Duties
This position supports the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) School Embedded Program, which places Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC) licensed clinical counselors within Department of Defense schools located on Navy installations overseas. The School Embedded Program enhances access to counseling services and strengthens collaboration among students, families, educators, military commands, and helping agencies to promote student well-being, academic success, resilience, and family readiness. Services may be delivered on-site within local DoDEA schools to eligible students in accordance with Department of Defense, Department of the Navy, Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC), Fleet and Family Support Program (FFSP), and DoDEA policies and procedures.
The incumbent conducts comprehensive assessments and provides short-term, solution-focused counseling utilizing evidence-based therapeutic approaches to address concerns including deployment and reintegration, relocation, grief and loss, relationship issues, parenting challenges, communication difficulties, adjustment concerns, family conflict, behavioral concerns, and other military life stressors. The counselor conducts risk assessments, evaluates safety concerns, provides crisis intervention, and coordinates referrals to military and civilian behavioral health providers when issues fall outside the authorized scope of care.
Serves as a Family Advocacy Program (FAP) clinician and subject matter expert, providing clinical assessment, intervention, treatment planning, case management, and consultation services related to child abuse, neglect, domestic abuse, family violence, and other high-risk family situations. Conducts psychosocial assessments, lethality assessments, safety planning, and treatment planning while ensuring compliance with Department of Defense, Department of the Navy, and local program requirements.
Coordinates with military commands, medical providers, legal offices, law enforcement agencies, schools, child protective services, social service organizations, and community partners to facilitate multidisciplinary case management and ensure appropriate care and support for service members and their families. Provides consultation and recommendations to commanders, installation leadership, healthcare professionals, school personnel, and multidisciplinary teams regarding family advocacy, risk mitigation, and intervention strategies.
Develops, facilitates, and evaluates individual, family, and group counseling programs, psychoeducational workshops, prevention initiatives, and resilience-building activities. Delivers training and educational briefings on topics including healthy relationships, family readiness, communication skills, parenting, stress management, family violence prevention, child abuse prevention, suicide prevention, resilience, and related behavioral health concerns.
Serves as the designated case manager and clinical point of contact for Problematic Sexual Behavior in Children and Youth (PSB-CY) cases. Coordinates multidisciplinary responses, conducts assessments, develops safety plans, facilitates referrals, monitors treatment progress, and ensures compliance with applicable federal, Department of Defense, and Department of the Navy policies and reporting requirements.
As part of the School Embedded Program, the counselor collaborates closely with school administrators, teachers, school counselors, psychologists, military commands, medical personnel, and community partners to identify concerns, provide consultation, facilitate referrals, and coordinate support services. The incumbent serves as a liaison between the Fleet and Family Support Center and DoDEA schools, fostering a coordinated approach to prevention, intervention, education, and resource connection for military-connected children and families.
Maintains accurate case documentation, treatment records, statistical data, and reports within automated case management systems. Participates in quality assurance reviews, peer consultations, professional practice evaluations, and continuous process improvement efforts to ensure delivery of safe, effective, and high-quality counseling and advocacy services. May provide after-hours support for emergent situations involving family advocacy, crisis intervention, safety planning, victim support, and other mission-essential services.
The position supports installation leadership and helping agencies through consultation, training, prevention programming, and coordinated community response efforts that strengthen families, promote healthy development, enhance resilience, and contribute to military and family readiness throughout the Navy community.
Requirements
Conditions of employment
- Incumbents must obtain and maintain a determination of eligibility for Secret security clearance of access for the duration of employment, including a background investigation and credit check.
- Child Care National Agency Check and Inquiry (CNACI) background check required. This position requires regular contact with children under the age of 18 and a favorable determination of suitability.
- Position requires Temporary Duty (TDY) or business travel approximately up to 20% of time away from the regular duty station to attend or provide training, conduct FFSP certification visits, or deliver services aboard ships.
- This position requires the incumbent to have a valid, state-issued driver’s license.
- This employee may work in DoDEA school buildings 2-3 days per week
Qualifications
Knowledge Required by the Position
Thorough knowledge of the CNIC Fleet and Family Support Program and comprehensive knowledge of military lifestyles including common stressors to effectively modify treatment programs to meet the needs of the military community.
Professional knowledge of and skill in applying laws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, directives and instructions governing child and spouse abuse and family violence issues and professional knowledge of family violence dynamics to identify situations of family violence,
conduct risk assessments and coordinate safety planning.
In-depth knowledge of family systems related to patterns of abusive behavior, abuse response, substance abuse, human behavior, human sexuality, attention deficit disorder, and juvenile delinquency and skill in applying the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders to recognize, identify, and assess mental disorders and personal and social problems, reach accurate conclusions and provide appropriate solutions.
Expert knowledge of and skill in employing various evidence-based and trauma-informed counseling approaches, clinical treatment principles and practices, research methods, group dynamics, motivational interviewing, developmental psychology, and family systems therapy to counsel individuals, couples, families and groups.
Skill in applying various counseling approaches, including psychosocial, to assess, triage, refer and manage difficult and serious cases involving individuals and families who present at-risk behavior.
Professional knowledge of and skill in using various verbal communication methods and techniques to effectively work with individuals and families from diverse racial, ethnic, religious, and socioeconomic backgrounds; to present sensitive or controversial information to various groups; discuss cases; deliver presentations; and develop and maintain professional relationships with other treatment professionals.
Professional knowledge of and skill in using various written communication methods and techniques and using FFSP management information systems and other applicable software and web-based programs to effectively document case management and treatment plans, to document and explain NMC counseling requirements and services provided, to facilitate completion of work assignments, and to develop presentations.
Education
Successful candidates for this position shall meet qualifications as outlined below:
State/U.S. Territory licensure or State/U.S. Territory certification that provides legal authority to provide clinical services as an independent practitioner.
Licensed Professional Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, Clinical Social Work, Clinical Psychology, or Counseling Psychology.
When the State/U.S. Territory licensing or certification requirements include a written examination, candidates must have achieved a passing score on that examination.
Possess at least a master's or doctoral degree in one of the following disciplines:
Marriage and Family Therapy from a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) or an equivalent degree.
Social Work from a school accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) or an equivalent degree.
Doctoral degree in clinical or counseling psychology from an American Psychological Association (APA) accredited university or professional school and a 1-year APA accredited clinical internship.
Master's degree from a program accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs or an equivalent degree.
Have engaged in 2 years full-time, post-Masters supervised clinical experience.
2 years of specialized experience in domestic abuse and child abuse counseling or treatment.
Additional information
Salary is dependent on experience and/or education.Some positions have special requirements. Selectee may be required to complete a one (1) year probationary period. Participation in Direct Deposit/Electronic Fund Transfer within the first 30 days of employment is required.This announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies within 60 days of issuance of selection certificate. For positions requiring travel more than twice per year, selectee may be required to obtain and maintain in good standing a Government-issued Travel Card for official government travel purposes.
Selectees initially recruited from the United States or who are already on a Transportation Agreement may be entitled to transportation and moving costs for themselves and their family members. Household goods may be shipped and a Living Quarter Allowance (LQA), is paid to cover monthly housing and utility costs.
Applicants recruited from the United States are entitled to a tax-free Post Allowance (PA) and Living Quarters Allowance (LQA). In addition, incumbents are authorized use of the Navy Exchange, Defense Commissary and MWR programs. Additional information will be provided upon selection. For information about living and working in Naples Italy, please visit: https://cnreurafcent.cnic.navy.mil/Installations/NSF-Deveselu/
Executive Order 12564 requires a Federal workplace free of illegal drugs. According to the Executive Order, all Federal employees are required to remain drug free throughout their employment. Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic Command is a Drug-Free Federal Workplace. The use of illegal drugs will not be tolerated, and use of or intoxication by illegal drugs will result in penalties up to and including removal from Federal Service.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.