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: $60000 - $81628 Commensurate with Experience

Is this a JMU only positionNo

Is this a grant-funded positionNo

Is this a Conflict of Interest designated positionN/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
Situated in the heart of Virginias beautiful Shenandoah Valley the city of Harrisonburg is a vibrant community with a population of approximately 52000. Harrisonburg is conveniently located approximately 120 miles from Washington D.C. and Richmond VA.

JMU is a selective public institution with a growing national reputation for offering experiences that lead to an outstanding education and supportive environment for students faculty and staff. The student body includes approximately 21000 undergraduate and 1800 graduate students with over 1000 full-time instructional faculty.

JMU offers thriving programs in the liberal arts science and technology and professional disciplines at the undergraduate masters 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:

• Masters 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-masters 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 drivers 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:

JMUs Dual Career and Community Resources Program is available for candidates that will be relocating to the area. For more information please visit 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: .

Reasonable Accommodation:

If you are an individual with a disability and need assistance searching or applying for jobs please contact us at or 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.