Mental Health Promotion Specialist and Art Therapist

BASIC FUNCTION:

Under the direction and supervision of the Dean of the SAIC Wellness Center, this role works across Wellness Center services to support student mental health and wellness by mobilizing and sustaining mental health promotion practices designed to enhance student success and personal development, while contributing to a safe and healthy campus. It collaborates with students, staff, and faculty, coordinating the planning, implementation, and evaluation of evidence-based, comprehensive, campus-wide mental health promotion strategies, programs, and services. This includes sustaining essential components of our two SAMHSA Campus Suicide Prevention Grants, particularly Mental Health First Aid Training, the Wellness Center Student Support Network, and the Healthy Minds Study. Additionally, it provides art therapy services within the Wellness Center, aligning with Counseling Services, Health Services, and Disability and Learning Resource Center staff, for students who choose to engage in art and creative practices to enhance their mental health and well-being. Finally, it serves as a confidential advisor and offers emergency and ongoing support to student survivors of sexual violence.

Resume and cover letter required with application.

Please click on the links below to view our competitive, comprehensive benefits package:

• Hiring Range
• Benefits
• PTO Overview
• Job Classification: Full-Time Staff
• Grade Level: 7

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Works across Wellness Center services in supporting mental health and wellness by mobilizing and sustaining mental health promotion practices designed to promote student success and personal development and to contribute to a safe and healthy campus.
• Provides art therapy services within the Wellness Center, aligned with Counseling Services, Health Services, and Disability and Learning Resource Center staff, to students who choose to engage in art and creative practices to promote personal mental health and wellbeing
• Provides evidence-based education and training to students, staff, and faculty about mental illnesses and how to appropriately respond to mental health crisis, specifically using the Mental Health First Aid, USA curriculum.
• Facilitates the Wellness Center Student Support Network meetings and collaborates with student leaders in a student based effort to enhance natural peer supports and promote positive mental health-related practices among students at SAIC. Guides students support networks in the production of an annual exhibition held in the Wellness Center.
• Serves as confidential advisor and provides emergency and ongoing support to student survivors of sexual violence. Participates in relevant and required trainings and carries out duties and responsibilities of the role consistent with legal requirements.
• Provides consultation, intervention, and evidence-based alcohol education, such as BASICS (Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students) to students, especially to those who are at risk in developing substance-related problems.
• Coordinates Wellness Center efforts to reach out to new students with self-reported pre-existing conditions following admission to ensure adequate treatment plans are in place as the student begins at SAIC.
• Coordinates Wellness Center efforts with the health and mental health population-based survey assessments, including the Healthy Minds Study, a survey-based study examining mental health and related issues and service utilization among college students.
• Advises mental health related student groups, such as Active Minds, that seek to engage the SAIC community in changing the conversation and eradicating stigma surrounding mental health.
• Promotes availability of mental health promotion resources (such as Seasonal Affective Disorder Light Therapy) with Wellness Center Student Resource Room and coordinates students' access to these resources.
• Collaborates with key off-campus resources, including connections established during the SAMHSA grant period, such as the Suicide Prevention Resource Center and the Jed Foundation, to inform and continue SAIC's comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to mental health promotion and suicide prevention for students.
• Incorporates multicultural diversity and inclusion concepts and principles into mental health promotion services, especially as they apply to Asian-International/Asian-American and LGBTQ students and others with unique mental health needs related to cultural issues and stigma.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master's degree in Art Therapy required
• License or license-eligible within professional field
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Ability to develop strong working relationships, positively represent the Wellness Center across diverse communities, and interact effectively with both health/mental health professionals and non-professionals
• Experience in working with emerging adult and college-aged populations

UNION: This position is part of a bargaining unit represented by AFSCME Council 31.

EEO The Art Institute of Chicago is an Equal Opportunity Employer that recruits, hires, and promotes qualified individuals without regard to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, ancestry, veteran status, or citizenship. The Institute complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact the Department of Human Resources at ....