Perinatal Mental Health Counselor

SUMMARY: The Mother’s Rising (MR) Home Visitation program delivers enhanced preventative health, perinatal support services, and care coordination to Black women and birthing people in DC and PG County. The overall program goal is to increase wellness, resilience, and the opportunity for liberated spaces for Black mothers, babies, and families to thrive.

POSITION OVERVIEW: The Mental Health Counselor provides direct care to Mothers Rising clients, including the following core services: diagnostic assessment, strength-based psychotherapy, facilitating Mama Mingles support groups, brief interventions, consultation, and collaboration with psychiatric providers for complex cases, and psychoeducation as needed. This is a grant-funded position.

ATTRIBUTES OF A COMPETITIVE CANDIDATE

• Considerate listener who believes that the community voice must be centered;
• Have at least 3 years of counseling experience
• Willingness to embody anti-oppression values to advance the wellbeing of Black women, birthing people and families;
• An exceptional communicator with the ability to translate complex medical information
• Engage in critical inquiry to promote self-awareness and accountability and implement liberatory frameworks within personal and team objectives and deliverables;
• History of working with diverse populations in a mutually respectful manner, using strength and asset-based approaches.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty and responsibility satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. Other duties may need to be assigned to meet organizational needs.

• Complete a comprehensive diagnostic assessment on all clients referred within the Mothers Rising program
• Complete treatment plan and authorizations for services as required by individual insurance payers
• Provide culturally specific individual and family therapy using a strength-based approach to assist clients in their insight development, resolution of presenting perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, and achievement of personal goals identified in the treatment planning process;
• Engage families and significant others as needed to support treatment goals
• Apply crisis management skills when necessary to stabilize clients
• Regularly visit clients in their homes or the Mamatoto offices, providing mental health counseling
• Identify higher acuity mental health needs and consult with the appropriate psychiatric providers
• Collaborate with Program Director and Program Manager regarding any areas of concern or needs for referral for more intensive mental health support
• Facilitate Mama Mingles psychoeducation support group and parenting classes
• Participate in case reviews of clients as needed
• Provide supervision for graduate students and graduate counselors as permitted by license.

Documentation and Excellence

• Maintain client records that are accurate, comprehensive, and adhere to MV documentation policies and billing timelines
• Meet weekly productivity standards as set by Director
• Tracks all home visits, office visits, phone calls, text messages, emails, or referrals to other service providers/agencies in the MV client information system

SKILLS AND REQUIREMENTS TO FOSTER SUCCESS

• This position requires a Master's degree in Family Therapy, Social Work, Counseling Psychology, or a related field, and a license (LMFT, LPC, LCSW, LGPC, LGSW, etc.) in the District of Columbia, Maryland licensure is a plus.
• Minimum of 2 years of current clinical experience in perinatal mental health
• Demonstrated knowledge and clinical competence in perinatal mental health, elements of multicultural counseling, and family systems theories 
• Knowledge of appropriate assessment and diagnostic instruments
• Demonstrates ability for a high degree of analysis, critical thinking, and independent clinical judgment 
• Basic level of skill with Microsoft Word, Excel, iOS, and Google Suite 
• Demonstrate excellence in organizational skills and time management, and the ability to prioritize workloads and meet competing deadlines in a busy environment 
• Demonstrate excellence in interpersonal communication and leadership, and be adaptable and open-minded
• Excellent verbal and written skills
• Ability to work collaboratively as a member of a team and interact with senior-level staff, medical personnel, community stakeholders, clients, and volunteers 
• Willingness to engage in continuous learning and training