Crisis Counselor

Nashville Children's Alliance

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Job Summary

Nashville Children’s Alliance (NCA) is the child advocacy center for Nashville and Davidson County. NCA serves all children in Davidson County aged 3 – 17 when sexual or severe physical abuse allegations are reported, with the majority of referrals coming from the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services (DCS) and the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD). NCA is a child-focused, trauma-informed therapeutic environment designed to meet the needs of child abuse victims and their non-offending family members. NCA is involved in child sexual and severe physical abuse cases from the first allegation of abuse until after the case is resolved in court, at absolutely no cost to families. Since 1992, NCA has worked to deliver and coordinate the services required for children to feel safe, begin the healing process, and look forward to bright futures. 

NCA’s mission is to provide healing and justice for children who have been abused or exposed violence. In 2019, NCA moved into the Family Safety Center (FSC), a groundbreaking co-working space that facilitates services between Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD), the Department of Children’s Services (DCS), the District Attorney General’s Office (DA), and various nonprofit organizations. In collaboration with these partners, NCA works with children and non-offending caregivers using three evidence-based approaches: forensic interviews, Child Protective Investigative Team (CPIT) coordination, and trauma-informed therapy.  

Objectives:

The primary responsibility of the crisis counselor is to provide immediate support to children who have been sexually and/or severely physically abused, witnessed domestic violence or witnessed a violent crime and their non-offending caregivers. 

Job Responsibilities

Major Responsibilities:

1. To provide immediate safety risk assessment and intervention to children and non-offending caregivers
2. Provide trauma therapy for a caseload of 4-5 children
3. Maintain proper record keeping for each client.
4. To attend supervision with supervisor
5. Work a minimum of two days with later evening appointments per week
6. Adhere to the center’s policies

 

• Responsibilities:

• Provide daily crisis assessment and intervention to children and non-offending caregivers
• Provide safety assessment and safety planning for children
• Attend child protective investigation team  case review meetings weekly
• Provide weekly individual/family therapy sessions to children and siblings dealing with traumatic stress symptoms using evidenced based/evidenced informed Trauma-Focused Therapy.
• Provide individual/family therapy sessions two late evenings per week.
• Provide skill building and psycho-education to non-offending caregivers in conjunction with their children’s therapy.
• Complete intakes with caregivers including crisis counseling when necessary.
• Write clinical case notes following every client therapy session, phone conversations with caregivers, and phone conversations with other agencies (for example DCS) regarding the client.
• Call caregivers of clients to (1) schedule intake sessions (2) schedule therapy sessions, and (3) to follow up and reschedule missed appointments.
• Administer and score assessments required of all clients.
• Communicate with caregivers regarding lapse in children’s attendance at therapy sessions.
• Help clients complete and submit Victim’s Compensation applications. Provide follow- up on applications as necessary.
• Provide support for clients by being present in court when their cases are prosecuted.
• Maintain client records.
• Maintain NCAtrak records for all clients.
• Attend clinical meetings regarding administrative matters and review of client cases.
• Advocate for clients by making phone calls or writing letters to help them receive appropriate services.
• Conduct research for use in grant writing.
• Record and disseminate data for grants.
• Attend regular clinical trainings provided within the professional community in Nashville.
• Actively participate in marketing the NCA’s services and program to the community.

 

Qualifications

Qualifications:

1. Master’s level degree in psychology, counseling, social work, or in a clinically-based program in a field related to the above.
2. Experience working with children and families who have experienced trauma, preferably child sexual abuse.
3. Experience in acute care safety risk assessment, suicide/self harm assessment, safety planning and coordination of care

Special Knowledge and Abilities:

• Experience working as part of a multidisciplinary team preferred.
• Professional licensure and/or two years post masters experience desired
• Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Art therapy, Sand tray therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and/or Attachment, Self-Regulation and Competency Framework (ARC) desirable.
• Training and experience with family based/ attachment therapies

Additional Information

Benefits

How to Apply

HOW TO APPLY:

Please send a resume and cover letter to Dr. Gina Crean at gina.crean@nashvillechildrensalliance.org with the subject line “Crisis Counselor”.

Nashville Children’s Alliance is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion.  NCA does not discriminate in regards to gender, race, sexual preference, sexual identity, national origin, religion, disability, age or marital status in the recruitment, selection, or placement of employees.

This is a grant funded position through December 2023.

Details

• Date Posted: August 8, 2022
• Type: Full-Time
• Job Function: Clinician
• Service Area: Children / Youth
• Working Hours: 37.5