Mental Health And Wellness Facilitator - Grades K-5 (2024-2025 School Year) DES

Position Title: Mental Health and Wellness Facilitator

Division: F&SSS/School

Reports To: Principal

FLSA Status: Exempt

Salary Schedule: Teacher

Work Days: 200

Evaluation Tool: HCSAPE (Contributing Professional)

JD Revision Date(s): 8/22; 6/23

The 2024-2025 salary scales are not yet available. 2023-2024 salary schedules may be accessed via the following link: 2023-2024 HCS Salary Schedules. To enlarge the view, scroll down to the bottom of the salary chart and "download the document."

All new Henry County Schools' educators are required to attend Educator Launch - July 18-24, 2024.

The Mental Health and Wellness Facilitator is responsible for evaluating and providing comprehensive services to students, in alignment with the district's Strategic Plan, that will advance student health, wellness, and support structures in schools.

Essential Duties:

• Assist in the development of a comprehensive mental health and wellness program designed to support the physical, social, emotional, and mental development of students, particularly as relates to reintegration of students into the learning environment.

• Establish and lead school-based teams to address the social, emotional, physical, and mental health of all students.

• Train, coach, and support school-level staff in the design, implementation, and evaluation of school and classroom mental health and wellness framework initiatives.

• Collaborate with school-level staff to ensure alignment of mental health and wellness initiative implementation.

• Implement, monitor, and support personal health and wellness instructional resources.

• Lead school based CARE team on attendance, behavior, and school needs.

• Implement a calendar of staff wellness activities.

• Lead identified professional development sessions for school staff.

• Lead and/or participate in school teams designed to improve school climate, culture and student well-being.

• Provide school-based coaching to support teachers in implementing best practices to promote wellness, establish supportive learning environments, and develop supportive classroom management practices.

• Develop, plan, prepare, and implement individual, measurable, long-term, and short-term objectives based on student-identified needs, which may include referrals to, and consultation with, other appropriate professionals, agencies and community resources.

• Provide behavioral health support and engage in prevention and intervention activities.

• Assess students' social and emotional development and risk of harm to others, and initiate suicide assessments in consultation with designated staff when necessary.

• Collaborate with teachers, school leadership, and staff to assess, refer, or intervene with students and provide consultation to individual, school, and district teams.

• Assist teachers in developing instructional modifications to meet students' needs.

• Assist with crisis events and recovery processes.

• Monitor student progress, adapt support as needed, and maintain documentation pertinent to academic, social, and emotional progress and needs of students.

• Communicate students' progress and needs with parents/guardians and other staff as needed.

• Foster relationships with service providers in the community and maintain a centralized resource list in order to provide information and referrals.

• Create student mental health and wellness councils to promote and sustain applicable initiatives.

• Work with staff and families to assess training needs and develop appropriate workshops for parents and family support programs.

• Establish measurable program effectiveness goals and perform on-going measurement and documentation of program effectiveness.

• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Hold a minimum of Bachelor's Degree or higher in education, psychology, counseling, social work or related field; Master's preferred.

• Knowledge of behavioral and education-based mental needs of students, including mental health disorders and substance abuse disorders.

• Knowledge of tiered intervention practices, brief counseling techniques, and crisis intervention.

• Knowledge of health regulations and ethics related to school-based mental health services including Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) and Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

• Training is expected in the identification of signs of suicide, Trauma Informed Practices, and Youth Mental Health First Aid. If prior training has not occurred, training will be provided.

• Experience working with students in need of mental health services in a school setting, and experience with students who require exceptional student education services, preferred.

• Exceptional integrity, commitment to confidentiality, excellent character, and strong professional reputation.

• Ability to abide by the Georgia Professional Standards Code of Ethics for Educators.

• Must be regularly, predictably, and reliably at work.

• Ability to be present at the physical worksite.

• Must perform tasks involving prolonged periods of standing, walking, and sitting.

• Must perform routine physical activities such as bending and lifting/pushing/pulling up to 50 pounds.

• Must be able to properly and consistently supervise students, particularly during emergency situations.

• Vision, hearing, written, and verbal communications are essential factors in performing required tasks.