Bilingual School Based Behavioral Therapist (English/Spanish)

Arlington County Government; Arlington (VA); Hybrid; USD 96,000 - 149,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Sign-on bonus $2,500 (hire)

Sign-on bonus $2,500 (after probation)

Job summary

Arlington County Government seeks a Bilingual School Based Behavioral Health Therapist (English/Spanish) to join a school-based outpatient team. The role involves delivering trauma-informed behavioral health services for youth, with duties spanning therapy, case management, and care coordination in school and DHS settings.

Requires a Master's in a clinical field and Virginia licensure pathway; bilingual proficiency is mandatory.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in a clinical discipline with internships/practicum.
• Bilingual English/Spanish proficiency required.
• Licensure process through VA or applicable boards.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct behavioral health therapy, case management, and care coordination for youth.
• Deliver trauma-informed, culturally responsive mental health and substance use services in school and community settings.
• Offer parent education and wraparound coordination as part of a multi-system approach.

Skills

Bilingual (Spanish/English)

School-based mental health experience

Education

Master's degree in Counseling/Psychology/Social Work

Job description

This position includes a $2,500 gross sign-on bonus upon hire and a second $2,500 gross sign-on bonus upon successful completion of the probationary period.

The Child & Family Services Division (CFSD) of the Department of Human Services (DHS) , Children’s Behavioral Health Bureau, is seeking an experienced Bilingual School Based Behavioral Health Therapist (English/Spanish) to be part of a school-based outpatient team. The Bureau is responsible for providing comprehensive, trauma informed, culturally responsive mental health and substance use services to help youth, with the support of their parents, thrive in their environments. Services for youth are provided in their homes, school, community, and the DHS office.

This position is primarily embedded and co-located between Arlington County Public School(s) and the DHS office. The Behavioral Health Therapist position is responsible for providing an array of culturally responsive and trauma informed direct behavioral health therapeutic services (mental health and substance use therapy, case management, care coordination, parent education and support, High Fidelity Wraparound-intensive care coordination) for youth experiencing mental health challenges, substance use issues, and involvement with other child service systems (including legal system, educational system, child welfare system, etc).

Arlington County DHS is committed to delivering client services in an effective, equitable, respectful, and trauma-informed manner. Our staff is dedicated to ensuring our clients are approached, engaged and cared for in ways that demonstrate competency, sensitivity and awareness of factors which impact the client experience including but not limited to: cultural identity, gender, racial, and ethnic diversity, religious/spiritual ascription, physical capability, cognitive and literacy levels, sexual orientation, and linguistic needs.

This announcement Is for a Bilingual (Spanish and English) position. Bilingual positions require employees to be proficient in speaking and understanding Spanish.

Note: Please refer to the guidelines for registration and licensure set forth by the Virginia Department of Health Professions prior to completing this application.

Bilingual: An assessment of verbal Spanish proficiency would be required before a candidate can be appointed to a bilingual position (English/Spanish). The incumbent in a bilingual position would receive the language pay premium on all hours worked and on paid leave hours.

Therapists may be hired at one of three levels:

Minimums:

All levels education requirement: Master's degree from an accredited college or university in a clinical discipline such as Counseling, Psychiatric Social Work, Psychology, or other directly related clinical discipline with internships and practicum requirements involving diagnostic, treatment application of diagnostic, and treatment services

Behavioral Health Therapist (Licensed):

• Possess one of the following professional licenses from the Virginia Department of Health Professions: LPC, LCP, LMFT, or LCSW.

Behavioral Health Therapist (Non-VA Licensed):

• Possess a license in a jurisdiction other than Virginia and are performing supervised assessment and evaluation, diagnostic, treatment planning, case management and counseling work while awaiting licensure from the Virginia Department of Health Professions of the following professional licenses related to a behavioral health discipline: (LPC), (LCP), (LMFT), (LCSW).
• Virginia clinical license must be obtained within 90 days of hire.

Behavioral Health (Resident/Supervisee):

• Within 90 days of hire, obtaining a temporary license as a Resident in Counseling (for LPC or LMFT), Resident in Clinical Psychology (for LCP) or registering as a Supervisee in Social Work (for LCSW) with the Virginia Department of Health Professions (VDHP).
• Licensure by the appropriate board of Virginia Department of Health Professions must be obtained within 3 years of hire.

Desirable Qualifications

Preference may be given to applicants with experience in one or more of the following:

• Providing direct mental health services to youth in a school setting; and/or
• Experience providing co-located services

Special Requirements

Employment restrictions: To ensure that dual relationships are avoided and that employees who are also clients do not relate to their service provider as co-professionals, employees will not be hired by the County to provide or support services to the team or program in which they are current clients:

• You cannot concurrently receive behavioral health services from Arlington County Community Service Board (CSB) programs while employed in an Arlington County CSB program (exception Crisis Intervention services).
• At least 24 months must have passed between receipt of CSB services from Arlington County and employment in an Arlington County CSB program.

Background Check: A pre-employment criminal records check will be conducted. It will include checks of the following: criminal record, driving record, education, professional licensure, and credit history. You will be required to sign a release authorizing the County to obtain your background information.

Driver's License: Applicant must possess, or obtain by time of appointment, a valid driver’s license, and must provide or authorize Arlington County to obtain a copy of official driving record. Any offer of employment may be contingent upon favorable review of the applicant’s driving record. Alternatively, the applicant must have the ability and willingness to use alternative methods of transportation to perform assigned duties and responsibilities at locations other than the primary worksite.

Additional Information

Although positions may be filled at the Non-VA Licensed or Resident/Supervisee, licensure must be earned within three years of hire. The Department of Human Services will provide supervision to staff in pursuit of licensure.

The applicable salary ranges for each designation are below:

• Behavioral Health Therapist (Licensed): $96,304-$149,240 Annually
• Behavioral Health (Resident/Supervisee): $83,158.40-$128,876.80 Annually
• Behavioral Health Therapist (Non-VA Licensed): $96,304-$149,240 Annually

Work hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. or as established by program need. At least two evenings (after 5:00 p.m.) per week are required. This position can telework from home when not working in person, in the school, office, or community. Telework options pending supervisor approval.

The office is located at 2100 Washington Blvd (Sequoia Plaza). Primary work will be performed in Arlington Public School and community locations and DHS office.

The official title of this position is Behavioral Health Therapist (Licensed).

This position is eligible for County government employee benefits that include health, dental, vacation and sick leave, commuter transportation subsidies, tuition reimbursement, as well as a generous retirement plan.

Arlington County is committed to advancing diversity, equity, access, and inclusion across all our services, activities, and programs. Learn more about our commitment.