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Job Description
Title:
Child Therapist Hours:
20-25 hours/week, afterschool hours and potential weekend sessions
Base Salary:
48,000 PTO- 7 days during the school year, June+July off, School Holidays off Two-Year Contract About Intersect Arts Center Intersect Arts Center is a community arts organization located in South St. Louis that provides free, trauma-informed afterschool programming for children and families. Through visual arts, performance, mentorship, and community connection, we create spaces where young people build skills, relationships, and a sense of belonging. In 2026, Intersect is launching an innovative embedded mental health initiative that integrates clinical services directly into our existing arts and youth development programming. We are seeking a Child & Family Therapist who is excited not only about providing therapy, but also about helping design and implement a new model of community-based mental health care. Position Overview The Child & Family Therapist will provide trauma-informed mental health services to children, adolescents, and families participating in Intersect's youth programs. Many youth served have experienced significant adversity, including exposure to violence, family disruption, housing instability, community trauma, neglect, abuse, and other adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). It is common for participating youth to have experienced four or more ACEs. This position combines direct clinical service with program development responsibilities. During the first year, the therapist will help establish the systems, policies, and practices necessary to deliver high-quality, ethical, and accessible mental health services within a community arts setting. The therapist will have significant input into shaping clinical services, treatment approaches, referral pathways, documentation systems, and program development during the launch of Intersect's embedded mental health initiative. This role offers a unique opportunity to help build a community-centered model of care from the ground up while directly serving children and families. This is not a traditional outpatient therapy position. While the therapist will maintain a clinical caseload, they will also work closely with teaching artists, youth development staff, caregivers, and community partners to ensure mental health support is integrated throughout the organization. The ideal candidate is comfortable building relationships with youth in both formal and informal settings and sees healing as something that happens through connection, creativity, and community as well as therapy. Schedule The expected schedule follows the rhythm of Intersect's youth programming and includes: Afterschool hours during the academic year. Occasional evening and weekend hours to accommodate caregiver sessions, family engagement activities, and community events. Flexible daytime hours for documentation, meetings, care coordination, program development, and administrative responsibilities. Program Development Responsibilities Develop and implement intake, referral, screening, consent, and service enrollment processes. Establish HIPAA-compliant clinical documentation systems and workflows. Assist in the selection, implementation, and management of an Electronic Health Record (EHR) system. Develop policies and procedures related to confidentiality, mandated reporting, crisis response, documentation, and ethical practice. Create clinical forms, templates, assessments, and treatment planning tools. Collaborate with leadership to design individual, family, caregiver, and group-based service models. Develop referral pathways and partnerships with schools, healthcare providers, and community organizations. Support program evaluation, data collection, outcome measurement, and grant reporting requirements. Contribute to the long-term development and sustainability of Intersect's mental health programming. Clinical Responsibilities Provide individual therapy for children and adolescents. Provide family therapy, caregiver coaching, and parent support services. Facilitate therapeutic groups for youth and caregivers. Conduct biopsychosocial assessments, screenings, treatment planning, and ongoing progress monitoring. Maintain an ongoing clinical caseload and complete documentation in a timely manner. Respond to mental health crises and coordinate appropriate interventions, referrals, and follow-up care. Coordinate care with schools, medical providers, caregivers, and community partners as appropriate. Participate in interdisciplinary case consultation and team meetings. Support staff in identifying youth who may benefit from additional mental health services. Provide consultation, training, and psychoeducation to staff related to trauma, child development, emotional regulation, and behavioral health concerns. Build trusting relationships with youth through consistent presence within Intersect's afterschool programming. Qualifications We welcome clinicians from a variety of therapeutic modalities and approaches and are interested in finding a practitioner whose work aligns with the strengths and needs of our community. Required Master's degree in Social Work, Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, Psychology, or a related field. Missouri clinical licensure (LCSW, LPC, LMFT, or equivalent). Minimum of three years of experience providing therapy to children, adolescents, and families. Knowledge of child development, trauma, attachment, and family systems. Experience conducting assessments, treatment planning, and clinical documentation. Strong organizational, communication, and relationship-building skills. Preferred Experience working with youth impacted by complex trauma and multiple adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Experience working in schools, afterschool programs, community-based organizations, or other nontraditional settings. Experience developing programs, systems, or clinical infrastructure. Experience working with historically marginalized communities. Bilingual or multilingual candidates are encouraged to apply. Ideal Candidate The ideal candidate is: Trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and relationship-centered. Comfortable working independently while helping build a new program from the ground up. Creative, flexible, and able to adapt services to meet the needs of children and families. Collaborative and eager to work within a multidisciplinary team. Committed to equity, community engagement, and reducing barriers to mental health care. Excited about integrating clinical practice with arts, youth development, and community-based approaches to healing. Benefits & Time Off Competitive salary commensurate with experience. Seven paid personal days annually. Paid time off aligned with Intersect's youth programming calendar, including: Approximately one month off in June between program sessions. Thanksgiving Break (3 days). Winter Break (approximately 2 weeks). Spring Break (1 week). Paid holidays recognized by Intersect Arts Center. Opportunities for professional development and training. The opportunity to help shape and lead an innovative, community-based mental health initiative from its inception.
