Camp Mental Health Specialist
In addition to the qualifications we seek in all volunteers, as outlined on the Volunteer page, the Camp Mental Health Specialist role has its own set of parameters:
General Responsibility
Provide social and psychological support to campers and to train staff in accordance with the camp mission, guiding principles and medical manual.
Specific Responsibilities
- Assist with staff orientation, providing insight on various scenarios that typically arise at camp and how to handle them
- Provide on-going support to campers and staff regarding behavioral/emotional issues
- Assist with decisions on emotional/behavioral issues related to campers and staff
- Assist in evaluating the entire camp operation with suggestions for the following season
- As needed, speak with campers' parents
- Perform other duties as designated by the Medical Director & Camp Director
Essential Functions
- Ability to assist in staff training
- Ability to observe staff and camper behavior
- Ability to respond to situations that arise with campers (e.g. mental health issues, social conflicts, noncompliance, homesickness, anxiety regarding medical exams at camp)
- Ability to work directly with campers
- Ability to guide staff through the best way for staff to intervene/respond
Specific Qualifications
- A valid license to practice psychiatry, psychology, or social work, or certification to work as a child life specialist, in the state in which camp is located
- Experience with pediatric patients
- Desire and ability to work with children and adults with IBD in a camp setting
- Preferred: Experience with pediatric GI patient