Student Assistance Services Specialist

Position Overview

As a member of the Unified Mental Health Team, Student Assistance Specialists advance LCPS initiatives of Substance Use Prevention, Social Emotional Learning, and Suicide Prevention through education, support, intervention, staff development and consultation. An employee in this position provides substance abuse and mental health education, assessment, prevention and early intervention services through groups and individual sessions and facilitates the 3-day early intervention drug and alcohol Insight class under the LCPS comprehensive Student Assistance Program.  The programs and services involve all grade levels and will include maintaining working relationships with parents, staff, administration, and other community agencies.

Roles and Responsibilities 

  The following information is intended to describe the overall nature and scope of the work being performed in relation to the position. This is not a comprehensive listing of all responsibilities or tasks; other work may be assigned when deemed appropriate:
• Conducts substance use assessments for at-risk students and make referrals for appropriate school and community-based services.
• Facilitates school-based prevention and intervention groups and individual support at the secondary level.
• Utilizes evidence-based curriculum in the areas of gang/violence prevention, mental health, healthy relationships, and substance use prevention; assists with program development and evaluation.
• Facilitates the three-day Substance Use Education Insight Class for students who violate the school alcohol and drug policy throughout the year.
• Facilitates meetings for parents of LCPS students referred to the Insight Class; conducts appropriate follow-up services for students.
• Plans and implements prevention activities for students; provides case management, educational and consultative services within each assigned school as a member of the Unified Mental Health Team.
• Conducts substance use prevention awareness and mental health prevention presentations to students, staff, and parents within school and community settings; when necessary, serve on community committees addressing substance use, bullying, gang and domestic violence prevention.
• Provides professional development to LCPS focused on a variety of mental health and substance use topics.
• Provides training, facilitation, and implementation for Restorative Practices and Sources of Strength.
• Assists with tiered implementation of Restorative Practices to enhance social emotional learning.
• Provides crisis intervention services and administers Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) to students.
• Provides training and consultation for the Positive Experience in Educational Relationships (PEER) Helper program, as needed.
• Provides support for In-School Restriction Tobacco Education Program in assigned schools.

Qualifications 

• Master’s Degree in Social Work (MSW) or Counseling (MA) from an accredited college or university
• Virginia license preferred (LPC, LCSW, CSAC)
• Five years of experience working in the substance abuse/mental health counseling and prevention field
• Experience with adolescent, family and group counseling is required
• Possesses leadership qualities and professional characteristics necessary to work effectively with students, school personnel, parents and members of the community
• Demonstrates strong skills in oral and written communication and time management
• Knowledge and experience in Restorative Practices preferred
•  Knowledge and experience in Sources of Strength preferred

Physical Requirements
The following provides a brief description of physical requirements for this position:
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly talking, expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word. The employee must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly. The employee must possess normal cognitive abilities including the ability to learn, recall and apply certain practices and policies. Frequently sitting and/or remaining in a stationary position for long periods of time. Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects.

FLSA Status: Exempt

Months/Days/Hours: 11 Months/208 Days/ 8 Hours 

Reports To: Supervisor, Student Assistance Services