School Based Counselor

The Lincoln Center for Family and Youth 1100 Adams Ave | Audubon, PA 19403
(610) 277-3715 | [email protected]
JOB DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL-BASED COUNSELOR
Title: School-Based Counselor

FLSA: Exempt

Reports To: Chief Clinical Officer

Organization Summary:
Founded in 1970 by a behavioral health hospital and incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 1983,
TLC is an entrepreneurial social enterprise committed to transforming lives and communities—one
moment, one choice, one connection at a time. Headquartered in Pennsylvania, TLC operates across
multiple states, providing K-12 alternative education, comprehensive mental and behavioral health
services, coaching, counseling, and trauma-informed training. Additionally, TLC collaborates with
school districts, universities, hospitals, police departments, and nonprofit organizations,
offering consultation services to secure federal and state grant funding.

Position Summary: The School-Based Counselor provides (1) mental health therapeutic support, (2)
case management in addition to providing college and career coaching, counseling, mentoring, and
tutoring to students at a designated middle school in the Norristown Area School District (NASD)
and Pottstown School District in order to meet the requirements of the Gaining Early Awareness and
Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) program. The GEAR UP program is funded by a U.S.
Department of Education grant and provides services and resources to a cohort of students with the
goal of increasing high school graduation and college awareness, acceptance, and readiness.

Duties & Responsibilities

Services to Students
o Identify students in need of trauma support and to provide prevention, screening, referral and
treatment services to students potentially in need of services
o Provide counseling interventions (group, individual and/or family
o Provide mentoring and other intervention models to children and their families who have
experienced trauma or are at risk of experiencing trauma, including those who are low-income,
homeless, in foster care, involved in the criminal justice system, unemployed, experiencing a
mental illness or substance abuse disorder or not enrolled in or at risk of dropping out of an
educational institution
o Provide case management for students and families requiring multiple resources
o Provide quality trauma support and behavioral health care services

o Provide home-based services to the families of students who have experienced or are at risk of
experiencing trauma, including those who are low-income, homeless, involved in the child welfare
system or involved in the juvenile justice system

Services to School Personnel

o Assist teachers with behavior management strategies
o Provide staff with essential information to better understand factors (cultural, societal,
economic, familial, health, etc.) affecting a student’s performance and behavior
o Train school staff on trauma-informed approaches to education to develop safe, stable and
nurturing learning environments that prevent and mitigate the effects of trauma
Services to Districts
o Provide consultation regarding school law and school policy including IDEA and Section 504
o Assist in developing positive behavioral intervention strategies
o Assist in developing and implementing educational programs, including programs on safety and
bullying
o Develop alternative programs for drop-out, truancy, delinquency, etc.
Services to Parents/Families
o Works with parents to facilitate their support in their children’s school adjustment
o Alleviate family stress to enable the child to function more effectively in school & community
o Assist parents in accessing and utilizing school and community resources
o Work with those problems in a child’s living situation that affect the child’s adjustment in
school (home, school, and community)

School-Community Liaison
o Obtain and coordinate community resources to meet students’ needs
o Provide health services and intervention strategies by coordinating the services provided by
eligible applicants and coordinated care organizations, public health entities, nonprofit youth
service providers and community-based organizations
o Foster and promote communication between the school entity, community and law enforcement
o Increase access to quality trauma-informed support services and behavioral health care by linking
the community with local trauma support and behavioral health systems
o Help school district receive adequate support from social and mental health agencies
o Advocate for new and improved community/school service to meet the needs of students and families
o Mobilize family, school, and community resources to enable the child to learn as effectively as
possible in their educational program
o Help school districts receive adequate support from social and mental health agencies

Skills & Knowledge: Leadership and soft skills:
o Excellent communication and relationship building skills
o Ability to work effectively on a multi-treatment team Technical skills:
o Proficient in numerous clinical interventions
o Knowledge of and ability to access community resources
o Strong substance abuse intervention skills

Education & Experience:
Master’s Degree required in counseling, psychology, social work, or related field.

Other Duties: This job description does not contain a comprehensive listing of activities,
duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities
and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Work Environment: This position will be based in Pottstown and Norristown Area School Districts
Work Hours: This is a full-time, 40 hour week, 12 month position

Travel: Travel to the designated schools assigned.

EEO Statement: TLC is committed to a policy of Equal Employment Opportunity and does not
discriminate on any legally recognized basis, including, but not limited to, race, age, color,
religion, sex, marital status, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, physical or mental
disability, veteran status, or any other basis recognized by federal, state or local law.