ABOUT YMCA YOUTH & FAMILY SERVICES:
YMCA Youth & Family Services (YFS) is dedicated to creating positive change in the San Diego community by addressing today’s most pressing social issues. We are focused on bringing about meaningful and lasting change in children, youth, adults, and families by ensuring they have a safe place to live, connecting them to critical resources, building them a reliable support system, and supporting their pursuit of happiness. Growing over the course of fifty years, YFS supports our community by offering a continuum of services and resources designed to:
- Meet basic needs and remove barriers and stressors
- Increase protective factors to support mental health and well-being
- Strengthen economic stability and mobility
- Build social capital and increase access to opportunities
- Increase resources and support to keep families together
Learn more about YMCA Youth & Family Services at ymcasd.org/yfs.
ABOUT THE ROLE:
The Mental Health Therapist provides direct therapeutic services including assessments, individual, group and crisis counseling to current and past participants. This position assists in program development and operation while ensuring eligibility and program outcomes. The Mental Health Therapist is responsible for applying an intersectional, anti-racist, and equity lens to our work that lifts up and centers Black, Indigenous, People of Color, non-binary, and trans, and LGBTQ+ communities and youth.
TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:
- This position must have access to reliable transportation to travel occasionally throughout San Diego County.
WORK DESIGNATION
- In-Person- Escondido
- Please note that the work designation may change based on business needs.
ABOUT THE PROGRAM:
We are committed to supporting transition-age youth (TAY) who face barriers to success in adulthood, including homelessness, abuse, and more, helping them lead healthy, successful lives. Entering adulthood is a critical developmental period that can be further complicated when a young person lacks a supportive network and faces a multitude of barriers. We offer innovative, effective programming in a safe and welcoming space.
We provide safe, inclusive, youth-led drop-in resource centers in North County San Diego. TAY is dedicated to serving youth and young adults in a manner that is knowledgeable of, and sensitive to, the trauma occurring in their lives. The youth that utilize services come from diverse backgrounds and experiences. TAY Drop-in services address not only basic needs but also provides critical services that address higher-level needs such as clinical support, resource navigation, and housing support. There is a strong focus on employment, education needs, and linkages to safe housing opportunities.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
- Provide individual, family and crisis counseling to participants and facilitate groups to current and former participants; Provide clinical assessment, evaluation, service plan development, case management, crisis intervention, collateral services, and other duties as necessary
- Educate service staff on mental health topics and facilitate treatment planning and case management goals
- Provide information and referrals regarding other transitional program services, mental health, medication management and substance abuse to participants
- Work independently and as a team member to create innovative ways to meet contract goals and provide a high level of service that is engaging and meets the needs of the participants
- Complete counseling intake and psychosocial assessments of all participants
- Maintain case records, records to facilitate data collection material, and other confidential material; Maintain collateral contact with outside therapy providers as needed; Collect pre and post program data on program participants regarding satisfaction and progress
- Foster environments that promote reflective thinking, mistakes as lessons to guide change, and adaptions to programs and approaches; Through a relationally responsive management style, provide a strong, collaborative, and intentional day-to-day collaborative presence; support collaborative results and rest driven culture; Apply a creative problem-solving lens with the ability to be flexible and adapt to different personalities, work styles, and a growing, changing organization
- Collaborate with outside agencies/institutions and other community-based services to ensure continuity of care
- Perform other administrative tasks as assigned and assist with maintaining proper document storage and auditing
- Participate in and attend all required staff meetings, trainings, YMCA staff development events, and appropriate agency-wide committees
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Master’s Degree in Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, Social Work (ASW) or Professional Clinical Counselor required
- Registered with California Board of Behavioral Science as an associate required
- California license eligible clinician with two years post-master’s degree experience preferred
- Experience working with children and families in a mental health setting preferred
- Basic computer knowledge and skills
COMPETENCIES:
- Must be self-aware, flexible, adaptable, and teachable
- Experience with working with adolescents and families
- Must be able to multitask and have good organizational skills
- Must be able to work as part of a team
- Ability to work with a culturally diverse community
- Visual and auditory ability to respond to critical incidents and the physical ability to act swiftly in an emergency situation
- Ability to adequately observe participants activities, enforce safety regulations, and apply appropriate policies and procedures
- Must possess the ability to lead and interact in group activities and perform related physical skills
- This position required sitting and inputting on a computer for extended periods of time
- Ability to work effectively with others in alignment with the YMCA 4 Core Values; Models the 4 Core Values in all aspects of position responsibilities
EMPLOYMENT CONTINGENCIES:
- Licensing, state law and our funders require that applicants be fingerprinted, prior to reporting to work, and include subsequent arrest notifications
- CPR/AED, and First Aid Certification, must include Adult and Child/Infant, within 30 days of hire, and must be from one of the following certifying organizations: American Red Cross, American Heart Association, or American Safety and Health Institute
- Position may require additional clearances in order to comply with all program, licensing, state law, and funding requirements:
- Physical exam obtained prior to first day
- Negative TB test results obtained within the past one year, prior to first day, and annually thereafter, as required
- Pass pre-employment drug testing prior to first day
- Exclusion and Debarment checks prior to first day and monthly thereafter
- Must be 21 years of age or older with a valid CA Driver’s License, a good driving record and a current CDL H6 print-out (must be dated within 30 days of application) and pass vehicle proficiency exam
Y EMPLOYEE PERKS
- FREE Complete Gym Membership, including access to Pools, workout classes and 30% off eligible programs
- Professional Growth
- Community Involvement
- Student Loan Forgiveness: As part of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program (PSLF), your student loan debt may be canceled upon meeting the service requirements.
- Professional Development Opportunities: Access to professional development, training, and learning opportunities at no cost.
- Looking for Benefits? We’ve got you covered:
- Medical, Dental, Vision and Life Insurance
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Pet Insurance
- PTO (Sick time, vacation days, personal days and paid holidays)
- Retirement Contributions
- Employee Discount Program
- Education Benefits
- To learn more about YMCA of San Diego County’s comprehensive employee benefits package, visit: https://www.ymcasd.org/get-involved/ymca-careers/employee-benefits
WHY WORK AT THE Y?
We live by our values: Belonging, Authenticity, Integrity, and Innovation.
We are committed to our community: We strive to provide equitable access to the opportunities, connections, and support people need to learn, grow, and prosper.
We lead with justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion: We seek to provide trauma-informed and culturally responsive services that support and uplift our clients, actively working to remove barriers and increase access for all.
Our culture fosters growth, teamwork, and workplace wellness: We offer opportunities for continuous learning, growth, collaboration, and personal well-being, ensuring that our team members thrive both personally and professionally.
EEO Statement
The YMCA of San Diego County is an organization open to all people. We welcome and value individuals of all ages, race, ethnicity, religion, gender expression, ability, sexual orientation, or financial circumstance. We are committed to having programs and services that embrace diversity, reflecting the people and needs of our community.