Position Summary:
We are seeking a compassionate and dedicated Behavioral Health Clinician to join our Dream Youth Clinic team, specializing in working with highly vulnerable Oakland Black and Brown youth. The ideal candidate will have a strong commitment to health equity, youth leadership, youth autonomy, the principles of positive youth development, trauma-informed care and reproductive justice; and be skilled in providing both individual therapy and group interventions. This role is pivotal in supporting the mental and emotional well-being of our youth, helping them navigate various challenges while supporting their growth, development, and highlighting their strengths. At Dream we believe in youth-led, adult-guided collaboration and are committed to "meeting youth where they are" and assisting them along their wellness journey in an open and non-judgmental way.
The Behavioral Health Clinician will provide in-person and telemedicine individual therapy and support, lead and/or co-lead multi-disciplinary youth therapeutic groups and provide and contribute leadership to Dream’s integrated behavioral health model which includes support across gender based programming, substance use support programming, young mothers programming, reproductive and sexual health programming and other Dream integrated therapeutic programming. The Behavioral Health Clinician will work directly with the Behavioral Health Manager to outline and implement Dream’s youth-tailored integrated behavioral health model. The Behavioral Health Clinician will also work collaboratively with Dream’s community partners to co-lead and co-conduct behavioral health initiatives and services and will serve as a collaborative member of the Dream Youth Clinic provider team.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Individual Therapy:
- Provide culturally competent individual therapy sessions to Black and Brown youth, addressing a range of behavioral health issues including trauma, anxiety, depression, and other mental health concerns. (in-person and via telemedicine)
- Therapeutic Groups:
- Develop and co-facilitate therapeutic groups tailored to the needs of Black and Brown youth, promoting peer support, skill-building, and community.
- Assessment and Treatment Planning:
- Conduct comprehensive assessments to identify the needs of each client and create individualized treatment plans that are evidence-based, trauma informed and client-centered.
- Crisis Intervention:
- Provide immediate support and intervention in crisis situations, ensuring the safety and well-being of clients.
- Collaboration:
- Work closely with community organizations, schools, funders, community roundtables/initiatives, and other stakeholders to coordinate care and support for youth.
- Participate in collaborative integrated behavioral health client consultation with Dream team and MOU collaborative partners.
- Advocacy:
- Advocate for the mental health needs of Black and Brown youth within the community and larger systems, striving to reduce disparities and improve access to services.
- Documentation:
- Maintain accurate and timely documentation of all services provided utilizing Dream’s electronic medical record and other organizational documentation methods, adhering to organizational and ethical standards.
- Professional Development:
- Seek educational growth opportunities and stay current with best practices in behavioral health, particularly those that impact Black and Brown youth and center positive youth development, through ongoing training and professional development.
- Collaborate with the medical and health advocate team during clinic sessions, receiving real time warm handoffs, providing behavioral health crisis intervention/management and providing consultation to the medical team as needed.
- Provide culturally responsive and situationally appropriate behavioral health services for predominantly African American youth, youth of color and gender expansive youth.
- Encourage youth agency, youth-patient self-empowerment, building skills of self-advocacy and self-efficacy.
- Work collaboratively with the full Dream Youth Clinic team and its community partners to provide youth-tailored integrated behavioral health.
- Perform duties within scope of clinical license and scope of behavioral health care.
- Comply with all credentialing requirements in a timely fashion.
- Attend all required department and organization meetings and trainings, as assigned.
- Competencies:
- Master’s degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or a related field.
- Current licensure or eligibility for licensure in California, such as LCSW, LMFT, LPC, or equivalent.
- We will consider ASW candidates who are working toward their licensure hours on a case by case basis
- Minimum of 2 years of experience working with youth, particularly those from Black and Brown communities, in a behavioral health setting.
- Preferably experience working in a non-profit clinical setting.
- Strong clinical skills in youth individual and group therapy, excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and the ability to work collaboratively with BIPOC and gender-expansive youth populations.
- Deep understanding of the cultural, social, and systemic factors impacting Black and Brown and gender-expansive youth, with a commitment to equity and social justice.
- Willingness to occasionally table at Dream Youth Clinic events and join team in mobile street outreach.
- Cultural congruence with the Dream Youth Clinic patient population.
- Enjoy working with diverse youth (cultural, linguistic, and gender diversity).
- Ability to incorporate creativity and forward thinking in working with youth.
- Trained/willing to receive training in health coaching, positive youth development, and family planning counseling, youth substance use support, youth sex trafficking, and other youth related curricula..
- Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in team settings.
- Interest/proficiency in working with urban underserved populations, unsheltered youth, involved in the foster care and juvenile justice system, LGBTQ + and gender expansive youth, or affected by commercial sexual exploitation (CSEC).
- Valid California Driver License with safe driving record.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with individuals and groups, both professional and non-professional, co-workers, management personnel, the public and others.
- Solid organizational skills including attention to detail and multi-tasking.
- Clear and effective external and internal, verbal and written, communication skills.
- Strong critical thinker and problem solver who can successfully build and lead an execution strategy from a long-term vision.
- Strong computer skills including proficiency in Google Suite, Microsoft Office, and medical electronic medical records systems.
- Spanish language proficiency is a plus but not required.
Physical Conditions and other Requirements:
- Frequent standing, stair climbing, bending, stooping, lifting (15 lbs. max).
- Gross and fine manual dexterity.
- Ability to visually observe staff and youth to understand and interpret non-verbal behavior.
- Personal transportation is preferred.
- Ability to operate standard office machines and equipment including computers, computer software, copy machine, scanner, and keyboards.
Current participants in Dream Youth Clinic programs are not eligible for employment. Former participants may be considered for employment after a minimum separation period of 12 months from active program participation.
Dream Youth Clinic is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and values diversity of culture, thought and lived experiences. We seek talented, qualified individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, conviction history, uniform service membership/veteran status, physical or mental disability, protected medical conditions, genetic characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression regardless of physical gender, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws. Dream uses Live Scan to validate the eligibility of our new employees to work legally in the United States.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $104,000.00 - $114,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- What is your current clinical license or registration status (e.g., LCSW, AMFT, APCC)?
- What populations have you worked with? (e.g., youth, young adults, trauma, justice-involved)
- What type of settings have you provided services in? (e.g., clinic, school-based, community-based)
Work Location: In person
