Penfield Children's Center·Milwaukee, Wisconsin
The Family Counselor provides specialized mental health services for children ages birth through six and their families through in-home counseling and diagnostic evaluations. They also collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and provide supervision and mentorship to graduate students.
If you’re passionate about helping young children and their families build healthier, more connected lives, this role may be the perfect place to grow your clinical career. The Family Counselor provides specialized mental health services for children ages birth through six and their families, offering compassionate, evidence-based support that strengthens relationships and promotes positive development. In this role, you’ll conduct comprehensive evaluations, deliver therapeutic interventions, and partner closely with caregivers to help them understand and respond to their child’s needs. You’ll collaborate with a multidisciplinary team, provide home-based counseling, and serve as a clinical resource for agency staff. The Family Counselor also supports graduate students through supervision and mentorship and represents the Behavior Clinic with Penfield and the broader community. Under the direction of the Behavior Clinic Assistant Director, you will play a key role in ensuring families receive the highest quality, family-centered care. Essential
Clinical Assessment & Evaluation Conduct comprehensive mental health diagnostic evaluations, observations, and consultations for children referred to the Behavior Clinic. Identify behavioral, emotional, developmental, and trauma-related concerns using appropriate diagnostic practices. Produce timely, accurate evaluation reports, and billing aligned with agency standards. Communicate evaluation results and recommendations in a supportive, family-centered way. Maintain adherence to Behavior Clinic data collection and reporting expectations. Family Counseling & Therapeutic Intervention Deliver in-home, family-centered mental health services using evidence-based approaches tailored to each child’s needs. Create and adjust treatment plans based on evaluation findings and family goals. Track child and family progress and modify interventions as clinically appropriate. Maintain progress notes and billing in accordance with agency timelines. Partner with caregivers, educators, healthcare providers, and community professionals to support coordinated care. Recognize concerns related to child safety and well-being and fulfill mandated reporting responsibilities when appropriate. Establish trust with caregivers through empathy, clear communication, and cultural responsiveness. Collaboration & Clinical Consultation Offer behavioral health guidance to agency staff and interdisciplinary teams. Support treatment planning, referrals, and behavioral health decision-making. Help colleagues understand Behavior Clinic services and referral pathways. Collaborate with community providers to ensure coordinated care for children and families. Seek consultation or refer families for additional services when appropriate. Clinical Supervision & Professional Practice Supervise students, review documentation, and support high-quality clinical practice. Mentor practicum students and interns through modeling, coaching, and guided practice. Foster a positive learning environment through coaching, feedback, and ongoing professional development. Compliance & Professional Standards Meet agency expectations for clinical records, billing, and productivity. Keep required licensure current and participate in continuing education. Demonstrate commitment to Penfield’s mission and values. Perform additional duties as assigned. Qualifications Required Education and Experience Master's degree in a behavioral health field (Counseling Psychology, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Marriage & Family Therapy, Social Work, Psychology, or a closely related field). Active Wisconsin licensure or current enrollment in a supervised licensure pathway (CIT or equivalent). Practicum, internship, or supervised experience working with children and caregivers. Exposure to evaluations, treatment planning, and counseling through supervised practice. Preferred Education and Experience Active Wisconsin licensure (LPC, LCSW) preferred. Specialized training or direct practice with children from ages of birth to six. Home-based clinical experience. Experience in multidisciplinary collaboration. Experience supervising graduate-level practicum for students or interns. Experience working with children with developmental disabilities or behavioral challenges. Required
Reliable transportation, valid Wisconsin driver's license, and proof of vehicle insurance to complete home visits and community-based services. Ability to participate in comprehensive clinical assessments and contribute to diagnostic impressions under supervision. Ability to complete clinical documentation in accordance with training and agency standards. Clear and compassionate written and verbal communication with families, colleagues, and community partners. Ability to manage multiple cases, maintain timely documentation, and follow structured workflows. Demonstrate confidentiality, boundaries, and sound decision-making. Comfort working autonomously while contributing effectively to a multidisciplinary team. Ability to work respectfully and responsively with diverse children, families, and communities. Ability to use electronic health records, Microsoft Office, and learn new systems. Flexibility to adjust to changing family needs and clinical priorities. Preferred Skills Understanding child development, attachment, and behavioral evaluation methods. Knowledge of therapeutic models used with young children and families. Understanding developmental delays, behavioral challenges, and typical child development. Physical Requirements Must meet all required health and safety clearances in accordance with Penfield Children’s Center policy, including an annual flu vaccine. Ability to move comfortably within diverse home settings, including bending, kneeling, reaching, carrying materials, and navigating stairs or tight spaces, and sitting at low heights during child and family interactions. Ability to lift or carry up to 50 pounds or less as needed for materials or child interaction. Ability to travel throughout the service area in varied weather conditions. This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of all activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice. Benefits Package: Full Time Employees 128 PTO Hours (3 weeks + 1 Day) Earned per pay period, usable early +1 week after 3 years +1 week after 4 years 15 Paid Holidays (2026) New Year's Day, MLK Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, 3rd of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Day After Thanksgiving Winter Closure (Christmas Eve through New Year’s) 1 Employee Choice Holiday Immediate 403b Retirement Enrollment & Company Match After 1 Year (50% of employee contribution up to 3%) Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance (1st of month after 30 days) Flexible Spending Account Health Savings Account OR Health Reimbursement Arrangement (Based on Health Plan) Voluntary Insurance: Short Term & Long Term Disability, Critical Illness & Accident Company Paid Life Insurance (2x annual salary) 2 Weeks Paid Parental Leave Employee Assistance Program Penfield Children’s Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Candidates must hold a Master's degree in a behavioral health field and possess active Wisconsin licensure or be in a supervised licensure pathway. Experience working with children and caregivers, along with reliable transportation for home visits, is required.
Market context
In Wisconsin, family counselor openings are often tied to schools, community agencies, and behavioral health programs serving children and caregivers, so demand can be steady where family support services are prioritized. This role is competitive because employers usually want a master’s degree, active Wisconsin licensure or a supervised pathway, experience with children and caregivers, and reliable transportation for home visits. Review the AI-summarized requirements and benefits here to save research time, then confirm your licensure status and home-visit readiness before applying.
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