This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. BASIC REQUIREMENTS. The basic requirements for employment as a VHA MFT are prescribed by statute in 38 U.S.C. § 7402(b)(10), as amended by section 239 of Public Law114-223, enacted Sept 29, 2016. To qualify for appointment as an MFT in VHA, all applicants must: Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with applicable law). Education. Candidates must meet one of the following: (1) Hold a master's degree or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy from a program approved by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE). OR (2) Hold a master's degree or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy from a MFT program from a regionally accredited institution. OR (3) Hold a master's degree or doctoral degree in a comparable mental health degree (Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, Social Work, Psychiatric Nursing, Psychology, and Psychiatry) that meets the current VA qualification standard of that profession. Licensure. Persons hired or reassigned to MFT positions in the GS-0182 series in VHA must hold a full, current, and unrestricted MFT license to independently practice marriage and family therapy in a State. English Language Proficiency. MFTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7402(d). GRADE DETERMINATIONS. In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Marriage and Family Therapist, GS-12 (Advanced) (a) Education, Experience and Licensure. Candidate must have successfully completed evidence based training in family therapy and must have graduated from a COAMFTE accredited program OR have passed the Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Board Examination (AMFTRBE). Candidate must have at least five years of post-licensed clinical experience in delivery of family systems therapy including one-year equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. This experience must demonstrate the use of an evidence based family therapy model while exhibiting progressive professional competency and expertise. Assignments requiring responsibility for providing clinical supervision must have an AAMFT Approved Supervisor credential. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the professional KSAs listed below. (b) Demonstrated KSAs: 1. Ability to provide specialized consultation for complex cases involving individuals, families and/or couples utilizing evidenced-based family systems theory/therapy. 2. Ability to provide crisis intervention which includes assessment, safety planning and complex treatment planning using independent clinical judgment utilizing family systems theory/therapy. 3. Ability to provide family systems therapy, which seeks to address Veterans and their family members on an individual level and deals with interpersonal interactions. 4. Ability to provide unlicensed MFT staff/trainees with systemic clinical supervision towards licensure from a family systems theory/therapy perspective. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: The physical demands of this position require light lifting and carrying (under 15 pounds); use of fingers; both hands required; both eyes required; hearing (aid may be permitted); and emotional and mental stability. Environmental Factors: Work may be performed outside and inside; prolonged sitting; and you must be able to work alone and closely with others.
A RELOCATION INCENTIVE MAY BE AUTHORIZED The Marriage and Family Therapist - Advanced provides clinical psychosocial and Evidence Based Therapies to eligible Veterans and their family members to meet biological, psychological, social, and environmental needs. Veterans treated in Social and Behavioral Health come primarily from the Anchorage catchment area. Their health care and psychosocial problems and needs are complex and require clinical oversight and creative problem solving. The Marriage and Family Therapist is responsible for providing outpatient mental health treatment and psychosocial intervention to address a broad range of SUD and mental health issues. The incumbent serves Veterans who tend to have serious, frequent and severe crises, lack family or adequate community support networks, frequently fail to comply with instructions and treatments, have significant deficits in coping skills, and require continuing psychosocial support. The Marriage and Family Therapist provides a continuum of care encompassing individual, group, couple, and family counseling, demonstrating possession of advanced practice skills and judgment. FUNCTIONS OF POSITION: Interview Clients and Conduct Psychosocial Assessments. Interview Veterans and their family members to establish facts about the Veteran's situation, presenting problems, their causes, and the impact of such problems on the Veteran's functioning and health as part of a comprehensive psychosocial assessment. Interpret and explain VA's treatment and benefit programs. Review all data and make a clinical assessment identifying needs and strengths. Use advanced clinical training, insight, and experience to interpret data and identify viable treatment options. Assess high risk factors, acuity, and need for services. Make Psychosocial Diagnoses. Evaluate the client's situation, including the Veteran's reaction and ability to cope with his/her life stressors and arrive at a reasoned conclusion. Based on the psychosocial assessment, use professional judgment and advanced practice skills to make a psychosocial diagnosis. Assess at-risk factors and develop a preliminary disposition plan involving the Veteran and family or significant others. Perform insightful assessment of serious and complicated cases involving psychiatric illness involving psychiatric, catastrophic medical conditions, dementia, and other high-risk diagnoses. Make independent professional decisions and recommendations. Plan Effective Treatment. Develop psychosocial treatment plans in coordination with interdisciplinary team members, including goals for psychosocial clinical treatment. Provide independent consultation and make recommendations to the interdisciplinary team on a course of treatment. Independently conclude the appropriate action, even in instances where actions can have serious impact on the life of the Veteran. This may include long-term institutional or nursing home care or separation from family members. These decisions are based on advanced practice skills, professional judgment, and expertise regarding the Veteran's self-care capability, family support system, and health care needs. Evaluate own practice on an on-going basis through participation in professional peer review, case conferences, research studies, or other organized means. Be active in and accept responsibility for the development and maintenance of professional standards of treatment. Adjust the psychosocial treatment plan and interventions based on changing needs and response to interventions. Implement Treatment. Provide individual and group therapy to patients and their families, on a regularly scheduled basis to engage in activities or discussion designed to improve patients' cognitive, social, emotional, vocational, and behavioral functioning. Give advice, guidance, emotional support, and other assistance. Provide individual and group counseling services, including psychotherapy. Assist and encourage Veterans and significant others in facing problems, thinking them through, evaluating the situation realistically, considering alternative courses of action, and arrive at plans for using resources to resolve problems. Use highly developed professional, clinical, and advanced practice skills to treat Veterans with complex problems, histories of non-compliance with treatment, and inability or unwillingness to participate in treatment. Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: Mon - Fri, 8:00am to 4:30pm. Telework: Ad-hoc. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: AUTHORIZED. EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact VHAEDRPProgramSupport@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.