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Posted: December 23, 2025 (23 days ago)

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Mental Health Professional I / CAF School Based (Columbia Area)

State of South Carolina

Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities

Older

Location

South Carolina, 29210

Salary

$51,039 - $59,622

per year

Closes

January 22, 2026More State jobs →

Job Description

Summary

This job involves working as a mental health counselor in schools to help children and families dealing with emotional and behavioral issues through therapy, crisis support, and consultations with teachers and parents.

You'll provide one-on-one and family sessions, track progress, and collaborate with school staff to promote better mental health and daily functioning.

It's a great fit for someone with a counseling background who enjoys working with kids in a school environment and is passionate about community wellness.

Key Requirements

  • Master's degree in guidance, counseling, social sciences, or a related field
  • Clinical experience providing direct patient care (e.g., practicum, internship, or post-graduate work)
  • Knowledge of the causes and treatments for behavioral and emotional disorders
  • Ability to deliver individual, family therapy, crisis management, and case management
  • Competency in at least one Evidence-Based Practice
  • Strong attention to detail, dependability, and timely documentation skills
  • Familiarity with systems of care for mental health services in children and adolescents

Full Job Description

Are you passionate about making a real difference in people's lives? Join our team at the Office of Mental Health where we are dedicated to providing compassionate and accessible care to our community.

We are seeking a Mental Health Professional I who is motivated to help individuals and families navigate life's challenges and achieve long-term wellness.

If you want to use your skills to build a healthier, more resilient community, we encourage you to apply.

This position is located at the SC Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) - Office of Mental Health, Columbia Area Mental Health Center, CAF School Mental Health Services, CAMHC #503.

As the Mental Health Professional, working under general supervision, you will provide advanced assessment, crisis management, short-and long-term individual and family therapy, and case management services for children and their families who present with psychiatric needs.

The main goal of interventions will be to reduce psychiatric symptomatology and increase positive functioning within a variety of ecological systems. Services are delivered in school-based setting.

Responsibilities for the Mental Health Professional I:
  • Provide an array of clinical services to promote recovery, stabilization and independence based on the patient's needs and plan of care.
  • Documentation is reflective of the quality care expected of this position to include Collaborative Documentation / timely record keeping.
  • Provide Family Therapy as regular component of treatment.
  • Demonstrate recognition of the importance of collaboration and teamwork within the Center and the community to include interaction with peers and involvement in supervision groups/staff meetings.
  • Maintain competency in at least one Evidence Based Practice.
  • Ensure patient functionality is measured by the DLA-20.
  • Respond to telephone messages, e-mails, Teams messages, and inter-office mail.
  • Retain overall responsibility for meeting Quality Assurance and CARF standards.
  • Ensure appropriate, timely response to patient requests for services.
  • Provide school consultation, education, and prevention services to the school district through the provision of faculty and staff in-service training, consultation to faculty and staff, classroom presentations, Parent-Teach Organization presentations, and critical incident debriefing and / or adverse incident response.
  • Comply with the Office of Mental Health Compliance Plan and all legal responsibilities and requirements.

Requirements

  • A master's degree in guidance, counseling, the social sciences or a related field.
In order to be credentialed for core services as a Mental Health Professional at the SC Office of Mental Health, applicants must provide evidence of clinical experience providing direct patient care. This experience may be documented as a practicum or internship during graduate program, or post-graduate clinical experience. Please be sure to provide specific clinical activities on your application and/or resume.


Qualifications

  • Bilingual abilities in English and Spanish (or another language) are a plus.
  • Have knowledge about the etiology and treatment of behavioral and emotional disorders.
  • Have a high-level attention to detail and task completion as well as dependability.
  • Have familiarity with relevant systems of care and agency characteristics.

Additional Information

Post hire, employees must:

  • Have knowledge about the impact of mental illness on children, adolescents, and their families.
  • Have knowledge about theories and methods of intervention.
  • Have the ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with individuals, families and other professionals.
  • Be able to function independently and with minimal supervision.

The Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions including, but not limited, to lactation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information.

Supplemental questions are considered part of your official application. Any misrepresentation will result in your disqualification from employment.

Please complete the state application to include all current and previous work history and education.

A resume will not be accepted nor reviewed to determine if an applicant has met the qualifications for the position.

The Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities offers an exceptional benefits package for full time (FTE) employees:

  • Health, dental, vision, long-term disability, and life insurance for employees, spouse, and children. Click here for additional information.
  • 15 days annual (vacation) leave per year
  • 15 days sick leave per year
  • 13 paid holidays
  • Paid Parental Leave
  • S.C. Deferred Compensation Program available (S.C. Deferred Compensation)
  • Retirement benefit choices *

*Enrollment in one of the listed plans is required for all FTE employees; please refer to the contribution section of hyperlinked retirement sites for the current contribution rate of gross pay.

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Posted on NEOGOV: 12/23/2025 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 12/24/2025

Source: NEOGOV | ID: neogov-sc-5177359