Behavioral Health Specialist - Berks County

Want to make a difference in the life of a young person? As a Student Assistance Program Specialist at Caron, you’ll join a diverse team of over 75 behavioral health professionals and educators.  Our Specialists provide services to kids K-12, as well as college students and even athletes.

This position is rooted at the very heart of our communities. You’ll work on-site at local schools and child serving agencies to provide the behavioral health support young people need, from prevention of high-risk behaviors to intervention services related to substance use and mental health concerns. Working in collaboration with the school professionals and parents is a primary aspect of the position, and our goal is to build resilience for the young people we work with.

This position offers a full-time, seasonal work schedule.  We offer work hours within a traditional school-year schedule, meaning your summers are free.   Applicants should possess at least one year of experience working with youth in an educational or public health setting, and a solid understanding of the effects substance use, including nicotine, has on their development.

This position will begin with the start of the new school year in August 2024. 

DUTIES AND RESPONSBILITIES: 

• Provide consultation, assessment  case management and referral for students identified by the student assistance teams in each individual school when needed.   
• Provide technical assistance (i.e. Team Maintenance session’s etc.) to all school SAP teams requesting such. 
• Facilitate entrance to treatment programs for students and school districts when needed. 
• Deliver Project CONNECT and approved student assistance curriculums to schools and other agencies when requested. This delivery involves group, individual, classroom and assembly facilitation. 
• Provide in-services on alcohol, tobacco and other drugs to faculty or agency staff when requested. 
• Provide parent education on alcohol, tobacco and other drugs when requested. 
• Participate in staff meetings and report progress as well as areas of concern. 
• Complete all documentation (i.e. KIT entries, reporting etc.)  and submit to supervisor. 
• Market and promote programs to all schools as requested by supervisor. 
• This job description reflects management’s assignments of essential functions; it does not prescribe or restrict the task that may be assigned. 

PHYSICAL REQUIRMENTS:

• The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 
• Must be able to present to audiences in large and small group settings, which may require long periods of time and be of multiple presentations. 
• Must be able to work extended hours and travel as needed. 
• Must be able to lift up to 25 pounds. 

EDUCATION/ EXPERIENCE QUALIFICATIONS:  

• Bachelor’s degree in human service, social work and/or education or related field required. 
• A minimum of 1 year working with adolescents preferably in a school-based or public health setting. 
• Education related to adolescent development and chemical dependency. 
• Completion of the Project CONNECT Facilitator Training, upon hire when deemed appropriate. 
• Completion of Caron’s Commonwealth Approved Student Assistance Program training, upon hire when deemed appropriate. 
• To complete other trainings as assigned such as Life Skills, and PATHS. 
• If in recovery, 2 years of uninterrupted sobriety preferred. 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES: 

• Effective communication skills including interactive public speaking and active listening skills. 
• Computer literate and able to work with Microsoft products and its network components. 
• Fluid communication skills that foster teamwork and high morale.  Further, must be able to promote services in the media such as radio, print and television. 
• Must be familiar with and be able to demonstrate knowledge of the principles of various 12-step fellowships, upon hire. 
• Knowledge of adolescent development. 
• Strong presentation and group facilitation skills. 
• Strong knowledge of chemical dependency, and tobacco cessation and the impact of this on school-based services.