Mental Health Therapist/Advocate

****$5000.00 Hiring/Retention Bonus - $2500.00 paid at time of hire; $2500.00 paid after completion of one year of satisfactory employment****

Summary

The Mental Health Therapist/Advocate provides trauma-informed, evidence-based therapeutic services and advocacy to children and non-offending caregivers impacted by abuse. This hybrid role supports families throughout their involvement with the DCAC, offering therapy via telehealth and in-person, crisis intervention, referrals, resources, and support. The position is an essential part of the multidisciplinary team (MDT), ensuring that families receive comprehensive, coordinated care.

This position is based out of our Bismarck office, with travel to the Jamestown office once or twice per week to provide in-person advocacy during forensic interviews or to offer mental health services in Jamestown and surrounding communities.

This position does not require on-call work.

General Duties

All DCAC staff are expected to:

Abide by all DCAC policies, procedures, and National Children’s Alliance (NCA) standards

Model professionalism in conduct, attire, and communication

Demonstrate cultural humility and sensitivity

Maintain strict confidentiality

Foster respectful and collaborative relationships with children, families, team members, and community partners

Seek ways to improve individual and team performance

Accept flexible scheduling and adapt to varying workloads

Maintain necessary licensure, training, and certifications

Primary Duties

Clinical (Therapist) Responsibilities:

Provide individual, family, and group therapy using trauma-informed, evidence-based models (e.g., TF-CBT, PSB-CBT)

Maintain fidelity to treatment models and tailor services to developmental and cultural needs

Conduct mental health intakes, trauma-specific assessments, and standardized measures

Create and maintain high-quality, timely documentation including treatment plans and progress notes

Provide crisis intervention and safety planning when needed

Engage caregivers as partners in the treatment process

Offer referrals to additional or long-term mental health care as appropriate

Participate in case staffings, clinical supervision, and internal and external meetings

Coordinate and/or facilitate therapeutic or support groups for children and caregivers

Advocacy Responsibilities:

Make pre-advocacy calls and establish initial contact with caregivers before services

Provide support, education, and updates throughout a family’s involvement with DCAC

Assist families in accessing victims’ rights, crime victim compensation, and community resources (e.g., food, housing, domestic violence supports)

Serve as a liaison between families and the MDT, promoting effective communication and coordinated care

Participate in multidisciplinary case reviews

Maintain and update case tracking systems and advocate documentation

Provide court updates and support as needed

Coordinate and participate in on-call/emergency response to abuse cases

Team & Community Engagement:

Provide education, prevention, and training to families, professionals, and community groups

Actively participate in MDT meetings and program development

Provide supervision and mentoring to student interns

Remain current on best practices in trauma treatment, advocacy, and child welfare

Job Qualifications/Requirements

Master’s Degree in Counseling or Social Work

Licensed (or license-eligible) in North Dakota (LCSW, LPC, LPCC, LAPC, LMSW)

Preferred: two years of post-master’s clinical experience with children/families

Knowledge of evidence-based mental health practices and the criminal justice system

Experience working with MDTs, courts, and child welfare systems

Strong interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills

Ability to work independently and as part of a team

Willingness to learn and apply current evidence-based models

Must maintain confidentiality and uphold ethical standards in all work

Pay: $33.00 - $37.00 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person