Marriage and Family Counselor

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES:

• Provide intake services; triage requests for information, referrals, and appointments; conduct mediation orientation; respond to domestic relations litigants, parents, community members, and other professionals; provide consultation to court staff and attorneys for child custody and parenting time questions.
• Provide evaluation and mediation of child custody and parenting time; facilitate, develop, and prepare written child custody and parenting time agreements; assist clients to access community and court services.  
• Provide conciliation and counseling; process conciliation orders; work with parents toward improving co-parenting skills and strategies.
• Conduct forensic and clinical interviews with adults and children involved in child custody litigation; gather, review, and analyze third party data through collateral interviews, materials, and documents; assess child attachment, needs, and best interest; assess parenting history, skills, and capacity; provide assessment of family history and dynamics; assess safety concerns related to substance, child, or domestic abuse.
• Testify in court; maintain relationships and communication with professional partners, including family law judges, attorneys, child welfare entities, school staff, law enforcement officers, and mental health professionals.
• In addition to the above duties, the senior level will: provide the most difficult types of mediation, custody evaluation, and conciliation services; prepare expert written evaluations, findings, and recommendations for the court regarding child custody, parenting time, and other issues related to the best interest of children.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

LEVEL AND TYPE OF WORK AND/OR SUPERVISION:

Marriage and Family Counselor Associate

• Journey level
• Professional
• Perform the full range of duties, working independently, applying well-developed subject knowledge, and exercising judgment and initiative.
• Receive occasional instruction or assistance as new or unusual situations arise.
• Fully aware of the operating procedures and policies within the work unit.
• Work is reviewed based on compliance, appropriateness, and effectiveness in meeting goals and deadlines.
• Receive direction from manager or staff.

Marriage and Family Counselor

• Advanced level
• Professional
• Perform the most difficult assignments requiring a higher level of responsibility, applying advanced subject knowledge, and exercising significant independent judgment and initiative.
• Receive work assignments in terms of objectives, priorities, and deadlines.
• Work is reviewed for technical accuracy, compliance to program objectives, and overall results.
• Receive direction from manager or staff.              

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS GUIDELINES:

Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying.  Requirements are determined at the time of recruitment based on responsibilities of the individual position and business needs of the department.

Marriage and Family Counselor Associate

Training and experience for this journey level, professional classification is typically equivalent to a master's degree and one (1) to four (4) years of experience that demonstrates the ability to perform the duties of the position. (Equivalency 7-10 years of qualifying training and/or experience).

Marriage and Family Counselor

Training and experience for this advanced level, professional classification is typically equivalent to a master's degree and three (3) to six (6) years of experience that demonstrates the ability to perform the duties of the position. (Equivalency 9-12 years of qualifying training and/or experience).

Depending upon assignment, candidates may be required to pass a criminal background check, have a valid driver license, and/or additional training, licenses, or certificates.

REQUIRED TRAINING, LICENSES, AND/OR CERTIFICATES:

Marriage and Family Counselor Associate

• Meet state requirements (basic and advanced domestic relations mediation training portions) for court connected Domestic Relations Mediators (Chief Justice Order No.) 05-028.

Marriage and Family Counselor

• Meet state requirements (basic and advanced domestic relations mediation training portions) for court connected Domestic Relations Mediators (Chief Justice Order No.) 05-028.