School Based Prevention Specialist
Jefferson Center for Mental Health
Location
Lakewood, Colorado
Salary
$55,000 - $64,000 / YEAR
Quick overview
Plan and implement social-emotional learning lessons in school settings for students and families. Serve as a liaison between schools and the Jefferson Center to facilitate referrals and provide preventative education.
Requirements summary
Requires a Bachelor's, Master's, or license in Education, Counseling, Psychology, or a related field. Preference is given to candidates with knowledge of CASEL's model, Second Step curriculum, and substance use treatment.
Job description
At Jefferson Center, it is our policy and our mission to be inclusive and mindful of the diversity of everyone who comes through our doors. We are passionate about building a community where mental health matters and equitable care is accessible to all races, ethnicities, abilities, socioeconomic statuses, ages, sexual orientations, gender expressions, religions, cultures, and languages.
The School Based Prevention Specialist will provide preventative education related to social-emotional learning in school settings and provide information about referring students and families to Jefferson Center as needed. School Districts to be served include Jefferson, Clear Creek and Gilpin Counties.
Education, knowledge, skills & experience required
- Bachelors, Masters, or License in Education, Counseling, Psychology, or related field required.
- Knowledge of the educational system, CASEL’s model of social-emotional learning, Second Step, mindfulness, and experience with classroom management preferred.
- Familiarity with the Second Step Curriculum is preferred, willingness to quickly learn material to effectively teach the curriculum to students. Knowledge of other social-emotional curriculums is helpful as well.
- Knowledge of substance use treatment preferred.
Essential duties
- Plan and implement social-emotional lessons in assigned schools. The expectation is that at least 7-8 classes, up to 10 classes are taught per school day in person and that 5 schools (for full-time) are served per week.
- Develop and provide topic-specific lessons in either/both virtual and in-person settings. These topics could vary based on the requests from the school districts but may include issues around truancy, parenting, substance use, good study habits, etc. These groups would be outside of school hours.
- Engage students in creative ways to effectively teach social emotional learning concepts.
- Serve as a liaison for each school for children and families requesting services at Jefferson Center.
- Collaborate with school administration, social-emotional specialists and teachers to provide affective education and consultation, while working within school district policy.
- Submit 95% of all prevention notes within 30 days.
- Enter all classroom attendees that are not enrolled will be entered into the EHR within 30 days.
Other duties
- Attend mandatory in-services, compliance with individualized training plan if required.
- Participate in supervision by coming prepared with an agenda. Report high risk situations.
- Meet two times a month for team meetings. At least twice a month for individual supervision/observation.
- Exhibit enthusiasm, courtesy, adaptability, flexibility, and spirit of cooperation in the work environment.
- Maintain effective interpersonal relations with consumers, peers, subordinates, upper management, visitors, and the general public.
- Effectively responds to client/consumer needs and problems, initiates and maintains positive interactions, timely response to phone calls, email and other requests.
- Meet two times a year with Principals to discuss collaboration.
- Meet regularly with social-emotional learning specialist in the building to collaborate
- Attend one school function, per semester for the purpose of promoting integration in the community.
- Administer surveys to youth and Principals and other administrative staff.
- Work cooperatively with other community agencies, as appropriate, and in agreement with supervisor.
- Promote a trauma informed atmosphere in every school, with every classroom and with every student.
Note
Employees are held accountable for all duties of this job. This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications associated with the job.
Salary Bachelor's Level: $55,000*
Salary Master’s Level
$57,000 - $64,000*
Additional Salary Information*
- The salary range above is based on 1.0 FTE (full time equivalent) or 40 hours per week. Less than 40 hours/week will be prorated and adjusted to the appropriate FTE.
- Jefferson Center pay is determined by various factors including education level, licensure level, years of relative experience, and internal equity amongst current staff.*
Application Deadline
This position will remain posted until filled. We encourage applicants to apply by 5/15/2026 for priority consideration.