Maternal Mental Health Counselor

Organization and Role Summary

Mary's Path changes lives Two at a Time. Pregnant and parenting teenage moms in the foster care system are placed with us. These young women, many of whom have experienced trauma, find a safe place to heal, build relationships, and prepare for a successful future. We aim to break the cycle of poverty and abuse, empowering teen moms to live lives of dignity, hope, and self-sufficiency.

The Maternal Mental Health Counselor will work with residents to enhance parenting and attachment skills, focusing on parenting skills, maternal mental health and early childhood development. This role involves providing trauma-informed, evidence-based mental health services tailored to the unique needs of mothers and their children.

Role Responsibilities

• Provide time-limited individual and group rehabilitation services to clients and their families.
• Partners with youth to build skills as outlined in each client’s Treatment Plan and Needs and Services Plan.
• Meet with youth at least weekly to work on identified goals and skills.
• Partner with youth in promoting the involvement of family and other informal and formal supports.
• Partner with youth in maintaining relationships with permanent support people and identifying opportunities to strengthen these relationships.
• Provide collateral services to youth's significant support people.
• Partner with youth in identifying community resources.
• Coordinate and partner with other STRTP staff to achieve treatment and independent living goals.
• Partner with youth in identifying obstacles to meeting educational, vocational, social, and independent living goals. Develop strategies to overcome these barriers.
• Completes documentation in line with all applicable agency, county, state, and regulatory requirements and timelines, as assigned.
• Participate in regular team meetings.
• Participates in crisis services and emergency intervention protocols as needed.
• Develops interagency and community network relationships that improve access to relevant community services and benefits.
• Participates in continuous quality improvement processes.
• Coach milieu/counselor staff on maternal mental health skill-building activities.
• Assist in the design of group rehabilitation curricula.
• Provide case management services to clients on the caseload as needed.
• Meet with clients and caregivers several times a week to further treatment goals. This may include behavior management techniques
• Work with the treatment team to provide individualized service plans, such as counseling and case management services, to ensure stability of clients and families in the community
• Assist clients in navigating systems to access needed services
• Advocate for clients' needs and preferences within the care team and other systems
• Support clients in making positive behavioral changes, developing problem-solving skills and setting healthy boundaries
• Be an active member of the Child and Family Team
• Provide on-call coverage to the clients and their families
• Maintain close communication with all treatment team members
• Participate in all treatment reviews, program staff meetings, and IEP meetings when necessary
• Assist with planning and providing of transportation for school, therapy appointments, and court hearings as needed
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation, including but not limited to progress notes, clinical forms, time sheets, and mileage
• Participate in weekly supervision with the program supervisor or designee
• Maintain professional behavior at all times, appropriately representing the agency's mission and philosophy
• All other duties assigned by the Lead Mental Health Counselor or Clinical Director
• Participate in the Child and Family Team meetings, treatment reviews, program staff meetings, and IEP meetings when necessary.
• Complete progress notes for all services provided.
• Maintain close communication with all treatment team members.
• Participate in weekly individual and/or group supervision as required.
• Attend and participate in all training as assigned.
• Always maintain professional behavior, appropriately representing the agency's mission and philosophy.
• All other duties assigned by the supervisor or other leadership team members.

Qualifications and Experience

• Due to the nature of this position’s duties, only women may hold the position
• Bachelor’s degree in a human service-related field, preferred.
• At least 1 year of experience in working with emotionally disturbed children in out of home
• Fingerprint clearances.
• Own vehicle, valid California Driver’s License, and insurance.
• Experience working with children in out-of-home care, crisis assessment, management, and interventions a plus.
• Ability and willingness to work independently in the office and in the community.
• Ability to work with a diverse population and cultural competency.
• Good organizational and writing skills.
• Flexible schedule with the ability to work evenings and weekends, as needed.
• Willing to respond to crisis situations and be part of a rotating emergency pager system.
• Strong preference for individuals with Medi-Cal documentation/billing experience.
• Experience working with probation youth strongly preferred.
• Bilingual skills are preferred but not required.

Physical Requirements and Environmental Conditions

The conditions and requirements below are representative of those required for an employee to successfully meet the essential requirements of the role. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable employees to meet these requirements.

• Regularly required by the duties of this job to move, ascend and descend, remain stationary, position oneself to access equipment and supplies, communicate, exchange information and observe details at close and medium range within work surroundings
• Must be able to walk, pick up to 20lbs, need mobility to be in different home environments
• Mary’s Path is a non-smoking environment

Benefits

• 403(b) Retirement Plan: 100% employer match of employee contributions up to 6% of salary.
• Paid Time Off (PTO): Generous PTO to support work-life balance.
• Paid Holidays: Enjoy paid time off for recognized holidays.
• Medical Insurance: Comprehensive coverage options.
• Dental Insurance: Coverage for preventive, basic, and major services.
• Vision Insurance: Coverage for exams, glasses, and contacts.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): 100% employer-sponsored, offering confidential support for personal and work-related issues.
• Life Insurance: 100% employer-sponsored coverage.
• Professional Development: Opportunities for career growth and continuous learning.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $25.00 - $30.00 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift

People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply

Work Location: In person