Mobile Mental Health Associate (Project Respond/Emergency Department Diversion Team)

Job Overview

Location/Schedule: Work is performed in the community setting including client residences schools police precincts shelters residential facilities and public spaces but the position is based out of Kerns building in NE Portland OR. The schedule is Friday through Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Position: Mobile Mental Health Associate

Program: Project Respond/Emergency Department Diversion Team

Cascadias Mission and Vision:

Mission: Cascadia Health delivers whole health care integrated mental health and addiction services primary care and housing to promote hope and support the well-being of the communities we serve.

Vision: We envision a community where everyone benefits from whole health care experiences well-being and has a self-directed connected life.

Position Description: The Mobile Mental Health Associate working with the Emergency Department Diversion Team acts as an Emergency Department Liaison and provides outreach and support to individuals identified in local emergency departments as needing additional support and advocacy in order to reduce the need for a higher level of care and provide stabilization in the community. This position works as part of a team and approaches work with people from a trauma-informed strength-based perspective and works in concert with programs in Multnomah Countys Acute Care Continuum. The Mobile Mental Health Associate position works collaboratively with mental health and physical health care providers police agencies emergency departments school personnel and other social service agencies to assure the best possible treatment for clients while supporting a Trauma Informed Care environment.

All incumbents must understand appreciate and respect the diversity and cultural differences within our Cascadia community. It is expected that there is an awareness and sensitivity to the perspectives and perceptions to those we serve as well as our colleagues. As Cascadia is Trauma informed the incumbent must support a Trauma Informed Care Environment. With the high prevalence of trauma among individuals receiving behavioral health services it is required that the incumbent understand the effects of trauma on health coping and other aspects of the lives of those we serve.

Essential Responsibilities:

This position description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of responsibilities or an all inclusive job description.

• Ability to assess individual protective and risk factors as well as capabilities and resources in order to guide intervention.
• Assist individuals in seeking community resources and utilizing natural supports to meet identified needs.
• Triage requests for service as they come into the office from Emergency Departments.
• Coordinate responses to situations with other community agencies and service providers.
• Identify and assess risk factors for harm to self or others in the context of the clients current pyscho-social context via interview with client and with consideration given to collateral information; consider and articulate potential outcomes of various interventions discuss their risks and benefits and formulate why a particular course of action was pursued in lieu of other options; opt for least intrusive and most supportive intervention.
• Provide assessment dispositions to treatment providers and emergency departments as appropriate.
• Provide short term engagement advocacy referral and support in the community to individuals originally assessed in Emergency Department.
• Assess for personal safety in the environment and request law enforcement support as appropriate.
• Provide information and facilitate linkage to mental health treatment and other social services.
• Consult with teammates supervisors program managers and program medical directors as appropriate.
• Provide clinical consultation to other Cascadia Programs and Emergency Department staff when appropriate
• Document and maintain electronic health record (EHR) and ancillary records in a manner that assures compliance with all agency policies program procedures and local state and federal regulations.
• Demonstrate responsibility for safety of consumers staff and property; possess familiarity with fire regulations and evacuation procedures.
• Adhere to mandatory abuse reporting HIPPA and complete annual employee training requirements on a timely basis as indicated in the licensing requirements for the facility as well as agency requirements. Attend seminars trainings and other educational opportunities in order to develop professional skills and abilities.
• Participate in all scheduled staff meetings supervision sessions and other departmental and agency meetings.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education:

• Must meet the requirement to be credentialed as a Qualified Mental Health Associate (QMHA) through MHACBO. A QMHA requires a Bachelors degree in a behavioral science field from an accredited college or university three years full time related work experience in mental health or a combination of the two (an equivalency of three years). Certification must be current and in compliance with the OARs.

Experience:

• At least one year of experience working with individuals suffering from serious and persistent mental illness providing a broad range of clinical intervention and completing mental health assessments.
• Equivalent combination of education/experience preferably in a non-profit organization preferred

Specialized Skills and Knowledge:

• Conduct a Mental Status assessment
• Knowledge of risk assessment and crisis intervention
• Understand evidence based practices and strength based case management philosophies and strategies including trauma informed care
• Operate computer hardware and software at a level needed to effectively perform job functions

Other:

• Possess a valid drivers license three year driving history; clean driving record ability to pass Driver Motor Vehicle (DMV) check and complete the Cascadia online Defensive Driving course. This position requires the ability to drive a personal or company vehicle for the completion of work duties.

Working Conditions

• The Mobile Mental Health Associate must work collaboratively with partners as well as independently to minimize risk to self and clients and when necessary quickly and accurately communicate with police agencies in emergent situations
• Occasionally stooping lifting 20 to 50 lbs crouching climbing (stairs) reaching and running
• Regular sitting Standing walking and Keyboarding
• Constant visual and auditory

Cascadia is an Equal Opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability you may contact us at or

This position is represented by a labor union

Benefits

We offer generous benefits for our full-time and part-time employees (20 hours pro-rated) including:

• Generous Paid Time Off Package Full-time employees earn 6 weeks of PTO in their first year!
• Medical and Dental Coverage (begins 1stof the month following 30 days after hire date)
• VSP Vision Discount Plan
• 403(B) Retirement Savings (Pre and post-tax plans with up to 8% employer matching contribution!)
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) (Medical dependent care and transportation options)
• Short-Term Disability Long-Term Disability and Life Insurance
• Paid Bereavement and Jury Duty Leave
• Length of Service Award
• Voluntary Life Insurance
• Supplemental Insurance
• Student loan forgiveness options

Wellness Benefits:

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Bicycle Reimbursement
• Discounted Fitness Memberships
• Trauma Support Team

Starting Rate Range in USD ($)