POSITION TITLE:	Social Emotional Mental Health Specialist	FLSA:	Exempt
REPORTS TO:	LESA Mental Health Coordinator	UPDATED:	12/ 2024
SALARY/BENEFITS:	Per LIPSA Master Agreement	SCHEDULE:	10 – month
POSITION TYPE:	In Person, On-Site

 

POSITION SUMMARY

The Social Emotional / Mental Health Specialist is responsible for direct service to K-12 students within Livingston County school districts.  This position also will work collaboratively with school-based teams to administer comprehensive behavioral health assessments, identify goals, develop a treatment service plan, implement behavioral health intervention, while linking and coordinating community services for students in need of more intensive services through the Community Mental Health System.

 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Note:  These duties and responsibilities are judged to be "essential functions" in terms of the Americans With Disabilities Act or ADA.   To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  The statements below are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by a person in this position.  They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all duties that may be performed by such a person. Other duties may be assigned.

• Provides consultation to administrators, instructional staff, students, and families regarding evidence-based practices for the prevention and intervention of mental health concerns.
• Works in collaboration with local district teams in their ongoing development and promotion of mental health services through social emotional learning (SEL) supports, multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) and positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS).
• Provides a problem-solving direct service to children and their families through individual, group and community counseling methods so as to enhance the psychological, behavioral, emotional, cognitive and social factors important for the prevention, treatment, or management of behavioral health concerns.
• Provide training and information regarding mental health needs to school staff, law enforcement, and other community stakeholders.
• Obtains, integrates, and interprets information regarding a student’s behavior and supports necessary for success in school and life.
• Articulates best practices for school leaders, teachers, para-educators, and families in the area of social emotional learning.
• Development of treatment service plans, with input from student and parents/caregivers as appropriate.
• County-wide crisis intervention.
• Coordinate and facilitate the creation of any guidelines and procedures necessary to support effective, research-based behavioral support practices across the county.
• Engage in regular professional learning opportunities to stay abreast of current evidence-based practices
• Demonstrate the ability to communicate clearly and concisely in written and oral communication with administrators, staff, parents/guardians, and community agencies.
• Demonstrate enthusiasm and a positive attitude.
• Demonstrate the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, peers, families, school personnel, community agencies.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES

• Performs other related tasks as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

• May supervise students

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

• Master’s degree in a field of study related to supporting students with mental health needs.
• Experience implementing research-based strategies to address the social, emotional, and mental health needs of students.
• Experience providing direct therapy/counseling services to students.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

• Certification requirements for specific disciplines per Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) rules and regulations as well as any additional approval requirements in order to maintain professional licensure. 
• Licensed Master of Social Work (LLMSW/LMSW)
• Licensed School Psychologist (TLLP/LLP)

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.

 

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.

 

REASONING ABILITY

Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

 

OTHER SKILLS & ABILITIES

Ability to apply knowledge of current research and theory to instructional program; ability to plan and implement lessons based on division and school objectives and the needs and abilities of students to whom assigned.  Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, peers, parents and community; ability to speak clear and concisely in written or oral communication.

 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

While performing the duties of this job, the employee will regularly sit, walk and stand.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.

 

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.  The employee is directly responsible for the safety, well-being of students.

 

The employee shall remain free of any alcohol or non-prescribed controlled substance in the workplace throughout his/her employment.

 

The Livingston Educational Service Agency does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, (including sexual orientation or transgender identity), disability, age, religion, height, weight, marital or family status, military status, ancestry, genetic information, or any other legally protected category (collectively, "Protected Classes"), in its programs and activities, including employment opportunities.

 

Inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies should be directed to the Assistant Superintendent for Administrative Services.