Job Summary

Supervised by the Program Manager for Mental Health within the Prevention and Intervention Department, the Holistic Wellness Coach (HWC) I/II is a state-certified profession established by California’s Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) as part of the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative.  The role of the HWC I/II will be to offer core prevention and intervention services that promote behavioral health and well-being in a supportive role with K-12 students, families and staff as part of the Humboldt County Office of Education (HCOE) team.  This is a classified 10 month position.

Distinguishing Characteristics

The Holistic Wellness Coach I is an entry level position requiring an Associate’s Degree and supervised hours.  The HWC I will work primarily in schools, as well as Family Resource Centers, Tribal groups and other community agencies.  Services may be provided at schools, HCOE offices and within the community.

The Holistic Wellness Coach II is a mid-level position that will work primarily in schools and collaborate their efforts with Family Resource Centers, tribal groups and other community agencies.  The HWC II, while participating in similar activities as a HWC I, will assume a leadership role both within HCOE and at local school districts by delivery of professional development, and facilitate surveys, focus groups and interviews within school settings to identify needs for programming.  Services may be provided at schools, HCOE offices or during home visits.

Essential Duties

Wellness Promotion and Education

Delivers group or classroom programming for school-site staff, students and parents/families focused on social emotional learning competencies including, but not limited to:

• Building positive relationships and bullying prevention;
• Nutrition and exercise in relationship to behavioral health;
• Mental health literacy, including symptom recognition, help-seeking strategies and how to provide support;
• Life skills, including stress management, time management, sleep and hygiene and problem-solving.

(Wellness Coach II additionally provides services with an emphasis on coping skills, including structured problem-solving, distress tolerance, creative expression, distraction strategies and emotional regulation.)

Universal Screening

• Support youth completing social emotional learning screening and behavioral health screenings;
• Identify mental health, wellness and behavioral health needs of youth and collaborate with school-site staff and behavioral health providers in school(s) or community-based organizations.

Care Coordination and Extension

• Connect students, staff and families to school-based and community mental health and wellness related support services and resources;
• Connect students, staff and families to social services, such as public health, food and housing as needed;
• Facilitate communication with school personnel, families, community-based organizations and other mental health and wellness providers that are providing support and care to youth and families;
• Participate in multi-disciplinary meetings with community partners.

Individual and/or Group Support

• Provide check-ins and meetings with students/family that provide emotional and/or mental health support, which may include social-emotional competencies, wellness education and basics of behavioral health symptoms;
• Behavior management to promote academic success;
• Goal setting/planning.

(The Wellness Coach II additionally delivers research-based curriculum in a small-group format for youth or family members focusing on improving awareness of the most common behavioral health conditions in order to increase understanding, reduce stigma and foster a more informed and empathetic community.)

Education, Training and Professional Development

• Support school-based staff in the assessment of training needs for parents, guardians, caregivers and members of the educational team;
• Coordinate the development, design and delivery of mental health and wellness related curriculum and training to students, members of the educational team and family members of students recommended for, or receiving, educationally-based mental health services;
• Provide Tier I/II behavioral, emotional and/or social support for students at school sites.

Employment Standards

Knowledge of:

• Mental health, social emotional and wellness interventions and strategies;
• Program planning and evaluation design and tools;
• Ethics, confidentiality and person-centered service delivery;
• Staff development and professional development resources and the ability to implement them effectively;
• Trauma informed practices, parent-child focused interventions, adverse childhood experiences and secondary trauma.

Ability to:

• Engage with clients and constituents as experts of their own experiences with an emphasis on cultural humility and responsiveness;
• Use empathy, reflection and interpersonal skills to effectively engage diverse clients and constituencies;
• Apply self-awareness and self-regulation to manage the influence of personal biases and values in working with diverse clients and constituencies;
• Work directly with all racial, ethnic, linguistic, disability and socioeconomic groups while maintaining a kind and professional demeanor free of discrimination;
• Demonstrate appropriate poise, tact and sound judgment while coping with a high volume of work and multiple tasks;
• Be flexible and adaptable to changing environments and schedules.

Education and Experience:

Holistic Wellness Coach I

• Associate’s Degree from an accredited college or university in relevant fields, such as social work, human services, addiction studies, psychology, sociology, child development and/or mental health.

Holistic Wellness Coach II

• Bachelor’s Degree or higher from an accredited college or university in relevant fields, such as social work, human services, addiction studies, psychology, sociology, child development and/or mental health.

Preferred Experience for both levels I and II:

• Enough field hours completed to become registered as a Wellness Coach I/II, as per state requirements (and willingness to register).

Please see https://cawellnesscoach.org/ for more information about registration and certification.

Working Conditions

This position will be assigned to an office setting, either in the county Office of Education or at district school sites.  The employee will be expected to work closely with other county office staff, district personnel, students, families, other professionals, outside agencies and private partners, in person, via email and on the telephone.  Employee will be assigned to schools, home visits or site settings where multiple children, school staff and families are present.  Employees may be required to walk, stand or conduct work in outdoor educational environments where there may be loud students or staff, varied temperatures, public interaction or upset staff or students.  The employee will need to frequently perform repetitive hand/finger movements for activities such as, but not limited to, using a keyboard.  The employee is occasionally required to climb stairs, bend, reach with hands/arms, lift, stoop, kneel and crouch.  The employee may be required to drive long distances to remote areas of the county and may be required to lift and move equipment up to 25 lbs.

Other Requirements

• Must be fingerprinted and a satisfactory Department of Justice records check must be received by HCOE prior to employment.
• TB testing and/or risk assessment will be required upon employment.
• Must pass a pre-employment physical (if applicable).
• May be required to drive with or without students; some positions may require a California driver’s license, proof of insurance and possible participation in the DMV DUI Notice Program once employed.
  The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified.

Salary:

• Holistic Wellness Coach I: Range 14 on the adopted salary scale for classified employees.
• Holistic Wellness Coach II: Range 16 on the adopted salary scale for classified employees.

PC Approved:  09/10/2024