Behavioral Health Counselors identify resource inequities, assess school-level needs, and include evidence-based interventions. They provide behavioral health support and fosters a safe and successful learning environment for students. They provide counseling services that foster the academic, personal, social and career development of all students. They provide individual/group counseling and guidance for students and implement broad based programs that deal with decision-making, conflict resolution, self-esteem, coping strategies and other issues. Serves as both the primary agent for addressing issues that impact on students at risk of failing to attain their full academic potential and the school based resource for dealing with child abuse/neglect and crisis prevention/intervention. Acts as a liaison between the school and various community/governmental agencies that may provide services to students and their families and participates on the school’s multi-disciplinary committee.

Essential Functions

• Creates an environment in which students have access to direct and indirect services that address behavioral and behavioral health needs;
• Provides individual and group counseling to students;
• Implements evidence-based, behavioral, social and emotional interventions to address student concerns including problem solving, conflict resolution, self-esteem, coping strategies, peer relationships and other issues;
• Provides direct and indirect counseling services to students and their families to address behavioral, social, emotional and behavioral health needs;
• Serves as the primary agent for addressing transition of students to and from psychiatric placement and participates in discharge planning meetings;
• Serves as the school based resource for dealing with child abuse/neglect and crisis prevention/intervention;
• Participates in team interventions with other staff to support students;
• Participates on the school’s multi-disciplinary team that includes other staff members;
• Participates in interagency team meetings to address student’s behavioral health needs;
• Serves as primary liaison and collaborates with school-based behavioral health providers;
• Collaborates with families, teachers and other staff in the planning and implementation of a counseling program for students that addresses the behavioral, social, emotional and behavioral health needs of students;
• Establishes a continuum-of-service resources guide for students and families to access behavioral health and other community-based supports that address social and emotional needs;
• Provides support to students and families to access behavioral health resources;
• Makes referrals to outside agencies as needed and provides ongoing follow-up services to students and their families;
• Gathers and disseminates information on critical issues such as student substance abuse, child abuse/neglect, suicide prevention/intervention, preteen/teen pregnancy and homelessness, and provides professional development to staff as needed;
• Keeps abreast of current techniques and trends in school counseling and guidance for elementary, middle school students and/or high school students;
• Observes students who have behavioral concerns to inform behavior and safety planning and develops behavior, safety and crisis plans for students; prepares and maintains student-counseling records; prepares reports on students, correspondence and statistical summaries;
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with representatives of various community/governmental agencies to facilitate the availability and accessibility of services to meet the needs of students and their families.

PLEASE NOTE: Salary is commensurate with experience in education and educational attainment. Both prior experience and educational degree must go through the District's verification process in order for final salary to be confirmed. Please click this link to read through the process and download the verification forms for your previous employer(s) to complete.

Disclaimer: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified.

Nondiscrimination: The School District of Philadelphia provides to all persons equal access to all categories of employment in this District, regardless of race, color, age, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, ancestry, national origin or handicap/disability, gender identity, or genetic information. Please refer to Board Policy 104 for further information regarding the District's commitment to Nondiscrimination in Employment Practices.

Minimum Requirements

NOTE: Behavioral Health Counselors have, at least, two-steps to complete in order to determine eligibility. First step is completion of this application to ensure minimum requirements are met, and the second step is an interview with members of the District’s Prevention and Intervention office. Bilingual Behavioral Health Counselors must go through a third-step, which is a language assessment to confirm the bilingual skill.

• Master’s degree in school counseling, mental health counseling, human services with the school counseling specialization, psychology, or a related field;
• Two (2) years of full-time, paid, professional post-Master’s experience working with children and youth in the behavioral health field, which could include behavioral health work performed as a school counselor.

*Certificates/Licenses

• Possession of a valid Commonwealth of Pennsylvania instructional specialist certificate endorsed for Elementary Counselor or Secondary Counselor (or Guidance Counselor Certificate issued prior to July 1, 1969) OR;
• Possession of a valid Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Elementary and Secondary School Counselor (PreK-12) certification OR;
• Presentation of an original, signed letter from the Certification Officer of an accredited college or university verifying current enrollment in an approved certification program in order to be eligible for an Emergency Permit.

*Note: Certification must match the grade levels you are supporting

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Demonstrated knowledge of:

• the principles, practices and theories of individual/group counseling, and behavioral intervention;
• the principals, practices and theories of development and school counseling;
• the current techniques and trends in counseling and guidance at the elementary/middle school or high school level;
• the theories and principles of child/early-adolescent development, individual/group behavior group dynamics and interpersonal interactions;
• communication skills and techniques;
• the current health, economic and social problems experienced by urban families;
• functions and resources of community/governmental agencies that provide support services for students and their families.

Demonstrated ability to:

• provide counseling and guidance on an individual/group basis and to conduct group sessions;
• employ tact, diplomacy, and sound judgment in dealing with sensitive or personal problems and hostile attitudes;
• identify and address needs of students transitioning from psychiatric treatment;
• facilitate interagency team meetings to effectively address the behavioral health needs of students and families;
• work effectively with students and their families and to aid them in the constructive use of their capacities to address their specific problems;
• identify the signs of child abuse/neglect, substance abuse and students at risk for suicide;
• participate in crisis intervention;
• communicate effectively, both orally and in writing;
• prepare and maintain student-counseling records, reports, correspondence and statistical summaries;
• establish and maintain effective working relationships with faculty, administrators, supportive staff, families, students and representatives of community/governmental agencies.

PLEASE NOTE: Salary is commensurate with experience in education and educational attainment. Both prior experience and educational degree must go through the District's verification process in order for final salary to be confirmed. Please click this link to read through the process and download the verification forms for your previous employer(s) to complete.

Disclaimer: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified.

Nondiscrimination: The School District of Philadelphia provides to all persons equal access to all categories of employment in this District, regardless of race, color, age, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, ancestry, national origin or handicap/disability, gender identity, or genetic information. Please refer to Board Policy 104 for further information regarding the District's commitment to Nondiscrimination in Employment Practices.