Counselor II

Families First is a Georgia non-profit family service agency. We assist over 37,000 children, women and families each year, and we have been serving metro Atlanta for more than 130 years. Our mission is to ensure the success of children in jeopardy by empowering families.

 Everything our agency does is about strengthening families—all kinds of families with all kinds of needs. We foster strong communities by delivering empowering and sustainable solutions to children and families—solutions that improve child well-being and family self-sufficiency. Families First accomplishes this by focusing on three impact areas: 

• Child & Youth Permanency – to ensure long-term stability and support, we provide adoption, foster care and residential group homes for children whose lives have been disrupted.
• Family Sustainability & Empowerment – we work collaboratively with other organizations to provide self-sufficiency through housing and supportive services for chronically homeless families.Healthy
• Healthy Families & Relationships – we offer training and affordable counseling solutions to equip parents and families with critical skills to build healthy and strong relationships.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Counselor II is accountable for providing psychotherapy and other social services to individuals, families, children, and groups within the Behavioral Health Department. These clients require assistance in resolving personal, emotional and/or environmental problems which interfere with their daily/social functioning. Counseling sessions may address topics including homelessness, mental health, substance abuse, marital issues, parenting, and domestic violence/anger management.

A summary of duties includes assessing clients for service, assessing individual resiliency, providing provisional diagnostic impressions, providing therapeutic sessions, building treatment plans, and coping strategies for the patient to follow.

PRINCIPAL ACCOU NTABILITIES:

• Provide clinical services to individuals, couples, and families, to enable them to cope effectively with everyday problems and to improve social functioning.
• Design and implement psycho-educational workshops and therapeutic groups.
• Identify, link and form partnerships with community resources and other nonprofit organizations to further program development.
• Provide crisis intervention services to individuals, couples and families.
• Provide office and virtual therapeutic services.
• Maintain accurate, up-to-date case records and other documentation according to established Agency procedures.
• Contribute to the accomplishment of the Program and Agency goals and objectives through regular attendance and participation in meetings and regular communication with supervisor and other staff.
• Adhere to Agency time, attendance, and information technology procedures.

COMPETENCIES:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent electronically clinical or medical record (ECR/EMR) ability.
• Strong organizational and planning skills as evidenced by meeting deadlines, following through on assignments, delivering high quality products, and providing adequate time for consensus-building, especially review, feedback and approval.
• Strong teamwork and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to function independently and in concert with other staff and supervisors.

• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, including Outlook, Word and Excel
• Systems:  Understanding of the Bio-Psychosocial Approach, Engagement and Advocacy. 
• Professionalism:  Understanding of Diversity, Boundaries, Ethics, Self-assessment and Self care
• Relationships:  Demonstrates Inter-professionalism-can work in a team environment, build rapport with clients.
• Application:  Assessment and Intervention skills, Treatment Planning, as well as Practice Management i.e., uses time well, consistent/quality documentation, etc.
• Education:  Understanding of how to incorporate theories and clinical models

• Masters Degree in Social Work, Marriage and Family Counseling, or Professional Counseling.
• Two years of individual, couples and family counseling experience.
• Licensure by the Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage and Family Therapists (LCSW, LPC, or LMFT).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Comfortable in low-income, inner-city communities and able to travel throughout metro Atlanta.
• Strong community relationship building skills is a must.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bilingual (Spanish) 
• Certified Master Addiction Counselor (MAC)

EEO Statement:

It is the policy of Families First not to discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, disability or because he or she is a protected veteran. It is also the policy of Families First to take affirmative action to employ and to advance in employment, all persons regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, disability or protected veteran status, and to base all employment decisions only on valid job requirements. This policy shall apply to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, upgrading, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, recall, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation and selection for training, including apprenticeship, at all levels of employment..

Families First is an Equal Opportunity Employer dedicated to Affirmative Action and Workforce Diversity. 

Families First participates in E-Verify.

The salary range for this position is commensurate with experience. Compensation includes a benefits package with medical, dental, vision. Vacation and sick leave, a generous holiday schedule and a 401 (K) retirement plan with organization match after 1 year of employment.

 Interested candidates can apply at www.familiesfirst.org