Military and Family Life Counselor

Military and Family Life Counselor (MFLC)

Multiple locations (military Installations) in CONUS and OCONUS in support of the MFLC contract.

Position Overview

Strategic Resources, Inc. (SRI) is seeking qualified Military and Family Life Counselors (MFLCs) to provide confidential, non-medical counseling, consultation, outreach, and psychoeducational support to service members and their families.

The Military and Family Life Counselor (MFLC) provides confidential, face-to-face, non-medical counseling, consultation, and outreach services to eligible service members, spouses, family members, children and youth, and other authorized participants. MFLC services are designed to enhance operational and family readiness by helping participants address the challenges and stressors associated with military life.

MFLCs work in military installations and surrounding communities and use both traditional counseling sessions and a highly accessible "walk-around" service model. Counselors are expected to go where service members and families are located rather than relying exclusively on office-based appointments.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The MFLC:

• Provides confidential, short-term, solution-focused, non-medical counseling to individuals, couples, families, and groups.
• Assists participants with issues associated with the military life cycle, including deployment, mobilization, reintegration, relocation and frequent moves, separation, relationship and family concerns, communication, parenting, parent-child relationships, stress and anxiety, anger management, conflict resolution, coping skills, work-life balance, homesickness, grief, loss, self-esteem, and decision-making. - Teaches coping strategies, emotional-management techniques, problem-solving skills, and strategies for managing life challenges.
• Provides psychoeducational information that helps participants understand behaviors, stressors, available resources, and when additional treatment or services may be appropriate.
• Provides traditional and non-traditional "walk-around" services within military units, family programs, schools, Child Development Centers, youth programs, and other authorized locations.
• Conducts outreach with commanders, Installation leadership, Family Center personnel, chaplains, school personnel, teachers, School Liaison Officers, camp personnel, and other military or community providers.
• Conducts briefings, presentations, informational sessions, and other activities designed to increase awareness and utilization of the MFLC Program.
• Supports Family Readiness Groups, reintegration activities, deployment-return events, installation programs, commanders, and other community organizations as required.
• Maintains working knowledge of Military OneSource, Spouse Education and Career Opportunities (SECO), the Family Advocacy Program, Installation resources, and appropriate community resources and makes referrals when warranted.
• Verifies participant eligibility and provides the required Limits of Confidentiality Statement before counseling services are delivered.
• Recognizes situations that fall outside the scope of MFLC non-medical counseling and performs appropriate referrals and warm handoffs.
• Follows required Duty-to-Warn, mandated-reporting, and imminent-risk procedures when circumstances involve harm to self or others, domestic abuse, child abuse or neglect, sexual assault, or other reportable situations.
• Facilitates warm handoffs to behavioral health providers, Military Treatment Facilities, TRICARE providers, Military OneSource, chaplains, or other appropriate resources when a participant requires services outside the MFLC scope.
• Coordinates with installation Points of Contact regarding assignments, scheduling, outreach, referrals, and other program requirements.
• Maintains the sensitivity, compassion, professionalism, and respect required when serving military members and their families.

Scope of Counseling

MFLC counseling is non-medical, preventive, and solution-focused. It is intended to strengthen readiness and resilience and help prevent military-life stressors from escalating to a level requiring clinical treatment.

MFLCs do not provide diagnosis, clinical mental-health treatment, or therapy for conditions requiring medical or behavioral-health treatment. Matters involving PTSD, TBI, clinical diagnoses, substance-abuse treatment, child abuse, domestic abuse, sexual assault, or Duty-to-Warn situations require referral, warm handoff, and/or mandated reporting as applicable.

Minimum Qualifications

The counselor must:

• Be a U.S. citizen.
• Be fluent in English.
• Possess a master's degree from an accredited graduate program in a field relevant to the requirement, including fields such as social work, psychology, marriage and family therapy, or counseling.
• Hold the applicable independent or provisional professional license required for the counselor tier and duty location.
• Meet applicable state and local licensing requirements.
• Successfully complete all required background and suitability investigations and any additional Installation-specific requirements.
• Meet all MFLC credentialing and certification requirements.

For CONUS assignments, counselors must hold the applicable license or provisional license for the state and tier in which services are provided. For OCONUS assignments, excluding Alaska and Hawaii, counselors may hold the applicable license from any U.S. state, the District of Columbia, a U.S. territory, or commonwealth.

Certain positions may require a Secret or Top Secret security clearance based on the specific assignment.

Work Environment and Schedule

MFLC positions require significant flexibility and direct engagement with the military community. The normal work schedule is a flexible 40-hour workweek, but mission requirements may require evenings, weekends, Federal holidays, meetings, briefings, and other activities outside traditional business hours.

For Adult MFLCs, the Government anticipated an average workday consisting of approximately four hours of in-person counseling and four hours of non-traditional/walk-around activities. CYB-MFLC activity differs because classroom participation and walk-around services constitute a larger portion of their work.

Depending on assignment, counselors may be expected to participate alongside military personnel in activities such as physical training and military exercises or support camp activities that may include hiking, biking, or canoeing.

Preferred Experience

The Government identified the following as desirable qualifications for non-key MFLC personnel:

• Current military spouses.
• Veterans with experience associated with a mobile military life and career.

Experience working with military populations and understanding deployment, reintegration, frequent relocation, military family dynamics, installation resources, and the broader military support environment is highly relevant to successful performance.

Child and Youth Behavioral (CYB) MFLC

CYB-MFLCs provide non-medical counseling, consultation, outreach, and preventive support specifically tailored to military children, youth, parents, educators, and caregivers. CYB-MFLCs help children and youth strengthen relationships, solve problems, express and manage emotions, and cope with deployment, relocation, school transitions, reintegration, and other military-life challenges.

CYB assignments may occur in schools, Child Development Centers, youth centers, and camps. Certain early-childhood assignments require certification or additional training as an Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant.

Equal Employment Opportunity: 

In order to provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all individuals, employment decisions will be based on merit, qualifications, and abilities. SRI does not discriminate against any person because of race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law (referred to as “protected status”). This nondiscrimination policy extends to all terms, conditions, and privileges of employment as well as the use of all company facilities, participation in all company-sponsored activities, and all employment actions such as promotions, compensation, benefits, and termination of employment. 

This job description is intended to outline the general nature and level of work being performed. It is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of the position. Additional tasks may be assigned as needed.