School-Based Therapist; VPV

BUILD, Inc. (Broader Urban Involvement and Leadership Development) is a nationally respected gang intervention, violence prevention, and youth development organization based on Chicago’s West Side. Since 1969, BUILD has worked to save lives and mentor young people who live in the city’s most challenged neighborhoods. When you work at BUILD you make an important difference to the thousands of youth and families we serve.

The School-Based Therapist will be dedicated to the Violence Prevention Villages (VPV) project that aims to provide positive, proactive and preventive upstream supports and services to youth ages 8 and their households. BUILD partners with schools to improve behavioral, social/emotional and school outcomes for students, and we engage the nonprofit ecosystem to support household wellbeing and stability. The Therapist reports directly to the Manager of Clinical Community Mental Health.

• Provide individual and group counseling for participants who experience community violence, traumatic events, or other mental health disorders.
• Complete clinical assessments and diagnose BUILD participants in accordance with diagnostic criteria.
• Collaborate with the care team and client to create an individualized treatment plan that focuses on achieving SMART goals and improving overall mental health.
• Establish external mental health/substance abuse referral partners and identify opportunities for more formal collaboration.
• Coordinate services with the collaborative care team, including intervention specialists, mentors, advocates, case managers, school personnel, etc.
• Other job duties as assigned.

• Document and report program activities and outcomes and ensure progress toward annual program objectives.
• Submit statistics and reports to the VPV manager weekly, monthly, and/or as needed.
• Maintain file compliance and compliance with Apricot database requirements.

• Maintain current knowledge in the field, including attending seminars and workshops.
• Support colleagues in identifying youth mental health needs, providing support, and referring youth to community partners offering more intensive services.
• Consult with staff and provide in-field support for assigned youth.
• Maintain current knowledge of the agency’s theories, methodologies, and best practices.
• Attend departmental and agency-wide staff meetings, as scheduled, and agency-wide events as required.

• Exemplify the mission, vision, and values of the agency.
• Receive case assignments, establish treatment plans, review case progress, and determine case closure through the supervisor of the assigned program.
• Conduct various needs assessments to determine therapeutic treatment goals.
• Provide mental health services to participants through a short-term therapeutic model.
• Facilitate group and individual clinical services with students.
• Make referrals in accordance with service plans to other organizational units and external providers.
• Facilitate and track external referrals and follow-up.
• Assist members of the school‑based team during crises involving youth.

• Master’s Degree in a related mental health field.
• Working towards or holding licensure (LCPC/LCSW) is required.
• Minimum experience of 2 years working with inner‑city youth.
• Highly organized with excellent interpersonal, verbal, and communication skills.
• Operate professionally in the field on a flexible time schedule, which includes occasional late evenings and weekends.
• Possess excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency with technology (Microsoft Office) and tech integration into daily program operations and evaluation systems.
• Must possess a solid understanding of data collection and program evaluation.
• Automobile with insurance and valid driver’s license.

• Self‑motivated leader with the ability to communicate in a friendly and informative manner with people from a wide variety of cultural and ethnic backgrounds and lifestyles.
• Handle multiple tasks and deadlines simultaneously.
• Demonstrates good judgment and ability to work independently as part of a team.
• Clinicians…