School Counselor/School Social Worker (Cloverdale) (healdsburg / windsor)

JOB TITLE: School Counselor/School Social Worker
REPORTS TO: Coordinator of School-Based Mental Health Services
TIME COMMITMENT: 20 hrs/week from 8/25/14-5/30/15, following the school schedule
EMPLOYMENT STATUS: Non-exempt hourly

Social Advocates for Youth does three things: housing, counseling and jobs. SAY is a leading provider of mental health services to youth and their families in Sonoma County. SAY was just voted Best Non-Profit by the Press Democrat's 2014 Best of Sonoma County Awards. SAY was also named the North Bay's Best Nonprofit/Charitable Organization of 2014 by the North Bay Business Journal. 

Position Summary:
School Counselor/School Social Worker position available in a Cloverdale Elementary School who has partnered with Social Advocates for Youth to meet the needs of students for the '14-'15 school year. Under the direct supervision of the Coordinator of School-Based Mental Health Services and the indirect supervision of the Counseling Services Program Manager, the School Counselor/School Social Worker, provides guidance to students and their families, individually and/or in groups, for the purpose of helping them obtain their maximum academic potential, achieve self-understanding and self-respect and meet the educational mission of the school. The Counselor/Social Worker helps students develop positive interpersonal relations, understanding and respect for individual differences and appropriate goal-setting skills. The School Counselor/School Social Worker serves as a liaison between staff, teachers, parents and students; assists in the establishment and maintenance of good community-school public relationships, and performs counseling related activities as required and/or requested.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
• Serves as an integral member of the professional education team at the school, working cooperatively and creatively to meet student needs and maximize learning.
• Provides in-service training to teachers and other staff to assist them with planning and implementing guidance interventions.
• Perform consultations and trainings with teachers to keep them abreast on how to identify mental health needs in students, and how to refer youth for support.
• Provides guidance to students to assist them in understanding themselves and others, and to interact in healthy, caring and responsible ways.
• Manages and executes Healthy Kids Survey and Tobacco Use Prevention Education Program
• Assists students in planning realistic goals; discover their aptitudes and abilities; discuss goals and interests.
• Counsels students on either an individual and/or group basis regarding problems of social adjustment, vocational and educational goals, and personal problems.
• Counsels and consults with parents regarding educational and social issues of their children. Helps parents understand their child's abilities, needs and opportunities.
• Assists in identifying the strengths and special needs of students and initiates referrals to other special services, agencies and programs.
• Confers with teachers, principals, and other staff about students and student guidance related issues as well as with representatives of public and private agencies such as police, sheriff, probation, social services, mental health, the courts, youth services and other organizations.
• When time permits, assists students on the playground and during recess and lunch activities, to teach and model for students the techniques of conflict resolution-with the emphasis on prevention.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:
1. Master's degree in social work, psychology, counseling, or related field
2. Excellent written and verbal communication skills
3. Proven experience working with youth and families and in school-based programs
4. Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Office. Microsoft ACCESS knowledge a plus
5. Must be able to pass comprehensive DOJ background check
6. Initiative, good judgment, resourcefulness, tact, and strong interpersonal skills are required traits for this position. 
Highly Desirable:
Bi-lingual/bi-cultural preferred. Knowledge of: child and adolescent development; substance abuse assessment, prevention and referral expertise; working with children of substance abusers; engaging adolescents in groups and individual counseling; and, conducting parent and community outreach. 

Email your cover letter, resume, and three professional references at 201450101@saysc.org addressed to the attention of the SAY Coordinator of School-Based Mental Health Services. Please do not call with inquiries. Your cover letter should include why you think you are a good fit for the SAY team and this position.