Faculty, Mental Health Lead Counselor

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Austin Community College is a public two-year institution that serves a multicultural population of approximately 41,000 credit students each Fall and Spring semester. We embrace our identity as a community college, as reflected in our mission statement.

We promote student success and community development by providing affordable access, through traditional and distance learning modes, to higher education and workforce training, including appropriate applied baccalaureate degrees, in our service area.

• As a community college committed to our mission, we seek to recruit and retain a workforce that:
• Values intellectual curiosity and innovative teaching
• Is attracted by the college's mission to promote equitable access to educational opportunities
• Cares about student success and collaborates on strategies to facilitate success for populations including; first generation college students, low-income students, and students from underserved communities.
• Focused on student academic achievement and postgraduate outcomes
• Welcomes difference and models respectful interaction with others
• Engages with the community both within and outside of ACC

Job Posting Title

Faculty, Mental Health Lead Counselor

Job Description Summary

Under the direction of the Senior Director of Mental Health Counseling Services, the Faculty, Mental Health Counselor Lead provides clinical and administrative leadership for counseling operations at Austin Community College (ACC).

This role ensures the delivery of high-quality, ethical, and accessible mental health services that support student well-being, retention, and academic success to a multicultural student population.

The position balances direct mental health care services with clinical oversight, including clinical supervision of counseling staff, coordination of clinical operations, and leadership in crisis response, outreach, and campus collaboration.

The Counselor Lead will serve as a key support to the Senior Director of Mental Health Services and the Director of Wellness, Outreach & Prevention, assisting with departmental operations, strategic initiatives, and continuity of leadership functions that advances departmental goals focused on persistence, retention, and student engagement that align with ACC’s mission along with professional standards from Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education.

Job Description

Description of Duties & Tasks

Manages assigned counseling caseload that will include referrals from multiple internal and external partners.

The mental health counselor will oversee coordination of care that addresses the full-range of counseling needs of the student population; that may require crisis intervention or stabilization in high-stress situations involving immediate risk to the mental and physical health of students, and that addresses the full-range of counseling needs of the student population.

The mental health counselor will be part of a Mental Health Counseling team that develops and implements outreach prevention programs for enrolled Austin Community College (ACC) students on topics pertaining to critical issues in college mental health to support institutional efforts focusing on persistence, retention and student engagement.

Maintains current, accurate, and timely clinical documentation in accordance with state and federal law, professional ethics, and district counseling services protocols.

Provides short-term, individual, and group counseling via scheduled in-person or virtual appointments and walk-in coverage to students seeking assistance related to personal concerns.

Conducts mental health assessments and screenings such as suicide risk, drug and alcohol, threat and risk assessment, etc., utilizing evidence-based practices.

Exercises clinical judgement in assessing urgent student referral situations and making appropriate recommendations regarding intake, referrals, triage, and interventions.

Provides support in managing campus crisis situations by coordinating with ACC mental health officers, administrators, faculty, and staff to provide appropriate intervention and referral.

Provides professional consultation to faculty, staff, administrators, and students related to student mental health concerns.

Assists and helps coordinate referral of clients to clinical / psychiatric resources between Austin Community College (ACC) and college or external community service providers and partners.

Reviews client record to determine progress, effectiveness, and appropriateness of intervention strategies and treatment goals; assisting and or coordinating referral of clients to clinical / psychiatric resources addressing obstacles to delivery of services.

Provides psychoeducational workshops, training, outreach, interactive seminars, videos, and classroom presentations including Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), and/or de-escalation management regarding students in distress situations to faculty and staff across the district.

Attends and participates in regional and departmental meetings, case consultations, and staff development programs as assigned.

Participates in continuing education and professional development activities related to the performance of job functions and the maintenance of skills in professional counseling, including provision of professional presentations at local, state, and national conferences.

Assists in planning, implementation, and evaluation of compliance programming activities, including but not limited to, those in support of Drug Free Schools and Communities Act (DFSCA), Title IX Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act (VAWA), Campus Sexual Violence Elimination Act (Campus SaVE) | Clery Act, Suicide Prevention, and Domestic/Dating/Sexual Violence programming.

Supports student college persistence through wellness activities and partnerships on campus and virtually.

Assists with on-site clinical training and development opportunities including on-site supervision for graduate level practicum and/or internship students.

Technology & Data

Demonstrated proficiency using computer applications, online resources, and other technologies.

Provide technological support, administration, and optimization of the electronic health record (e. g., Titanium).

Support data collection, reporting, and program evaluation efforts.

Utilize data to inform service delivery, clinical workflows, staffing, and program improvements.

Principal Professional Standards

• Appropriate use of the college's learning management system.
• Participate in graduation, general assembly, and other official college functions.
• Maintain regular office hours to assist students and improve student retention and success.
• Attend and participate in collegewide, campus, department, or other activities and meetings.
• Recognize and reflect standards of civility and collegiality in all interactions.

Comply with published college policies and procedures and meet professional standards for teaching in a community college.

Knowledge & Skills

Knowledge of and adherence to applicable professional ethics and board rules, federal, state, and local laws, regulatory codes, ordinances, legislative changes, and procedures relevant to assigned programs, projects, and counseling operations, including delivery of services in a telemental health setting..

Knowledge of current counseling practices, theories, and research in college student services.

Knowledge, understanding, and the ability to manage counseling services and wellness programs to include prevention, intervention, counseling, and referral services pertaining to distresses such as depression, substance abuse, anxiety, crisis management, and other related concerns.

Able to provide guidance and direction for counseling professionals' administering of appropriate assessment tools.

Knowledge of applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulatory codes, ordinances, and procedures relevant to assigned programs, projects, and operations with particular emphasis on Drug Free Schools and Communities Act (DFSCA), Title IX, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act (VAWA), Campus Sexual Violence Elimination Act (Campus SaVE), and the Clery Act.

Effectively represent the district in contacts with governmental agencies, community groups, and various businesses, professional, educational, regulatory, and legislative organizations; establishing community partnerships to work collaboratively on providing support and resources to the college student population.

Understanding of the community college philosophy and mission and how counseling services support student persistence, retention, and engagement.

Knowledge of effective leadership and ethics techniques, principles, and practices including Servant-Leadership principles.

Knowledge of and demonstrated ability to work effectively and collaboratively with a multi-disciplinary team.

Additional Information

Required Education

In accordance with Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) accrediting requirements

Master's degree in Counseling, Psychology, or related behavioral sciences field from an accredited institution.

Other Requirements

Licensed in the State of Texas for: Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor (LPC-S), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist-Supervisor (LMFT-S), Licensed Clinical Social Worker-Supervisor (LCSW-S), or Licensed Psychologist (LP).

• Must maintain licensure for continued employment.
• Must maintain individual professional liability coverage.
• Valid Texas Driver's License and