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Mental Health Counselor- Youth ACT

Child and Family Services of Erie County, Inc.
place Buffalo, 14201
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Counseling Marriage and Family Therapy Social Work Other Behavioral, Mental, or Healthcare Field
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On-Call Supervision
local_atm $62400 - $67400 USD /YEAR
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Medical/Vision/Dental Insurance PTO Flexible Spending Account Other Benefits

Job Details

Description

Are you a licensed mental health professional passionate about working with youth and families in their own environments? Join our Youth ACT (Assertive Community Treatment) Team as an In-Home Counselor and play a vital role in delivering high-impact, community-based services to youth ages 10–21, and their families, with serious emotional and behavioral health challenges. This position offers a unique opportunity to work outside of the traditional office setting, engaging directly with youth and families in homes, schools, and the community at large. You’ll be part of a dynamic and passionate multidisciplinary team dedicated to helping young people achieve stability, growth, and long-term success in their homes and the community.

Position Summary

The Licensed In-Home Mental Health Counselor will provide individual, group, and family therapy in home and community settings using trauma-informed and culturally responsive approaches. Responsibilities include conducting clinical assessments, developing person-centered treatment plans, and coordinating care in collaboration with other members of the Youth ACT team. You will offer crisis intervention, safety planning, and stabilization support as needed, while actively participating in team meetings, treatment planning, and case reviews to guide clinical direction. The position also involves collaborating with schools, healthcare providers, child welfare, and juvenile justice systems to ensure integrated care. Accurate and timely documentation in the electronic health record (EHR) is essential, along with maintaining a flexible schedule to meet the needs of families, including some evenings and occasional weekends.

Major Responsibilities/Activities

  • Provide mental health assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning and psychotherapy services
  • Provide individual, family, and group counseling to a diverse population with many challenges
  • Provide individual and family interventions with the goal of developing and implementing social, interpersonal, self-care and independent living skills to restore and maintain stability, to support functional gains and to adapt to, and or maintain community living.
  • Guide families during and following a crisis episode experienced by a child/family with the goal of stabilizing the child/youth in the home and natural environment.
  • Maintain the crisis phone, on call, for a week at a time (rotated amongst staff)
  • Collaborate with other treatment providers and collaterals, as appropriate
  • Complete and submit required documentation in a timely manner (e.g. progress notes, treatment plans, etc).
  • Participate in the agency Quality Improvement Process and other agency meetings including in-service trainings, supervision and staff meetings
  • Adheres to NYS and agency requirements including, but not limited to: HIPPA, ethical guidelines, confidentiality, child abuse identification and reporting, incident reporting, worker safety protocols



Minimum Requirements

  • A NYS Education Department license in Social Work, Mental Health Counseling, Psychology or Marriage and Family Therapy
  • Demonstrated cultural competence in understanding and working with disadvantaged/minority populations in community-based programs in an urban and suburban setting
  • Must have means of transportation to travel throughout Western New York area
  • Must have a valid New York State driver’s license
  • Must be flexible to meet the needs of children and families in their homes
  • Must be able to work independently
  • Computer literacy required, experience with Electronic Medical Records preferred
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills

Competitive Salary Range

$62,400 to $67,400 annually depending on experience, based on a 35-hour work week

Shift Information

  • Flexible schedule
  • On call support

Benefits

C+FS offers full-time employees the below benefits to support our employees and their families and help to create a healthy work environment:

  • Paid Time Off (PTO), paid holidays and bereavement time
  • Employer Paid Life Insurance
  • Medical insurance options
  • Dental insurance options
  • Vision insurance options
  • Wellness Program and Incentives
  • Health Savings Account (HSA)
  • Healthcare Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
  • Dependent Care FSA Retirement
  • Employee Referral Bonus
  • Qualifying Employer for Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)
  • 403(b) Right Away and Employer-Contributions

Child & Family Services Is An Equal Opportunity Employer

Child and Family Services provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran or familial status, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Child and Family Services complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Professional Field

professional badgeCounseling
professional badgeMarriage and Family Therapy
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professional badgeOther Behavioral, Mental, or Healthcare Field

Patient Focus

Diagnoses

Avoidant Personality Disorder

Issues

Aging
Trauma

Age Groups

Children (5-10)
Adolescents/Teenagers (14-19)

Therapeutic Approach

Methodologies

ECT

Modalities

Families
Individuals

Practice Specifics

Populations

Juvenile Offenders
Aviation/Transportation
Racial Justice Allied
School

Settings

Faith-based organizations
Milieu
Private Practice
Research Facilities/Labs/Clinical Trials
Residential Treatment Facilities (RTC)
Home Health/In-home
Military
Forensic