Job Description

This position includes a $2500 gross sign-on bonus upon hire and a second $2500 gross sign-on bonus after probation has been met.

IMPORTANT NOTICE Arlington County requires all applicants to thoroughly complete each section of the application, including prior job responsibilities, duties, and supplemental questions. While you may attach a resume, it will not replace a completed application. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

The Child & Family Services Division (CFSD) of the Department of Human Services (DHS), Children’s Behavioral Health Bureau, is seeking an experienced Behavioral Health Therapist to be part of a school-based outpatient team. The Bureau is responsible for providing comprehensive, trauma informed, culturally responsive mental health and substance use services to help youth, with the support of their parents, thrive in their environments. Services for youth are provided in their homes, school, community, and the DHS office.

This position is embedded and co-located in the community, local school(s), court/detention center, and/or DHS office. The Behavioral Health Therapist position is responsible for providing an array of direct behavioral health therapeutic services (therapy, case management, care coordination, High Fidelity Wraparound-intensive care coordination) for youth experiencing mental health challenges, substance use issues, and involvement with other child service systems (including juvenile justice system, educational system, child welfare system). The Behavioral Health Therapist will also provide technical expertise and behavioral health support to external child service teams through case consultation, training, and outreach presentations.

Arlington County DHS is committed to delivering client services in an effective, equitable, respectful, and trauma-informed manner. Our staff is dedicated to ensuring our clients are approached, engaged and cared for in ways that demonstrate competency, sensitivity and awareness of factors which impact the client experience including but not limited to: cultural identity, gender, racial, and ethnic diversity, religious/spiritual ascription, physical capability, cognitive and literacy levels, sexual orientation, and linguistic needs.

Although positions may be filled at the Non-VA Licensed or Resident/Supervisee, licensure must be earned within three years of hire. The Department of Human Services will provide supervision to staff in pursuit of licensure.

The applicable salary ranges for each designation are below (Effective July 1, 2026):

• Behavioral Health Therapist (Licensed): $96,304-$149,240 Annually
• Behavioral Health (Resident/Supervisee): $83,158.40-$128,876.80 Annually
• Behavioral Health Therapist (Non-VA Licensed): $96,304-$149,240 Annually

Responsibilities may include the following:

• Providing trauma-informed and culturally responsive direct individual/family/group psychotherapy, case management, and care coordination support to youth with mental health, substance use, or co-occurring disorders in school, DHS office, home, court, and other community settings. Including attending school, office and/or community-based meetings and legal hearings;
• Participating in a multi-disciplinary team; including partnering with Arlington Public School, court services, and child welfare staff, to support behavioral health service coordination, effective treatment, consultation, and enhanced overall emotional and behavioral wellbeing of youth;
• Conducting intake assessments to determine diagnosis, and treatment plans/recommendations;
• Providing crisis intervention to assist youth with maintaining safety in the least restrictive setting possible;
• Establishing effective therapeutic relationships with clients and participating as a team member by coordinating services;
• Participating in community outreach/engagement as requested;
• Ensuring all services are documented in the Electronic Health Record (EHR) system in compliance with clinical, court, managed care, funding, and program licensing standards; and
• Maintaining accurate records and fulfill all administrative and regulatory requirements throughout the behavioral health treatment process, including court reviews and service delivery for youth and families.
  

Although positions may be filled at the Non-VA Licensed or Resident/Supervisee, licensure must be earned within three years of hire. The Department of Human Services will provide supervision to staff in pursuit of licensure.

Note: Please refer to the guidelines for registration and licensure set forth by the the Virginia Department of Health Professions prior to completing this application.

Therapists may be hired at one of the following levels:

Minimums:

Behavioral Health Therapist (Licensed):

• Possess one of the following professional licenses from the Virginia Department of Health Professions LPC, LCP, LMFT, or LCSW.

Behavioral Health Therapist (Non-VA Licensed):

• Possess a license in a jurisdiction other than Virginia and are performing supervised assessment and evaluation, diagnostic, treatment planning, case management and counseling work while awaiting licensure from the Virginia Department of Health Professions of the following professional licenses related to a behavioral health discipline: (LPC), (LCP), (LMFT), (LCSW);
• Virginia clinical license must be obtained within 90 days of hire.

Behavioral Health (Resident/Supervisee):

• Perform supervised assessment and evaluation, diagnostic, treatment planning, case management, and counseling work as a trainee as required to obtain one of the following professional licenses related to a behavioral health discipline in the state of Virginia:
  • Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
  • Licensed Clinical Psychologist (LCP)
  • Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)
  • Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
• Must meet (apply for and receive) the educational requirements to obtain a temporary license as a Resident in Counseling (for LPC or LMFT) or Resident in Clinical Psychology (for LCP), or register as a Supervisee in Social Work (LCSW) with the Virginia Department of Health Professions within 90 days of hire;
• Obtain appropriate clinical licensure within three years of hire.

Education (ALL levels): Completion of the requirements for obtaining a Master's degree from an accredited college or university in a clinical discipline such as Counseling, Psychiatric Social Work, Psychology, Art Therapy, or other directly related clinical discipline with internships and practicum requirements specified by the Virginia Department of Health Professions.

Bilingual: This announcement may be used to fill Bilingual positions. Bilingual positions require employees to be proficient in speaking and understanding Spanish.

Desirables Preference may be given to candidates who are fully licensed and/or experience in one or more of the following:

• Providing direct mental health services to youth in a school setting

• Experienced providing co-located services

Special Requirements

The applicant must possess, or obtain by the time of appointment, a valid motor vehicle operator's license from the applicant's place of residence or ability to use alternative modes of transportation. If the applicant possesses or acquires a license, the applicant must authorize Arlington County to obtain, or the applicant must provide a copy of the applicant's official state/district driving record.

Any offer of employment may be contingent upon a favorable review of the applicant's driving record and criminal history which may include an NCIC check, a Virginia State Police background check, an FBI fingerprint background check, and/or a Virginia Department of Social Services Child Protective Services Central Registry search.

Must complete pre-hire federal background check and State of Virginia Central Registry check.

Employment restrictions: To ensure that dual relationships are avoided and that employees who are also clients do not relate to their service provider as co-professionals, employees will not be hired by the County to provide or support services to the team or program in which they are current clients:

• You cannot concurrently receive behavioral health services from Arlington County Community Service Board (CSB) programs while employed in an Arlington County CSB program (except for Crisis Intervention services).
• At least 24 months must have passed between receipt of CSB services from Arlington County and employment in an Arlington County CSB program.

A pre-employment criminal records check will be conducted. It may include checks of the following: criminal record, driving record, education, professional licensure, and credit history. You may be required to sign a release authorizing the County to obtain your background information.

State of Virginia Child Welfare and Neglect Central Registry checks will be required.

The applicant must possess, or obtain by the time of employment, a valid driver's license, and provide a copy of or allow Arlington County to obtain a copy of the driving record. Any offer of employment may be contingent upon a favorable review of the applicant's driving record.

Additional Information

Work Hours Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. or as established by program need.  At least two evenings (after 5:00 p.m.) per week are required. This position can telework from home when not working in person, in the office, or community. A minimum of 2 days in-person work (in the community or office) is required, and up to 3 days of telework is permitted per week, as approved. Telework/in-person schedule is subject to change based on program and client needs. 

The office is located at 2100 Washington Blvd (Sequoia Plaza). Work will be performed in community locations and DHS office.

The salary ranges listed above are effective July 1, 2026.

Please complete all sections of the application. Your responses to the supplemental questionnaire are required for this position. Please do not write "see resume" as a response to the questions. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

As an Employer of Choice, Arlington County offers a generous benefit package. For additional benefits information click here.

#LI-Hybrid