Mental Health Professional – Special Education (Therapeutic Program)

Position Title: Mental Health Professional , Special Education

Assignment Location: Lebanon Education Center, Apple Valley, MN serving students in the Therapeutic Education Alternative (TEA) Program

Hours per Day: 8.0

Schedule: 7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, following school calendar as assigned

Anticipated Start Date: August 20, 2024

Starting At: Per the teacher/licensed staff contract
 

POSITION OVERVIEW:

Under the general supervision of the assistant director/principal and supervising mental health professional coordinator, our mental health professionals provide therapy and skills-based training to students, create and maintain records and reports, create and complete diagnostic assessments, and perform related work as apparent or assigned. Professionalism, empathy, and a non-judgmental approach are essential when working with students receiving special education services to ensure their safety and growth and in order to help them understand and exhibit appropriate behaviors at school and in the community. A mental health professional is part of a team environment, where collaboration, communication, and adaptability are key to the success of the team and the success of the students. The mental health professional role is performed following District policy and State/Federal Laws.
 

RESPONSIBILITIES:
 

• Provide therapy and skills training to students in areas of social, communication, self-regulation, and the skills necessary for students to transition to other educational, community, or vocational settings.
• Create and complete mental health diagnostic assessments.
• Develop and implement individual treatment plans in cooperation with parents, mental health practitioners, other instructional staff, and staff from local districts; Complete all required reports in accordance with district practice and due process procedures.
• Facilitate gaining access to outside agencies for students and families.
• Communicate with outside providers for coordination of care.
• Maintain communication with the administrators, students, parents/guardians, and other staff members concerning progress.
• Work cooperatively with team members, including the classroom teacher, mental health practitioners, and direct paraprofessionals assigned to the team.
• Comply with school board policies and procedures as well as Children’s Therapeutic Services and Supports (CTSS) policies and procedures.
• Observe students in various educational environments and provide recommendations; adapt and/or modify materials; collect data to evaluate student progress.
• Maintain and complete progress notes, consultation notes, and/or letters.
• Help to maintain a positive and safe work environment for all students and staff.
• Attend various meetings and committees; participate in training/in-service as assigned, in accordance to the contract.
• Performs other job-related duties, as assigned.

 
QUALIFICATIONS:
 

1. Qualified as a Mental Health Professional under the requirements of the Department of Human Services (DHS) with a Master’s degree in one of the behavioral sciences or a related field, and licensed as one of the following:
   1. Licensed Psychologist (LP), Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC), Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS), or is a Psychiatric or Osteopathic Physician, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, or is working on a clinical license.
2. A willingness and ability to work with students receiving a high-level of special education services.
3. Comprehensive knowledge of the Department of Human Services requirements, policies and procedures for therapy in education programs, and clinical childhood mental health disorders.
4. Thorough skill reading, writing and conducting diagnostic assessments, treatment plans, and progress notes.
5. Willingness to be trained in and implement restrictive procedures within the guidelines of Professional Crisis Management (PCM) and Minnesota state law.
6. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships students.
7. Ability to establish and maintain standards of behavior.
8. Ability to work as an effective member of a team with staff, parents, clinical providers, and the community through the building and maintaining of collaborative and positive relationships.
9. Good oral, written, and interpersonal communication that is maintained during high-stress and crisis situations.
10. General skill operating standard office equipment and applicable hardware and software.

 
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
 

1. Ability to occasionally exert up to 50 pounds of force.
2. Work regularly requires speaking, hearing, walking, and using hands to finger.
3. Work has standard vision requirements; work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data, and observation of the general surroundings and activities.
4. Occasionally requires standing, sitting, climbing or balancing, pushing or pulling, lifting, and repetitive motions.
5. Must be able to perceive and express detailed information through oral communications, that is maintain during crisis situations.
6. Ability to tolerate sudden jarring movement; exposure to aggressive or impulsive acts.
7. Work may have exposure to bloodborne pathogens and may require wearing of personal protective equipment.
8. Locations are generally moderately noisy.

DISTRICT PROFILE:

Intermediate School District 917 provides special education, career & technical education (CTE), and/or alternative learning for nine member districts in the south metro.  Our programs are located in more than 20 sites throughout the south metro, including Dakota County Technical College (DCTC) where our district office is located.  We focus on being purposeful, personalized partners within our community as we model an innovative culture with diverse pathways serving students and families through equitable practices with highly trained staff.  The culture of ISD 917 is built on the core values of collaboration, empathy, innovation, stewardship, communication, integrity, personalization, equity, and diversity.  Our programs are designed to provide high quality, equitable, and specialized programming to meet the needs of all students.  We serve students from birth through age 21 in a variety of special education programs located in multiple sites.  Our CTE programs are all located at DCTC, and our alternative learning program (Dakota County Area Learning School (DCALS) has two locations, one co-located in DCTC in Rosemount and one in West St. Paul.  At ISD 917, we belong to each other, and no one is invisible.  
 
Mission  (= Our Core Purpose)
In partnership with member districts, Intermediate School District 917 provides high quality, equitable, and specialized programming to meet the needs of all students.
 
Vision (= What We Intend to Create)
Intermediate School District 917 models an innovative culture with diverse pathways serving students and families through equitable practices with highly trained staff.
 
Core Values (= Drivers of Our Words and Actions)

• Collaboration: Working together to achieve more collectively.
• Empathy:  Considering and respecting the perspective and needs of member districts, students, families and staff.
• Innovation:  Ongoing improvement of programs and services.
• Stewardship:  Managing financial and human resources carefully and responsibly.
• Communication:  Multi-dimensional, transparent conversation focused on sharing information and creating a positive learning and working environment. 
• Integrity:  Aligning our actions with our values and beliefs.
• Personalization:  Building on the strengths and addressing the unique needs of individual students.
• Equity:  Intentionally providing opportunities while removing barriers at all levels of the organization.
• Diversity:  Appreciating and valuing everyone’s unique selves.

 
Strategic Directions (= Focus of Our Improvement Efforts)

• Increase student achievement and engagement
• Support and lead staff through continuous improvement
• Deepen engagement of stakeholders through quality, equitable communication practices
• Increase social-emotional learning and skills for students and staff
• Increase support for ALL through inclusive practices

 
District Motto
Purposeful. Personalized. Partners.
 
For more information on Special Education Services, click here
 
And for more information on  Secondary Services, click here
 
Application Procedure: Can be completed at https://www.applitrack.com/isd917/onlineapp/
 
District 917’s Website: http://www.isd917.org/

jessica.huss@isd917.org

Intermediate School District 917 is an equal opportunity employer