Position Number: FA178
Reports to: Dean of Student Affairs (FA099)
This 12-month professional faculty position supports students and campus community in a variety of ways. The Behavioral Health and Wellness Advocate receives referrals from faculty, staff, and students and assesses the needs of students identified for behavioral or medical intervention in order to determine provision of services or student conduct actions. Manages a caseload of students with medical, mental health, socialization, academic and/or behavioral needs to ensure they access appropriate support systems. Remains knowledgeable and connected with community resources to successfully guide and assist students with a variety of medical, behavioral, or mental health needs. Oversees the Office of Disability Services (ODS), leads the CARE Team which responds to students in crisis, serves as a member of the Threat Assessment Team and as a Campus Security Authority (CSA), develops programs and trainings, as well as utilizes communication avenues to provide resources to students, faculty, and staff.
Work Tasks & Duties
| 55% | Referral and Case Management Based upon referrals and information received from faculty, staff and students, assesses the needs of students identified for behavioral or medical intervention in order to determine provision of services or student conduct actions. Manages a caseload of students with medical, mental health, socialization, academic and/or behavioral needs to ensure they access appropriate support systems. Communicates with and responds to parents and students to address complex student issues through initial contact to resolution. Communicates with academic administrators, faculty members, and advisors as needed to ascertain the issues and/or concerns of student behavior. Provide support and consultation to faculty and staff. Provides consultation, presentations and follow-up services to relevant parties. Promotes student retention via early assessment and intervention as issues arise or are detected. Maintains information related to these items in the student conduct/behavior management reporting database. Assists the Dean of Student Affairs with student emergencies in order to provide rapid and coordinated response. |
| 15% | Serves on College Crisis Teams Reviews and triages CARE Team reports. Using established policies, procedures and protocols, responds to students of concern. Coordinates meetings of the CARE Team, establishes agendas for CARE Team meetings, and assists in identifying appropriate interventions for students of concern, intervening with student conduct issues, registered sex offenders, and others as requested by CARE Team members. Generates reports of students of concern for CARE Team meetings. Establishes and maintains regular contact with CARE Team members and network of off-campus providers to support at-risk students. Participates as an active member of the college’s multi-disciplinary Threat Assessment Team (in adherence to Virginia Code 23.1-805) which meets to evaluate threat referrals, develop case management plans and, when necessary, coordinate intervention in a manner appropriate to the situation. Specifically, serves as the behavioral health component of the Threat Assessment Team. Engages in ongoing training related to behavior management and threat assessment in higher education. Serves as a Campus Security Authority (CSA)—an official of the institution with significant responsibility for student and campus activities. A CSA is required to immediately report any crime that is reported to them to the Virginia Western Police Department who will then review, evaluate, and investigate the reported crime. Annual training is required by the Department of Education for all personnel who have been designated as a Campus Security Authority. |
| 10% | Office of Disability Services Supervision Oversee activities of the Office of Disability Services (ODS). Supervises the full time ADA Coordinator who is responsible for program development and management of the ODS, adherence to all relevant State and Federal mandates, and service delivery to eligible students. As needed, accesses the ODS student database to support service delivery and reporting managed by the ADA Coordinator. |
| 10% | Communication and Community Connections/Resources Monitor VWCC website to communicate resources to students, faculty and staff. Develops and manages appropriate means to receive referrals from students, faculty and staff. Establishes and maintains knowledge of community resources for referrals of students for a variety of medical, behavioral or mental health needs. Maintain relationships with community resource providers which includes memberships on committees, e.g. Sexual Assault and Response Team through SARA and Suicide Prevention Council of the Roanoke Valley. |
| 10% | Programming Develops programs, conducts training and makes presentations to faculty, staff and students on a wide range of issues related to behavioral health wellness and awareness, alcohol and drug abuse prevention programs, sexual assault prevention, personal safety and other related programs for general health and well- being. Serves on the Educational Foundation Rapid Response Emergency Fund Review Committee and other college committees as needed. |
Last updated 08/2022
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