Job Description

The Mental Health Counselor provides comprehensive, student-centered counseling and social work services that address both mental health needs and basic needs barriers impacting student success, including emotional well-being, crisis response, and access to community and campus resources. In addition to direct counseling services, this position plays a critical role in education, prevention, and training, delivering outreach, workshops, and professional development opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to promote awareness, early intervention, and a supportive campus environment.

This position emphasizes a holistic support model that integrates short-term counseling, crisis intervention, basic needs navigation, and district wide education to reduce barriers to persistence, retention, and completion.

Position supports Muscatine Community College and Clinton Community College.

Excellent benefits package:

• Administrative salaried staff receive Paid time off annually starting at 20 days of vacation, 14 days sick, 2 days of personal time. In addition to paid holidays off, including a week in December.
• Summer Fridays off - shift rotation for those positions that require daily coverage
• Retirement plans with 9.44% employer contribution (IPERS or TIAA option), employees contribute 6.29%
• Health, vision, and dental coverage
• Employer paid & voluntary Life insurance
• Employer paid Long Term Disability insurance
• Tuition reimbursement for employees and dependents
• Flexible Spending Account options
• Professional development and education reimbursement benefits
• State employee discounts for cell phones, hotels, museums, etc. Employee Assistance Program

Required Qualifications

A Master's degree in Counseling, Social Work, Mental Health Counseling or Clinical Psychology. Two years of experience in counseling. Licensed or ability to obtain licensure in the state of Iowa. Ability to work effectively with a diverse student population as well as the entire campus community is required. The person must be able to work independently and use discretion in handling information generated in this position.

Typical Duties and Responsibilities

1. Provide short-term, developmentally appropriate individual and group counseling services to students experiencing mental health challenges, life stressors, or barriers related to basic needs and overall well-being.
2. Deliver crisis intervention and counseling services to students experiencing anxiety, stress, grief, trauma, or other acute emotional distress, including coordination of care and safety planning when necessary.
3. Conduct intake interviews and assessments to determine student needs, risk level, and appropriate interventions or referrals.
4. Provide basic needs support and navigation, including referral assistance for food insecurity, housing instability, financial hardship, and access to community social service and mental health agencies.
5. Develop and deliver educational programming and training for students, faculty, and staff on topics such as mental health awareness, stress management, self-care, relationships, sexual violence prevention, alcohol and substance use, suicide prevention, and recognizing students in distress.
6. Serve as an active member of the EICC Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT), contributing clinical insight, risk assessment, and coordinated response strategies for students of concern.
7. Maintain accurate, timely, and confidential counseling records using Simple Practice including required reporting and documentation for counseling services.
8. Assess and evaluate the effectiveness of counseling, basic needs, and educational services through program evaluation, data collection, and continuous improvement efforts.
9. Coordinate follow-up care and make referrals to appropriate community mental health and social service agencies, ensuring continuity of support beyond campus resources when needed.
10. Establish and maintain strong community partnerships to expand access to mental health services, social supports, and wellness resources for students.
11. Collaborate with campus partners/departments and social service agencies to bring services, workshops, and outreach programs to campus, reducing barriers to access for students.
12. Participate in statewide and community initiatives focused on mental health, student well-being, and basic needs support.
13. Serve on cross-functional teams and campus work groups tasked with improving student support services, increasing efficiency, and enhancing institutional effectiveness.
14. Participate in occasional evening and weekend activities, including outreach, training, and crisis response, as needed.
15. District Travel is expected for this position.
16. Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor in support of student success and institutional goals.