Mental Health Therapist- Unaccompanied Children

Job Description

OVERVIEW

USCRI, through funding from Oak Foundation, implements the Nuevo Comienzo program in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Nuevo Comienzo utilizes a holistic service model, providing mental health treatment alongside case management and immigration legal services to support families during an unaccompanied child’s adjustment period and throughout immigration proceedings. (This program also operates in North Carolina.)

The Mental Health Therapist will deliver trauma-focused mental health services to unaccompanied children and their families. They must have the capacity to excel in a high-volume, fast-paced program to therapy services in clients' homes, school and community-based settings. The Mental Health Therapist should be committed to immigration and human rights issues and be able to conduct advocacy, training, and other outreach activities. A key purpose of the program is to provide children and their families with culturally and linguistically competent trauma-focused treatment, so they may heal from the experiences that led them to leave their countries of origin to begin a new life in the United States. The position is based in Washington, DC and reports to the Vice President of Children’s Services.

USCRI has a mandatory COVID-19 vaccine policy. All employees must be fully vaccinated to work at any / all locations at USCRI.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Engage newcomer youth and families from a variety of backgrounds;

Utilize evidence-based treatments to address trauma including Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy;

Complete comprehensive clinical assessments of unaccompanied children;

Conduct home, group and school-based counseling to children as appropriate;

Engage family members or other caregivers in family counseling to compliment individual services provided to the child and equip parents and caregivers to support their child’s care and recovery;

Conduct safety planning and crisis interventions with children and caregivers as appropriate;

Document all contacts, referrals, and maintain client files;

Maintain partnerships with area school districts in order to provide in-school mental health services;

Implement best-practices in keeping with professional clinical licensure in all Nuevo Comienzo’s processes;

Conduct training, and other outreach activities among community partners in order to build capacity to serve unaccompanied children;

Build a network of community based and psychiatric services organizations for the appropriate and timely referral for assessments and medical management;

Make appropriate referrals to other service providers and relevant community partners; and

Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor.

All of the above duties and responsibilities are essential job functions subject to reasonable accommodation. All job duties indicated are not an exhaustive statement and other job-related duties may be assigned as required by the supervisor(s).

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

Master's degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology or related field and a license (LMSW, LGPC, LCSW-C, LCPC) in Maryland, Virginia, and/or DC. Experience in trauma focused interventions;

Experience working with refugee and immigrant children and families;

Willing to work in child’s home, at school, or in the office;

Excellent organizational, verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills;

Proficient in Microsoft Office, specifically Word, Access, and Excel and other database programs is required;

Highly adaptable and flexible with the ability to multi-task and prioritize in a demanding work environment;

Must have a valid state-issued driver's license, automobile insurance, clean driving record and reliable personal transportation;

Must pass a criminal background and other screening requirements;

Ability to travel locally as required;

Fluency in Spanish is required; Proficiency in additional languages a plus.

Demonstrated support of USCRI’s values by exhibiting respect for others, maintenance of confidential information and an appreciation of a multicultural workplace; and

Candidate must have dedication to the human rights of refugees, immigrants, asylum seekers and displaced people.

TRAINING REQUIREMENTS

Satisfactory Completion of USCRI’s Orientation and Training;

Complete additional training as identified by supervisor(s), program director or Human Resources

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Use of manual dexterity, tactile, visual, and audio acuity;

Use of repetitive motion, prolonged periods of sitting and standing, and sustained visual and mental applications and demands;

Occasional lifting (up to 25 pounds), bending, pulling, and carrying;