Mental Health & Support Services Program Manager
Los Angeles, CA
School Support – Student Services /
Full-Time 2025-2026 School Year /
Hybrid
Who We Are
KIPP SoCal Public Schools is a nonprofit organization that operates 20 tuition-free, open-enrollment charter public schools, within 20 Local Education Agencies (LEA), educating more than 10,000 students and supporting 6,800 alumni to and through college and beyond.
What We Believe
KIPP SoCal believes that the purpose of education is for liberation. This means that we see, develop, and inspire the limitless potential in each and all of our KIPPsters.
What We Do
At KIPP SoCal we build trusting relationships that are strengthened by high expectations and collaboration alongside laughter and joy. We set ambitious goals and hold each other accountable for students achieving their greatest potential. We work together with each other and in partnership with families and communities in the active pursuit of a more equitable world. We do the right thing, even when it's not always comfortable standing up and speaking out against anti-blackness, racism, oppression, and injustice. We persevere through obstacles and treat failure as an opportunity to learn and grow.
The Opportunity
- The Mental Health & Support Services Manager will manage, observe and consult with school counselors (MSWs, Counseling, MFT) and master’s level social work interns (MSW, Counseling, MFT). They will provide clinical consultation, manage the counseling programs at their sites, and evaluate effectiveness of programs for students with mental health needs. The MHSS Manager will participate in staff development, program evaluation, and innovation of specialized methods and approaches in the implementation of HEART (trauma-informed) practices. They will collaborate with school administrators and general education staff to effectively employ the special education and social and emotional learning programs and provide compliance expertise at assigned sites. The Mental Health & Support Services Manager will report to the Director of Mental Health and Support Services or Associate Director of Mental Health & Support Services.
What You'll Do: Management, Training, and Evaluation
- Participates in the hiring process of School Counselors for their designated school sites
- Supervise the implementation of counseling programs at a designated number of schools with on-the-ground presence
- Manage School Counselors which includes: meet weekly (or bi-weekly) with each School Counselors to provide clinical consultation for work with DIS Counseling students; provide on site support with implementation of school-wide interventions, behavior intervention, meetings, etc.
- Design relevant trainings to present to Mental Health Team, Social Work interns, other KIPP SoCal staff, families, and other stakeholders
- Evaluate the performance of all assigned School Counselors by observing their competencies in practice
- Provides clinical supervision in groups, individual or triads for MSWs (or equivalent) with active Board of Behavioral Sciences registration (preferred)
What You'll Do: Special Education & 504s
- Maintain knowledge of current Special Education & 504 regulations and best practices
- Supports the compliance of all DIS/ERICS services at designated school sites
- Provide clinical support with the treatment of students with Autism, Intellectual Disability, Emotional Disturbance, and a host of other eligibilities
- Provides consultation with the writing of Behavior Support Plans
- Assist IEP team in making recommendations based on all relevant data
- Member of regional Special Education Leadership Team
- Works closely with the Special Education Case Managers at designated sites
- Serve as member of an Individualized Education Program (IEP) team and attend meetings, as needed
- May be asked to provide short-term DIS counseling services
What You'll Do: Student Safety & Crises
- Collaborate with school administration and counselors to provide training to prevent suicide and bring awareness to grades K-8, per AB2246
- Supports with mental health emergencies and is “on-call” when a counselor at their school site is absent or unavailable
- Like all KIPP SoCal staff, the MHSS Manager is a mandated reporter
- Experience working with DCFS and ACCESS (mental health emergencies)
- Conducts risk assessments and appropriate interventions
- Support staff with verbal de-escalation when they are utilizing physical restraint (e.g. NCI)
- May be asked to be trained as a NCI trainer (de-escalation/ intervention)
- Supports School Counselor and Admin teams with re-entry meetings for unsafe behaviors or hospitalizations, as needed
- Supports the creation of individualized crisis plans for students with challenging/unsafe behaviors, as needed
- Maintains documentation of Risk Assessments and crisis-related paperwork
What You'll Do: Trauma-Informed & Inclusive Practices
- Co-leads the implementation of HEART Trauma Informed Schools initiative at KIPP SoCal Public Schools at designated school sites
- Manages the implementation of Calm Classroom at designated sites, a tier one intervention
- Supports the creation and usage of Calm Corners within designated sites
- Encourages and supports the implementation of social emotional curriculum within the classroom, e.g. Second Step
- Supports the counselors’ implement of school-wide interventions on topics such as: being kind, anti-bullying, gratitude, etc.
- Recommend and teach techniques for for supporting students’ social and emotional learning in the classroom
- Provides support and consultation for ensuring equitable practices for LGBTQ+ youth including the implementation of OUT for Safe Schools
- Works closely with mental health leadership team’s regional houseless & foster youth liaison and supports school counselors in their role in supporting these populations at their school site
What You'll Do: Stakeholder Relationships
- Works collaboratively with the School Leader and admin team at designated sites including attending Special Education / Leadership team meetings, Counselor/School Leader bi-weekly meetings (when appropriate/possible) communicating concerns and accomplishments of counselors, providing consultation
- Provides support with case management services in the form of referrals to outside agencies and management of community-based mental health partnerships within the school
- May be asked to deliver parent/caregiver presentations or attend events on a Saturday or evening night to accommodate parent/caregiver schedules
- Attends community agency meetings, when appropriate
- Identifying gaps in services and seeking additional resources/partnerships
- Supports implementation, training, and supervision of social work interns; may include being a Field Instructor
You'll Be Qualified If You Have
- Master’s of Social Work (MSW) or equivalent degree (Counseling, Marriage Family Therapy), required
- PPSC (Pupil Personnel Services Credential), required.
- LCSW (or equivalent) required
- Ability to provide supervision to BBS-registered personnel, preferred
- Minimum 4 years post-Master’s degree
- Minimum 1 year of management experience, Field Instructor OK
- Bilingual in Spanish, preferred
- Knowledge & commitment to anti-racism and diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- Understanding of trauma-informed practices and socio-emotional learning
- Demonstrated success working with students from educationally under-resourced areas
- Excellent organizational, planning, and implementation skills
- Ability to manage ambiguity and multiple priorities
- Excellent verbal and written communication
- High proficiency in Google Suite
- Able to stay positive through challenges
- Detail-oriented team player willing to roll up sleeves and get the job done
- Unquestioned integrity and commitment to KIPP SoCal Public Schools' mission and community.
Working with Us Means the Following Perks
- KIPP SoCal Public Schools offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience in a similar position. The salary range for this position is $79,200 to $118,800 per year. New hires are typically brought into the organization at a salary between the range minimum and the salary range midpoint of $99,000 depending on qualifications, internal equity, and the budget allocated for this role.
- 100% of healthcare premium costs covered by employer, dependents added at 50% of cost
- KIPP SoCal life insurance
- 401(k) plan with up to 6% match by KIPP SoCal
- Voluntary Benefits (Supplemental Life, Accident, Short Term Disability, Pet Insurance, etc.)
- Generous time off program includes 22 holidays, sick leave and vacation
KIPP SoCal Public Schools is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation/gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
KIPP SoCal strives to ensure that our careers website is accessible to all, including individuals with disabilities. If you require reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process due to a disability, please contact us. You can find our contact information on our website, http://www.kippsocal.org/. Information will be sent to a talent acquisition representative who will provide assistance to ensure appropriate consideration in the hiring process.
