Therapist for Transition Age Youth - Knoxville

Summary: The Contract Therapist provides trauma\-informed, developmentally appropriate mental health services to transitional age youth residing at Lumen Flats Knoxville. This role supports young adults with complex histories of foster care involvement, housing instability, and behavioral health needs. Services are delivered within a wraparound, housing\-based model and emphasize engagement, stabilization, skill\-building, and successful transition to independent adulthood.

Hours are flexible and based on the number of residents served and identified clinical need. This is a non\-benefited, contract position.

Program Overview: Lumen Flats Knoxville is dedicated to providing stable housing and comprehensive wraparound support services for young adults aging out of foster care. In partnership with the local housing authority and the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services (DCS), the program serves individuals ages 18–24 for up to 36 months. Services include mentorship, case management, mental health care, and educational and employment supports. Lumen Flats Knoxville is Elmington’s first property designated specifically for the Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) program and is the foundation of a broader statewide initiative.

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in social work, counseling, or a related field preferred
• Licensure eligible required, active Tennessee licensure preferred (LPC\-MHSP, LCSW, LMFT)
• Certification in EMDR
• Experience providing mental health services to transitional\-age youth, foster youth, or young adults strongly preferred
• Knowledge of trauma\-informed care, young adult development, and behavioral health needs for youth with child welfare involvement
• Familiarity with wraparound/system of care principles and collaboration within multidisciplinary teams
• Ability to work independently while maintaining strong communication and coordination with program staff
• Strong organizational, documentation, and time\-management skills
• Ability to provide services in non\-traditional settings, including housing\-based or community environments

Skills \& Knowledge Required:

• Ability to build trusting, supportive relationships with families using empathy, active listening, and respect
• Knowledge of community resources and service systems relevant to survivors of crime, families, and adults with behavioral health or substance use challenges.
• Strong advocacy skills to support families in navigating child\-serving systems and asserting their voice
• Effective verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to explain complex information in plain language
• Demonstrated organizational and time\-management skills to manage multiple families, priorities, and documentation requirements
• Ability to work independently in community\-based settings while remaining connected to a regional and statewide team
• Skill in problem\-solving and critical thinking to help families identify barriers and develop practical solutions
• Capacity to maintain professional boundaries, confidentiality, and ethical standards
• Flexibility and adaptability when working with families experiencing crisis, stress, or changing needs
• Basic computer and technology skills, including electronic documentation systems and virtual communication platforms
• Ability to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams and community partners
• Program leadership and supervision
• Grant compliance and performance monitoring
• Cross\-system collaboration and partnership building
• Quality improvement and data\-informed decision\-making

Duties \& Responsibilities/Principal Activities:

• Provide individual therapy to transitional age youth (ages 18 – 24\) residing at Lumen Flats, using trauma\-informed and evidence\-based or evidence\-informed practices
• Conduct clinical assessments, including diagnostic interviews and ongoing reassessment, to determine level of care and treatment needs
• Develop and maintain Individual Treatment plans in collaboration with the young adults, aligned with identified goals for stability, independence and well\-being
• Complete timely and accurate clinical documentation (assessments, treatment plans, progress notes, discharge summaries) in accordance with TN Voices policies, funder requirements and licensure standards
• Collaborate closely with the case managers, housing staff, mentors, and other wraparound partners to support coordinated care and service integration within Lumen Flats
• Collaborate and work closely with the Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS) on the team to provide support and wrap\-around services for the young adult
• Provide consultation and coordination with external providers and system as appropriate (e.g. DCS, managed care organizations, community providers)
• Participate in clinical supervision, case consultation and required trainings to ensure adherence to best\-practice standards
• Support crisis intervention and risk assessment as clinically indicated, in coordination with program protocols
• Ensure that we conform to CARF standards applicable to the services provided.
• Uphold TN Voices’ values, ethical standards, confidentiality requirements, and commitment to family voice in all interactions.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the East TN Regional Director.

Physical Demands \& Work Environment:

The physical demands and work environment described is representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, talk, and/or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand, use hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms. The employee is frequently required to keyboard and do data entry at a computer. The employee must learn new tasks, remember processes, maintain focus, complete tasks independently, make timely decisions in the context of a workflow, communicate with team members, program participants, or community partners. The employee must lift and/or move up to 20 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include vision and ability to adjust focus. The work environment includes indoor office environments or comparable spaces, and community spaces. The noise level varies by sites and meetings.

All employees are expected to uphold the highest standards of integrity and ethical conduct, comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and organizational policies (including HIPAA and confidentiality requirements), promptly report compliance concerns, and actively participate in required compliance and ethics training to support a culture of accountability and quality care.