Hand to Hold® is a national non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that provides compassionate in-person and virtual support to NICU and bereaved parents before, during and after a NICU stay. All programs are designed with the emotional, physical and social needs of NICU families to help them feel more secure during a highly stressful time. This early intervention mental health support is available at no cost to NICU families across the United States.  

As a 2022 & 2023 Best Place for Working Parents® business, our dynamic, growing organization seeks a Counseling Program Manager to join our team who is passionate about improving support for NICU and bereaved families. Reporting to the Director of Programs, the Counseling Program Manager will be responsible for overseeing day to day operations, setting foundational structures and planning for future growth. This role also includes carrying a small caseload of 5 clients. The ideal candidate for this full-time position will have experience in leading teams, effective communication, project management, and metric evaluation. This committed and thoughtful individual will be proactive and motivated, consistently produce high quality work, and turn tasks around quickly. This person will play a vital role in helping to bring the 3-year Hand to Hold strategic plan to life. 

Hand to Hold’s counseling program exists because parents whose child(ren) is experiencing, or has experienced, a NICU stay due to preterm labor, a prenatal diagnosis or anomaly, and/or medical complications at birth are at higher risk for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. Therefore, Hand to Hold provides mental health therapy focused on the perinatal period and services are free of charge to remove access barriers for NICU families. Therapy provided can be from different theoretical approaches such as Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), or other Solution-Focused therapies that will allow parents to process their child’s birth, process trauma and grief, enhance parental coping skills, reduce or overcome perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, process perinatal loss, or adjust to bringing baby home.

Personal experience with Hand to Hold’s mission is preferred, but not required, as is experience in maternal mental health and/or perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. 

We are dedicated to hiring a diverse workforce that reflects the diverse families that we support through our mission. We are thought leaders and change makers. We embrace change and are always learning, developing, and evolving to champion a world where all NICU families thrive. One in seven babies born in the US spends time in the NICU. Bring your talents to our growing team to help ensure that all NICU families have a hand to hold.  

Essential Functions:

• Work in collaboration with the Director of Program regarding program implementation, continuous quality improvement, expansion and growth activities
• Develop and implement strategies that will establish consistent program performance standards of accountability
• Track and report program data within program timelines to collect demographic information, and measure impact, satisfaction and overall effectiveness of programming
• Collaborate with the marketing team to perform marketing and outreach in efforts to expand the program 
• Assist in updating and/or reviewing current educational materials; provide consult as new materials are developed
• Hire, train, onboard, supervise and support counseling program team members
• Cultivate and maintain a team culture of trust and growth
• Facilitate team meetings; provide consultation, direction, debriefing, clinical staffing and support to staff
• Help identify and provide timely and effective supports and interventions for families
• Contact individuals or couples who are interested in Hand to Hold’s counseling services to complete intake paperwork and coordinate scheduling for therapy sessions
• Provide necessary assessments and work in partnership with clients to define their treatment goals
• Provide short term treatment using appropriate therapy modalities
• Communicate promptly and regularly with clients and stakeholders
• Attend recommended trainings or professional development opportunities
• Attend all monthly staff meetings
• Submission of monthly reports (timesheet, expense reports, etc.) in a timely fashion
• Perform other duties as assigned by your supervisor

Supervision:

• Report to the Director of Programs
• Receive mentoring and regular feedback from supervisor
• Participate in evaluations and an open exchange reviewing experience and performance

Additional Information:

• Compensation starts at $55,000 annual salary for an average of 30 hours/week 
• Hybrid work available for Austin, TX applicants; fully remote for non local applicants with travel to Austin, TX 1-2 per year for training and development
• Up to 15% travel required throughout the year for all applicants, regardless of location
• Full Time Benefits Include: fully paid Medical (or stipend for out of state), $20,000 Life Insurance and Employee Assistance Program for employee
• option to add Dental, Vision and additional Life insurance as well as coverage for dependants
• 10 days annually of Paid Time Off
• 12 days annually of accrued Sick Time
• 14 annual Paid Holidays, including the working days between Christmas & New Year’s Day

To apply, send a cover letter and resume

Qualifications:

• Graduated from an accredited college or university with a Master's degree with a major specialization in Human/Behavioral/Social Services or related field.
• Licensed Practitioner in the state of Texas- LPC/LPCC, LCSW, LMFT, or Licensed Psychologist
• Minimum 3-5 years supervisory experience or managing teams
• Demonstrated ability to train and motivate employees
• Awareness of mental health challenges NICU parents face and willingness to complete appropriate training in this area, as well as ongoing education on racial and ethnic disparities, trauma-informed care and other relevant instruction, both online and in-person
• Experience serving diverse populations and providing services in a culturally-competent manner
• Experience performing mental health assessments, triage, diagnosis, and treatment
• Ability to abide by best practices, confidentiality and ethical standards, and be HIPAA compliant
• Detail-oriented, adaptable, organized, and able to successfully manage multiple projects and tasks with an ability to prioritize time-sensitive assignments
• Ability to think proactively, address problems creatively, and take initiative appropriately
• Self-motivated, with the ability to work both independently and on teams
• Excellent written, verbal, and organizational skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills and verbal communication skills
• Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and a commitment to and passion for Hand to Hold’s mission
• Personal experience with a child or loved one in the NICU is a plus
• Bilingual in English and Spanish is preferred