Post-graduate fellow in behavioral health counseling

MSW, LPC, LGSW, LMFC, etc. 

The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic
 Easter Seals Serving DC|MD|VA

Overview

Easter Seals Serving DC|MD|VA offers a unique opportunity for a motivated leader to join a multi-disciplinary team of highly skilled professionals at The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic for the National Capital Area.  The successful candidate will be motivated to deliver services to the highest standards of efficacy and quality, have excellent communication and customer service skills, and be results-oriented.

Overview of Easter Seals Serving DC | MD | VA

Since 1919, Easter Seals has been serving the community providing help, hope and answers for our neighbors challenged by physical, mental, or emotional health issues.

Easter Seals was founded after Ohio businessman Edgar Allen lost his son in a streetcar accident. The lack of adequate medical services available to save his son prompted Allen to sell his business and begin a fundraising campaign to build a hospital in his hometown of Elyria, Ohio. Through this new hospital, Allen was surprised to learn that children with disabilities were often hidden from public view. Inspired by this discovery, in 1919 Allen founded what became known as the National Society for Crippled Children, the first organization of its kind. In 1934 the organization began using Easter “seals” as a fundraising campaign and these grew so popular that in 1967 the organization formally adopted the name Easter Seals.  Easter Seals is non-sectarian and serves all people in the community.  Easter Seals provides services through a network of affiliates that are organized to meet the needs of the local community.

Easter Seals Serving DC|MD|VA (ESDCMDVA) (www.eseal.org) is the affiliate serving Washington DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia.  We deliver exceptional services through a network of 6 sites and in-home care, and we provide Adult Medical Day Care, Early Child Development and Education, Therapy, Respite, and Workforce Development services where participants and their families find support, hope, medical care, and enjoyable activities.  In 2017 we will be establishing The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Easter Seals Serving DC|MD|VA (MFC).

In addition to serving the overall community, our programs place a special emphasis on the special needs of wounded warriors, veterans, active duty military, and their families.  We are an independent 501(c)3 with a local board of directors focused on solving critical issues in our community so that all our neighbors thrive.

Our unique and dedicated staff of over 200 professionals includes specialists in education, therapy, senior services, social work, assistive technology, nursing, and related professions.  In addition, as a part of the Easter Seals, Inc. international network, we are able to draw on the resources of almost 25,000 professionals to ensure we remain at the cutting edge of service delivery.

Our entire staff shares our Core Values which are an integral component of the success of ESDCMDVA:

• Respect: We respect each other. We value the uniqueness and dignity of each individual, and appreciate the strength of diversity and inclusion.
• Responsibility: We share a sense of responsibility for doing things right, being good stewards and being accountable for our actions.
• Integrity: We conduct business ethically with a commitment to moral integrity and we expect people to hold a high moral standard. We communicate openly, honestly and directly.
• Innovation: We embrace new ideas, take measured risks and find better ways to help more people.
• Care: We show compassion for others and continue to live our mission each day.

Overview of the MFC and the Cohen Veterans Network

The MFC is part of the Cohen Veterans Network (CVN) which provides high-quality, accessible, integrated, mental healthcare at clinics across the country.  Nineteen CVN clinics are operating now, with a total of 25 clinics expected to be operational by 2022.  CVN strengthens mental health outcomes for veterans dealing with Post-Traumatic Stress (PTSD) or other mental illness and ensures that every veteran and family member is able to obtain access to high-quality, effective care that enables them to lead fulfilling and productive lives.

The MFC provides evidence-based mental health and related support services to veterans and their families.  With a multidisciplinary team of psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and veteran outreach workers, the MFC offers high-quality, timely, and personalized mental health treatment tailored to meet the specific needs of veterans (especially post 9/11) and their families in the Washington, DC metropolitan area.  MFC participants will also be able to draw on ESDCMDVA’s extensive array of wraparound services, including job coaching and placement through our Veteran Staffing Network, child development, respite, and medical adult day services, and participants in these ESDCMDVA programs are also expected to use the MFC.

Position Summary

The post-graduate fellow will be an integral member of MFC clinical team. He/she will report to the Lead Clinician and will provide direct counseling services for clients of the MFC.  The clinician will have training and experience provision of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for trauma and PTSD, individual (adults and children), couples, and family therapy and be skilled at delivering evidence-based care. Opportunities for advanced training and/or certification will be offered during the fellowship.

Roles and Responsibilities: 

Administration, Management, and Operations

• Collaborate and coordinate with the caregiver, physician, director, case management and all other disciplines, as needed, to provide the best care to patients
• Manage full caseload of veteran and family members and complete accurate and timely documentation in the electronic health record (30 hours of direct client care per week).
• Actively participate in weekly clinical, supervision, and administrative meetings

Clinical Care 

• Provide direct evidenced-based CBT-informed mental health services and referrals for veterans and their families. Perform and document client screenings, psychosocial assessments, and progress and referral information
• Conduct clinical intake assessments on veterans and family members
• Provide individual, couples, and family to patients, with a focus on delivering evidence-based treatments
• Provide treatment in compliance with state and federal guidelines as well as Center policies, protocols and procedures

Critical Competencies for Success

Exceptional Communicator:  Ability to communicate clearly and effectively via oral and written means.  Ability to present a positive and friendly demeanor to veterans, their families, staff, and clinic support personnel, funders and the general public.  Ability to develop and provide oral presentations

Team Player: Ability to work as part of an effective multidisciplinary team

Exceptional Clinician: Proven capacity to deliver results through short-term therapy programs.  Ability to identify and assess high risk veterans or family members and provide appropriate acute care intervention

Technical: Ability to learn and appropriately utilize the electronic health record.  

Decision Making:   Ability to think analytically and evaluate the impact of case management recommendations.   Ability to set work priorities and to evaluate and create solutions to work related problems

Ability to Succeed in a Not-for-Profit Environment: Demonstrated experience working successfully within a highly collaborative and collegial organization.  Comfort rolling one’s sleeves up and engaging in day-to-day operations. Passion for and commitment to ESDCMDVA’s mission

Qualifications

• Education:   Master in Social Work or similar level of degree and training (LPC, LMFT, etc.). Must be licensed or license-eligible to practice in the state of Maryland, Virginia, DC, and West Virginia. (Pending additional supervision hours, which will be available with this position.)
• Schedule and complete any national level testing for licensure within the first 6 months of fellowship.
• A minimum of one year experience in an outpatient clinical setting (may include graduate practicums, field placements, or internship)
• Experience working with or managing the care of adults, children, couples, and families 
• Knowledge in DSM-IV/DSM-V diagnoses 
• Experience in PTSD diagnosis and treatment 
• Experience and training in providing cognitive behavioral therapy required
• Veteran or military family member strongly preferred, experience working with military populations required
• Knowledge of the appropriate and effective use of protected health information, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 and the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act
• Working knowledge of Outlook, Word, Excel, and Powerpoint
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) a strong plus

 Easterseals policy is to provide equal employment opportunity to all qualified applicants and employees regardless of their race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, veteran status, status as a special disabled veteran, or any other protected criteria as established by federal, state, or local laws. Employment decisions at Easterseals are based solely upon relevant criteria, including an individual’s capabilities, qualifications, training, experience and suitability.