Mental Health Therapist

Description

The Cottonwood School offers dynamic homeschooling pathways for TK-12: a uniquely personalized, whole-learner approach that nurtures academic, social, and emotional achievement. The Cottonwood school is a tuition-free, public charter school serving transitional kindergarten through 12th-grade students in Alpine, Amador, El Dorado, Placer, and Sacramento Counties. We take an integrative approach that education is more than academic learning. We understand that a rich education includes social and emotional development as well as a strong academic foundation. 

Our Homestudy Pathway fosters holistic learning through the many activities and events we offer each month—field trips, workshops, hands-on, experiential activities.

Our Cottonwood College Prep Academy is a hybrid on-site High School Pathway that offers Montessori-inspired project-based learning that encourages collaboration and creativity.

At The Cottonwood School, we envision a world where students flourish, communities thrive, and staff are fulfilled. 

Application Deadline: Until Filed

Start Date: July 1, 2025

Vacancies: 1

Employment Type:  Full-time

Direct Supervisor: Assistant Director of SpEd Assessments and Services

Salary Schedule: Schedule C1 (Coordinator II) 

Work Calendar: 200

Classification: Certificated

FLSA Status: Exempt

Location: This position is eligible for telecommuting up to 5 days per week, with in-person presence required as needed to fulfill the duties and responsibilities of the position.

Position Summary

Under the direction of the Associate Director of Special Education, the Mental Health Therapist is responsible for helping students succeed academically, socially, and emotionally by providing Individual, Group, and Family Counseling and collaborating with educators, parents, and other professionals to create a safe, healthy, and supportive learning environment, complying with

Federal and State laws and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Required Qualifications

? Minimum one (1) year of full-time experience in providing mental health therapy services to school-aged children in a California school district, county education office, or county mental health authority.

? Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university

? Master’s Degree in Counseling, Social Work, or related discipline.

? Valid Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) license or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW).

? Valid California Pupil Personnel Services Credential

? Must live in Northern California and be able to commute to El Dorado Hills

Preferred Qualifications

? Experience working at an independent study charter school

Employment Requirements

? AB 2534 Verification

? Background Clearance

? Tuberculosis Clearance

? I-9 Verification

Duties and Responsibilities

? Provide evidence-based practices of current and professional clinical management techniques

? Provide direct and indirect services. E

? Approach and provide students with trauma-informed practices E

? Monitor and maintain accurate treatment plan development tailored to each student’s unique/assessed needs. E

? Follow current state and federal special education regulations. E

? Support TCS students with unique diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, and ethnic backgrounds E

? Follow TCS Policies and objectives of assigned programs and activities E

? Follow applicable laws, codes, regulations, policies and procedures. E

? Monitor and maintain record-keeping and report preparation techniques E

? Utilize customer services and basic public relations techniques E

? Provide direct mental health services, including counseling (individual and group)

consultation, treatment coordination, and case management. E

? Provide consultative/collaborative support to teachers, administrators, and parents regarding mental health or behavioral issues, understanding cultures, and substance abuse. E

? Provide crisis support through behavioral interventions, assisting students to maintain/obtain/regain success in their academic and social environments. E

? Provide classroom/school support and interventions for students to promote generalization of skills E

? Participate in individual student Education Plan (IEP) meetings prepare and present appropriate IEP goals and objectives and make recommendations to Cottonwood personnel for mental health services and placements E

? Maintain the confidentiality of students' records and information E

? Perform progress monitoring of student development toward IEP-based goals E

? Utilize a web-based IEP system to develop and update goals in collaboration with the IEP team E

? Attend and participate in various in-services, committees, and workshops; develop,

implement, and conduct in-service training sessions for parents and staff E

? Prepare and maintain various narrative and statistical records, reports, and files. Other Duties

? Respond to non-urgent communication within 24 school hours and urgent communication within two school hours. E

? Attend all required virtual and in-person meetings/events as assigned. E

? Resolve escalated employee, parent, and student issues in alignment with core values and ensuring compliance with the school’s Uniform Complaint Policy; the school’s Technology Use Policy; and the provisions of California Penal Code Section 11166 (Child

Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act). E 

? Perform other duties as assigned

Required Skills/Abilities

? Work harmoniously and effectively with students, parents, and all stakeholders

? Work effectively with all segments of the education community, the general public, and diverse cultural populations and individuals in a manner that achieves Cottonwood's goals.

? Effectively engage students

? Demonstrate the highest standards of integrity, honesty, ethics, confidentiality, and professionalism

? Prepare and confidentially maintain required records, reports, and files related to assigned activities

? Work independently; be self-regulated and self-disciplined while following general directions in an effective manner

? Create and facilitate group therapy activities

? Stay abreast of effective interventions, innovations, and practices related to educationally related mental health services

? Monitor and adjust activities in response to school, student, and family needs

? Utilize the least restrictive or intensive interventions with students

? Interpret, apply, and explain rules, regulations, policies, and procedures

? Collaborate with all IEP team members

? Communicate effectively both orally and in writing

? Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with others

? Operate a computer and assigned office equipment

? Analyze the situation accurately and adopt an effective course of action

? Meet schedules and timelines

? Work independently with little direction

? Plan and organize work

? Maintain punctual and consistent attendance

Work Environment

The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions. These physical standards are generic and tasks may vary depending on the school site or specialized site assignment. The information contained in this physical standards description is for compliance with the Americans with Disability Act and is not an exhaustive list of duties performed. The individuals currently holding this position perform additional duties and additional duties as assigned.

Physical Demands

? Continuously - Sufficient strength, stamina (including physical, mental, and emotional),

physical ability, and mobility to visually observe and assist students.

? Continuously - Sit or stand for extended periods of time.

? Occasionally - Bend at the waist, kneel, stoop, squat, reach, and crouch.

? Seldom - Work variable hours

? Seldom - Lift, push, and/or pull objects weighing approximately 20 pounds.

? Occasionally - Ability to reach in all directions including overhead and horizontally.

? Continuously - Dexterity of hands and fingers to operate equipment including computer

keyboard/mouse and standard office equipment necessary to do job functions.

? Continuously - Communicate effectively with students, staff, parents, and community members.

? Continuously - Comply with timelines and deadlines with frequent interruptions.

? Seldom - Travel for department meetings and school training/in-service meetings.

? Continuously - See to operate equipment, read and understand written material, and

ability to detect information displayed on a computer screen.

? Seldom - Restrain students when necessary.

Physical Demands Frequency Definitions Based on an 8-hour day:

? Never = 0%

? Seldom = 1 - 10% (less than 45 minutes)

? Occasionally = 11 - 33% (up to 3.0 hours)

? Frequently = 34 - 66% (up to 6 hours)

? Continuously = 67 - 100% (more than 6 hours)

Environment including Hazardous Conditions

This position may include indoor offices/classrooms and outdoor work (including eating and common area(s), auditorium, playground(s), restroom(s), stairs if applicable, and parking lot(s)) with the following possible exposures: dust; wind; sun; insects; bloodborne pathogens and biohazardous waste; variances in weather conditions (snow, rain, sleet, etc.); noise which can

range from quiet to loud; fast-paced work environment with possible stressful situations and need to multitask; traffic congestion; playground projectiles such as baseballs, footballs, basketballs, etc.; intervening physically to stop conflicts between angry or emotionally upset students; and, dealing with students, parents, employees and the general public who may exhibit unpredictable

or anti-social behavior. 

Employees in this position may have a higher level of exposure to illness or infection from students. May be exposed to students who may ask inappropriate personal questions, display socially unacceptable behavior, display physically aggressive behavior, and insult your personal characteristics including appearance, age, sex, and race. There is also frequent contact with staff and the public

Right to Revise

This job description is not meant to be all-inclusive and the School reserves the right to revise this job description as necessary without advance notice. The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being

performed by employees and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. Furthermore, they do not establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of the employer without notice.

E = Essential Job Functions

Requirements

Required Qualifications

? Minimum one (1) year of full-time experience in providing mental health therapy services

to school-aged children in a California school district, county education office, or county

mental health authority.

? Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university

? Master’s Degree in Counseling, Social Work, or related discipline.

? Valid Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) license or Licensed Clinical Social Worker

(LCSW).

? Valid California Pupil Personnel Services Credential

? Must live in Northern California and be able to commute to El Dorado Hills

Preferred Qualifications

? Experience working at an independent study charter school

Employment Requirements

? AB 2534 Verification

? Background Clearance

? Tuberculosis Clearance

? I-9 Verification