Support children and families affected by PSB-CY by providing at-risk and safety planning information to Coordinated Community Response (CCR) (e.g., child and youth programs, DoDEA, medical, legal, law enforcement, and related community agencies such as Child Protective Services, etc.), to address safety needs of youth involved and limit ongoing risk to family and community members. Complete all required assessments and documentation (clinical notes, collateral contacts, treatment plans, and required statistical data) in the DoD Military Community and Family Policy PSB-CY Case Management System, as required. Non-medical Clinical Counseling for Children Provide assessment and short-term, solution focused non-medical clinical counseling services to eligible children, parents and families within the authorized scope of FFSP clinical care. Refer children for child behavioral health follow-up for any psychological disorders or symptoms requiring longer-term and/or behavioral health intervention. Manage assigned non-medical counseling cases, consulting with FAP Clinical Supervisor when the case is highly complex or presents with special issues. Comply with reporting protocols involving high risk and high visibility cases. Receive and assess referrals from military and civilian agencies.

Qualifications

1. The incumbent shall be Tier II qualified as outlined in Navy FFSP Credentials Review and Clinical Privileging requirements (SECNAVINST 1754.8). These include: Current, valid, unrestricted state licensure or certification that provides legal authority to provide clinical services as an independent practitioner. When the state licensing or certification requirements include a written examination, candidates must have achieved a passing score on that examination. Possess at least a master's degree from an accredited program in one of the following clinical fields: Social Work or an equivalent degree, Mental Health Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy from a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) or an equivalent degree; or doctorate in Psychology approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) or equivalent degree from an accredited program. Must have engaged in two years of full-time, post-masters supervised clinical experience. 2. The incumbent must have a minimum of four (4) years' specialized experience in applying various counseling approaches and techniques to counsel children, adolescents, and families in situations of child abuse/neglect or domestic abuse. Resumes must include information which demonstrates experience and knowledge, skills, and ability (KSAs) as they relate to this position. Applicants are encouraged to be clear and specific when describing their experience level and KSAs. Knowledge, skills, and abilities required for the position: Professional knowledge of and skill in working with children, adolescents, parents and families in situations of child abuse/neglect or domestic abuse. Professional knowledge of family violence dynamics and skill in applying the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders to identify situations of family violence, conduct risk assessments and coordinate safety planning. Professional knowledge of and skill in applying various counseling approaches and knowledge of group dynamics to work difficult and serious cases involving individuals and families who engage in at-risk behavior. Professional knowledge of patterns of abusive behavior, abuse response, substance abuse, human behavior, human sexuality, attention deficit disorder, and juvenile delinquency within families to accurately address a wide variety of behaviors and provide or coordinate the appropriate treatment plan for addressing clients specific needs. Professional knowledge of human behavior, research methods, group dynamics, motivational psychology, developmental psychology, and family systems therapy principles and processes to recognize risk factors associated with child vulnerability, family adversity, modeling of coercion, modeling of sexuality; and use anatomically correct language when discussing the body or behaviors. Expert knowledge of and skill in applying professional verbal communication techniques and methods to present sensitive and potentially controversial information to various groups; effectively interview FAP involved individuals and family members; effectively collaborate with law enforcement, child protective services, and medical treatment facilities; and deliver presentations. Skill in employing professional written communication methods and techniques, and knowledge of and skill in using various software programs and Navy/DoD information systems to compose correspondence; develop case management/treatment case documentation, reports, training plans, multi-media presentations; and document and account for FAP and PSB-CY requirements and services provided. Knowledge of community resources for PSB-CY and skill in coordinating community response to provide services and referral to children, youth and families affected by PSB-CY and coordinate community response for PSB-CY cases.

Education

Applicant must have one of the following educational backgrounds (transcripts must be included in application to be considered for this position): Bachelor's degree in behavioral or social science; or related discipline, such as Marriage and Family Therapy, Mental Health Counseling, or completion of a degree from a program accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs (CACREP). Master's degree in social work from a school accredited by the Council on Social Work Education or an equivalent degree. Doctoral degree directly related to full professional work in clinical psychology Proof of education MUST be uploaded at time of application for consideration. If degree is not conferred, you MUST provide a copy of your high school diploma or equivalent with your college transcripts. All transcripts MUST show students name and the name of the awarding university or educational institution, degree type, awarded/conferred date, and the field of study. When education is a basic requirement for the position, or when substituting education for experience, applicants MUST submit a copy of your high school transcripts, college transcript, or a list of courses which includes grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and/or semester hours earned as part of your application package.. Transcripts from foreign colleges must be evaluated for U.S. equivalency in order to be considered. Applicants are responsible to obtain and submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency, which is a private U.S. organization. To receive consideration for a non-related degree or eligibility based on a combination of education AND experience, a college transcript is required. Credential evaluations are not free and applicants are responsible for the cost of the selected service. All substitutions of education for experience will be made in accordance with OPM approved qualification standards. Only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education are acceptable to meet positive education requirements or to substitute education for experience. For additional information, please go to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the U.S. Department of Education websites at http://www.opm.gov/qualifications and http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html