Bilingual Mental Health Therapist, Griffin Home ($3,000 Signing Bonus)

BILINGUAL MENTAL HEALTH THERAPIST - Therapeutic Programs, Griffin Home 

This position is eligible to receive a $3,000 signing bonus!

PURPOSE 

The Mental Health Therapist (MHT) is responsible for the mental health treatment of twelve unaccompanied adolescent boys on the Griffin Campus. This integral position provides direct services to each of the Griffin Campus programs (Colin-Ferguson, McEachern, and Matsen Houses) to ensure clinical mental health needs and medication referrals are met for the youth in care. The MHT also assists the Department of Child Services (DCS) Case Manager in managing transition services, ensuring services are provided with the fewest possible barriers, and seeing that legal representation is accessed for each youth. The MHT models a caring, healthy and secure treatment atmosphere for youth and demonstrates an interest in youth developing healthy coping skills. 
 

RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES 

• Provide clinical supervisory tasks, including maintaining a caseload of up to twelve DCS adolescent boys in a therapeutic environment. This includes conducting and supervising individual, group and sponsor counseling sessions on both a spontaneous and scheduled basis. 
• Train staff in mental health issues and culturally sensitive interventions for youth. 
• Plan for successful transition of youth, including the involvement of parents/families, sponsors, community resources and other supports. 
• Screen applicants for mental health needs in partnership with the Program Manager; collaborate on treatment methods and goals with the Program Manager and the psychiatric consultant. 
• Meet weekly with the Program Manager to discuss individual youth, review program operations and gain direction. Initiate discussion on problem areas and report on the status of clients and any barriers to completing contracted services. 
• Ensure completion and adherence to program procedure in various forms and reports mandated by Friends of Youth and DCS, such as Individual Service Plans, UAC Assessments, Case Reviews, Incident Reports, Transition Summaries, etc., in a timely manner. 
• Ensure all interpreted youth materials are culturally appropriate and sensitive to the mental health needs of the youth.  

SCHEDULE AND LOCATION

Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 5 p.m. May be required to work on evenings and weekends. Work will be performed onsite/in-person in Renton, WA. 

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS 

• Master’s degree in social work, psychology, sociology; marriage, family and child counseling, or related field.  
• Minimum 3 years’ experience in the field of child welfare at the professional level. 
• Bilingual in Spanish and English. 
• 21 years of age or older. 
   

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS 

$58,868 - $63,868 annually (DOE) + $3,000 Signing Bonus*. Friends of Youth offers a competitive benefits package that includes:  

• 15 vacation days per year with annual accrual interests, paid sick leave, 11 paid holidays, 2 personal days and 2 social justice leave days per year 
• Medical, dental and vision coverage; 24/7 access to telehealth  
• 403(b) retirement plan and matching 
• Long-term disability insurance and life insurance 
• 15 vacation days per year with annual accrual interests, sick leave, 11 paid holidays, and two paid floating personal days per year 
• Professional development opportunities are available 24/7 on our online learning platform 
• All employees and their immediate family members can receive free counseling and mental health support through our Employee Assistance Program 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES 

• Ability to engage with diverse populations in a culturally responsive manner and demonstrate a commitment to the values of equity and inclusion.  
• Knowledge of various mental health treatment modalities, de-escalation, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills. 
• Knowledge of basic personnel supervision techniques. 
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing. 
• Demonstration of sensitivity and responsiveness to cultural differences. 
• Knowledge of WA State Code, DCS Contract, and sex offense specific treatment. 
• Respect for and interest in youth strengths. 
   

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT 

• Must satisfactorily pass criminal background check, including fingerprints. 
• Must satisfactorily pass tuberculosis (TB) test.  
• Must successfully complete the following health certification requirements within 30 days of employment: CPR, First Aid, Food Handlers permit, and Bloodborne Pathogens training. 
• Complete a de-escalation and restraint training within the first 45 days of employment to be eligible to be involved in the restraint of a resident if necessary. 
• Must have a reliable vehicle, a valid Washington State driver's license, auto liability insurance, and a safe driving record as defined by Friends of Youth.  
• Proof of vaccination status.

EQUITY STATEMENT  

Friends of Youth welcomes, honors, and celebrates our clients, colleagues and communities’ diverse identities, histories, knowledges, languages, and cultures. Our organizational values shape the way we work individually and collectively, as we prioritize young people’s belonging and achievement. We work to challenge, alter, and ultimately dismantle interconnected systems of structural and historic oppression. We collaborate with community stakeholders and partners to develop policy and decision-making frameworks that advance racial equity. 

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY 
Friends of Youth is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are based on merit and business needs, and not on the basis of race, sex/gender, religion/creed, pregnancy, age, physical or mental disability, marital status, national origin, genetic markers, military or veterans status, sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local law. People of Color and Members of the LGBTQ+ community are strongly encouraged to apply.  
   
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to apply for this position or to perform the essential functions of this position. To request accommodation, please email HR@friendsofyouth.org.    

*The signing bonus is a one-time bonus that must be repaid if the employee leaves their position at Friends of Youth before six months.