Mental Health Co-Responder

Working Title: Mental Health Co-Responder

State Role Title: Administrative and Professional Faculty

Position Type: Administrative & Professional (Non-teaching Faculty)

Position Status: Full-Time

FLSA Status: Exempt: Not Eligible for Overtime

College/Division: Student Life and Involvement

Department: 300000 - Residence Life Admin

Pay Rate: Pay Range

Specify Range or Amount: $60,000 - $81,628, Commensurate with Experience

Is this a JMU only position? No

Is this a grant-funded position? No

Is this a Conflict of Interest designated position? N/A

Beginning Review Date: 09/24/2025

About JMU:

Mission
We are a community committed to preparing students to be educated and enlightened citizens who lead productive and meaningful lives.

Vision
To be the national model for the engaged university: engaged with ideas and the world.

Who We Are
Located in the heart of Virginia's beautiful Shenandoah Valley, the city of Harrisonburg is approximately 120 miles from Washington, D.C. and Richmond, VA. With a population of just over 53,000, Harrisonburg is one of the most diverse communities in the Commonwealth of Virginia. JMU is a selective, public institution with a growing national reputation for offering experiences that lead to an outstanding education and inclusive environment for students, faculty and staff. The student body includes approximately 20,000 undergraduate and 1,900 graduate students, with over 1,000 full-time instructional faculty.

JMU offers thriving programs in the liberal arts, science and technology, and professional disciplines at the undergraduate, master's and doctoral levels. JMU has achieved national recognition for the high quality of its academic programs, focus on maintaining strong student/faculty interaction, and innovative faculty research.

General Information:

Take advantage of this exciting opportunity to be a part of the continuum of crisis services for the James Madison (JMU) community. Position is available for mental health professional (MHP) to work within the JMU University Police department, while also working closely with campus partners, such as the Office of Residence Life, the Counseling Center, the Dean of Students office, the Office of Student Accountability and Restorative Practices, the Threat Assessment Team, and Human Resources. This position will also collaborate with the Harrisonburg Police Department, the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Community Services Board, and Sentara RMH Medical Center when it involves JMU students in crisis.

This is a full-time 10-month position. This position requires nighttime and weekend coverage during college semesters, as well as flexibility around high-risk weekends. This work is completed in the field, not a clinical setting.

Duties and Responsibilities:

The successful candidate will work as part of a multidisciplinary team serving individuals in acute crisis. The mental health professional (MHP) will provide specialized services such as crisis intervention, referrals for continuing care, participation in assessment process for interim suspension or emergency removal, and evaluation for hospitalization. The MHP will also be responsible for reviewing disposition and treatment plans with students recently released from inpatient hospitalization. This is a unique opportunity to serve individuals of all ages, backgrounds, and cultures who are experiencing a wide range of clinical presentations and service needs. Experience with co-occurring disorders, conducting risk assessments, making rapid differential diagnosis, and providing crisis intervention from a recovery-based, trauma-informed, and person-centered lens is essential. A successful candidate will have the ability to write comprehensive clinical notes and complete lethality assessment evaluation forms.

A successful candidate will also:

• Collaborate closely with the Office of Residence Life, serving as a liaison and mental health resource for residential staff and student populations.
• Collaborate closely with the Counseling Center and Dean of Students office regarding monitoring of individuals of concern, after-hours.
• Conduct follow-up assessments and wellness check-ins following crisis incidents and hospitalizations, ensuring continuity of care and safety.
• Design and facilitate workshops and educational outreach programs for Residence Life staff and students on topics related to mental health, coping strategies, crisis response, and resource awareness.
• Engage in interdisciplinary case consultations and support coordinated responses with university partners and community providers as needed.
• If unlicensed, participate in weekly clinical supervision with a licensed clinician to support professional development, ensure adherence to ethical standards, and meet licensure requirements.
• Crisis Intervention: empathic listening and validation, de-escalation, assessment of suicide/homicide danger, safety planning, efficient intervention, consultation, with consideration of other risk factors such as substance use, self-care, social support, and mental status.
• Crisis intervention also involves interventions such as psychiatric hospitalization, petitioning for Emergency Custody Orders, and post-intervention components including follow up with individuals of concern, other impacted individuals, and campus partners as appropriate.
• Attend training classes as directed.
• Maintaining confidential records.
• Other Duties as Assigned: Attend weekly meetings, maintain awareness of other university departments, community health providers, services, hospitals, and other resources. Engage in training of law enforcement officers or other department personnel in areas related to mental health as needed.
• This is a full-time 10-month position. This position requires nighttime and weekend coverage during college semesters, as well as flexibility around high-risk weekends. This work is completed in the field, not a clinical setting.

Qualifications:

Minimum Requirements:

• Master's degree in Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Psychology, or a closely related field from an accredited program.
• License-eligible as a Resident in Counseling in the Commonwealth of Virginia, with the ability to register with the Virginia Board of Counseling upon hire if not already registered.
• Demonstrated experience (via clinical internship, practicum, or post-master's work) in providing crisis intervention, risk assessment, and suicide prevention services.
• Knowledge of HIPAA compliance, client confidentiality, and relevant state and federal regulations regarding mental health services.
• Ability to maintain accurate and timely clinical documentation, including crisis notes, safety plans, and lethality assessments.
• Must possess a valid driver's license.
• Excellent interpersonal communication and organizational skills, with the ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Licensed Professional Counselor or Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
• Previous clinical experience working with college-aged individuals or within a university setting, such as a University Counseling Center, or particularly in collaboration with offices such as Residence Life, Student Affairs, or campus safety.
• Familiarity with or prior experience in law enforcement-adjacent settings, such as working alongside campus police, co-responder teams, community crisis response units or in a jail setting.
• Experience providing crisis mental health services in emergency departments, community mental health centers, mobile crisis settings, or jails.
• Working knowledge of trauma-informed care, motivational interviewing, and person-centered, recovery-based approaches.
• Comfort with providing mental health training, workshops, or psychoeducational outreach to diverse campus or community audiences.
• Commitment to ongoing professional development, multicultural competence, and adherence to ethical guidelines as outlined by the ACA, NBCC, or equivalent professional organizations.

Additional Posting Information:

JMU's Dual Career and Community Resources Program is available for candidates that will be relocating to the area. For more information, please visit https://bit.ly/2OTF1NG.

Conditions of Employment:

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check.

E-Verify Notice: After accepting employment, new hires are required to complete an I-9 form and present documentation of their identity and eligibility to work in the United States. James Madison University uses the E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.

EEO Statement:

James Madison University is committed to creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive work and educational community that is free of all forms of discrimination. This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status.

We promote access, inclusion and diversity for all students, faculty, staff, constituents and programs, believing that these qualities are foundational components of an outstanding education in keeping with our mission. The university is interested in candidates whose experience and qualifications support an ongoing commitment to this core quality.

Anyone having questions concerning discrimination should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity: (540) 568-6991.

Reasonable Accommodation:

If you are an individual with a disability and need assistance searching or applying for jobs please contact us at (540) 568-3597 or jobs@jmu.edu. You may also visit the JMU Human Resource Office, located at 752 Ott Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22807 and we will be happy to assist you.