Mental Health Professional

About the role

Position type: Full time, exempt, 10 Month

Reporting & Collaboration

• Direct Manager: Mental Health Manager
• Key Collaborators:
• School Leaders
• Special Education Case Managers
• Behavior Climate Specialists
• Teachers and Instructional Staff
• Families and External Mental Health Partners

The Mental Health Professional exercises professional judgment in

• Designing and delivering therapeutic interventions aligned to student needs
• Monitoring progress toward IEP counseling goals
• Conducting risk and safety assessments
• Determining appropriate clinical supports and referrals
• Recommending Tier 3 interventions for students experiencing significant behavioral or emotional challenges

IEP Mental Health Service Delivery

• Deliver all IEP-mandated counseling and behavioral support services with fidelity
• Maintain timely and accurate documentation of services in SpedTrack and SCUTA.
• Provide individual and small group counseling aligned to IEP goals.
• Participate in IEP meetings and collaborate with special education teams on student support strategies.

Tier 3 Behavioral & Mental Health Intervention

• Provide clinical support for students experiencing significant behavioral or emotional challenges.
• Implement evidence-based therapeutic approaches such as cognitive behavioral strategies, trauma-informed interventions, and solution-focused counseling.
• Support the development and monitoring of Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs) for students with intensive behavioral needs.

CARE Team / MTSS Coordination

• Coordinate or support CARE/MTSS processes for students requiring intensive interventions.
• Facilitate structured problem-solving meetings to identify barriers to student success.
• Monitor progress of Tier 3 interventions and adjust supports as needed.

Section 504 Coordination

• Support the development and monitoring of Section 504 plans
• Collaborate with teachers and families to ensure accommodations are implemented with fidelity.
• Maintain documentation and compliance with federal guidelines.

McKinney-Vento Homeless Liaison Responsibilities

• Serve as the school's McKinney-Vento liaison, ensuring students experiencing homelessness are identified and supported in accordance with federal law.
• Ensure students experiencing homelessness receive immediate enrollment protections and equitable access to school services.
• Coordinate supports such as transportation, academic access, and participation in school programs.
• Maintain required documentation and ensure compliance with McKinney-Vento federal requirements.
• Partner with families and community organizations to connect students with housing, social service, and community resources.

Crisis Response & Risk Assessment

• Provide crisis intervention and mental health risk assessments when necessary.
• Support school teams in responding to acute student mental health concerns.
• Coordinate with families and community agencies when additional supports is required.
• Family & Community Partnership
• Maintain consistent communication with families regarding student progress and needs.
• Connect families with community resources and external service providers when appropriate.
• Collaborate with external agencies to ensure coordinated support for students

Service Delivery

• IEP counseling minutes delivered with fidelity and compliance.

Student Impact

• Improved behavioral and social-emotional outcomes for students receiving Tier 3 supports.

Compliance

• Accurate and timely documentation of counseling services and intervention progress.

Systems Coordination

• Effective CARE/MTSS coordination for students with intensive needs.
• Effective implementation and monitoring of 504 accommodations

Student Access & Equity

• Students experiencing homelessness are identified and supported in compliance with McKinney-Vento requirements.
• Barriers to enrollment, attendance, and participation are minimized through coordinated school and community supports.

What skills should I already bring, i.e., what should I already have a track record around?

• Successful Mental Health Professionals demonstrate:
• Expertise in evidence-based mental health and behavioral interventions
• Strong knowledge of special education counseling services and compliance requirements
• Ability to conduct risk assessments and crisis intervention
• Experience supporting students with trauma, behavioral challenges, and emotional regulation needs
• Strong facilitation skills for multidisciplinary problem-solving teams
• Knowledge of McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act requirements
• Excellent documentation, organization, and time management skills
• Ability to build strong relationships with students, families, and school staff

What you bring to the table

Required

• Master's Degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or a related field
• Valid state licensure or certification in a mental health discipline
• Experience providing counseling or behavioral intervention services to children or adolescents
• Strong understanding of student mental health and behavioral support practices
• Commitment to improving outcomes for historically underserved students

Preferred

• Experience working in a K-12 school setting
• Experience supporting special education counseling services
• Experience with MTSS or student support systems in schools
• Knowledge of trauma-informed and culturally responsive practices

Position Overview

The Mental Health Professional (MHP) serves as a specialized student support provider responsible for delivering high-quality, compliant mental health services to students with intensive behavioral and social-emotional needs.

In this role, the MHP primarily functions as a Tier 3 intervention provider and IEP service provider, ensuring students receiving counseling and behavioral services through special education receive consistent, evidence-based support aligned to their Individualized Education Programs (IEPs).

The MHP also coordinates CARE/MTSS processes for students with the most intensive needs, oversees Section 504 plans related to mental health supports, and serves as the school's McKinney-Vento liaison for students experiencing homelessness.

This role is designed to ensure compliance with special education service delivery requirements, provide clinical support for students with significant behavioral needs, and strengthen systems that support student well-being across the school community.

KIPP

St. Louis currently educates approximately 2,000 students and boasts hundreds of alumni. Today, our St. Louis network consists of three elementary schools, two middle schools, and a high school.

What makes KIPP St. Louis unique?

We believe that our educators are proving what's possible in urban education each and every day, by inspiring students, and helping them discover the joy of learning. KIPP schools support our educators to help students achieve academic excellence, building the skills and confidence they need to succeed.

Together, we are raising the bar for every student, every day.

KIPP

St. Louis is committed to pay equity and to ensuring that we do not unintentionally perpetuate historic wage gaps that persist due to individual negotiations. As a result, salaries are not negotiated. We are transparent about salaries in our job postings so that candidates can make an informed decision before beginning the hiring process.

We are a fast paced, energetic team and family with passionate people who are leading a movement and to cultivate their best working environment we provide the following:

• $0 deductible healthcare plan option, including medical, vision and dental.
• Employer Paid Short Term Disability.
• $50,000 life insurance policy at no cost to the employee.
• Retirement plan through PSSRSSL with an employer match up to 14% and an optional 403b as a supplement to our pension program
• Employee Recognition: When we succeed together, we celebrate together with our annual gala award ceremony, holiday party, and more!
• Public Service student loan forgiveness program qualified employer.
• Ongoing professional development.

Generous time off

• Paid leave for illness, personal days, bereavement, jury duty, and military-related leave
• Paid parental leave for new families
• Paid holidays, as well as a one week Thanksgiving break, a two-week winter break, a week-long spring break
• Wellness days provided throughout the year

If you are interested in working at KIPP St. Louis, please visit our website to find out how to apply!

Check out our KIPP St. Louis video to learn more about KIPP St. Louis Public Schools!