Family Navigator

Turn your experience into a mental health career

Are you a family member or caregiver of someone who lives with a mental health condition?

Has your loved one experienced the reentry transition from jail or prison back into the community? You can take your own experience supporting your loved one during their reentry and apply it to helping other families who are going through similar experiences.

NO PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE NECESSARY. We have a rigorous training program that will prepare you as a Family Navigator with the Family Education and Resource Center (FERC), a program of the Mental Health Association of Alameda County (MHAAC).

The Mental Health Association of Alameda County (MHAAC) is a well-established non-profit organization with long term staff that assists and advocates for people with mental illness and their family members through programs including the Family Education Resource Center, the Family Partnership Program, and the Patients' Rights Advocacy Program. Together, these programs assist thousands of people with serious mental illness and their family members every year. We envision a world without stigma where people with mental health challenges and their family members are free to live their best lives. MHAAC's current budget is around $5 million.

We Offer:

• Competitive salary
• Eligible for first pay increase after successful completion of 3-month introductory period
• Some positions eligible for Bilingual Pay Differential for fluency in an Alameda County
  threshold language
• 100% paid medical and dental coverage for the employee
• 401K Retirement Plan
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Generous time-off benefits: 14 paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Years Day
• Vacation leave 2 weeks per year, increases to 4 weeks by year 4 of employment
• Paid lunch break
• Mileage reimbursement for work related travel
• Paid volunteer time-off
• Tuition reimbursement
• On the job training

The Family Education and Resource Center (FERC) is a family-centered program that provides free advocacy, support and education to family caregivers of a loved one living with a mental health condition. We support and advocate for the family's wellbeing assuring that they are not alone in their caregiving experience. We are expanding our services to include supporting family caregivers who have a loved one living with a mental health condition and who is in the reentry transition from jail or prison back into the community . We serve families from all regions of Alameda County and our office is located in the Pleasanton Dublin area.

What makes the FERC Reentry Program unique is that all staff members care for a loved one with a mental health condition or Serious Mental Illness (SMI) who has experienced the reentry transition.

FERC programmatic components include: a warmline; education, training, and support for family/ caregivers; a resource center; assistance with AB 1424 Historical Information forms; support for the development of family leadership; and collaboration with other MHSA funded programs.

The FERC Family Navigator reports to the Reentry Program Supervisor. Family Navigators partner with the Family to improve their Loved One's reentry, setting them up for success. Family Navigators provide guidance, explain the services that are available, help navigate through resources and facilitate linkages. Family Navigators help overcome the impacts of past discrimination and inequality. They support the family when their loved one appears to be experiencing unjust preclusion from employment opportunities, education, housing, family reunification, financial assistance and other public systems. From supporting Families in advocating for their child's rights at school, supporting families as they strengthen relationships during reunification and re-connection with their children, navigating the judicial system, understanding a mental health diagnosis, our Family Navigators are prepared to partner with and support each family on their reentry journey.

Typical Duties and Responsibilities (5-7 bullet points from Essential Functions of job description)

• Provide reentry support services to families: Monday - Friday from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
• Provide strengths-based compassionate support to the family as they care for their Loved One's reentry. Support clients by phone, by virtual meetings, by in-person consultation, by attending resource service meetings and service team meetings.
• Assist clients in navigating and linking to support services, public assistance programs, the Alameda County Forensic system, ACCESS and the behavioral health care system, county health care systems, legal system, employment, housing, basic needs, mental health and substance use recovery rehabilitation.
• Help remove obstacles to reentry through coordinating linkages, providing warm connections to services, scheduling appointments, coordinating other aspects of a family's needed supports to facilitate their Loved One's safe and successful landing in their home and community.
• Attend facilitate and/or support Family Member self-care and encourage caregivers to participate in self-help groups, existing family support groups and family peer support efforts.
• Deliver presentations to schools, the public, and other agencies.
• Participate in reentry outreach: Coordinate and collaborate in outreach events, partner with FERC, AAFOP and community partners (e.g. table at health fairs, other public venues, etc.)

Required Qualifications:

• Lived experience as the primary caregiver and/or direct family member of a loved one diagnosed with a mental health condition and/or substance use condition who has reentered their community, navigated support systems and utilized reentry assistance supports
• HS Diploma or GED
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Demonstrated excellence in service-oriented communication and teamwork
• Must successfully pass a fingerprint background check by CADOJ and FBI
• Must be able to provide proof of full Covid vaccine plus CDC/Alameda County recommended boosters
• Have proficiency in Microsoft Office: Outlook (email/calendar); Word (documents); Excel (spreadsheet); and Powerpoint (presentation)
• Have a valid CA Drivers License, daily access to a working motor vehicle, maintain legally required vehicle liability insurance and have an acceptable motor vehicle report as determined by MHAAC's insurance broker

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelors Degree
• Experience navigating the Alameda County behavioral health care system; Crisis support, Call Line triage
• Experience working with underserved communities and diverse populations
• Experience working as an advocate or case manager
• Experience in behavioral health Forensic, Diversion and Reentry Services
• Bilingual in an Alameda County threshold language: Cantonese, Farsi, Mandarin, Spanish, or Tagalog

HOURS OF WORK: Mon - Fri: 9AM-5PM. May require some evening and weekend work on occasion.

WORK LOCATION: 5776 Stoneridge Mall Rd., Pleasanton, CA 94588

SALARY: $26.50 per hour (approx. $55,120 annually).

The Mental Health Association of Alameda County is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and/or physical), those who exercise the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender identity/expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy), childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions, and sexual orientation.

We are committed to offering an inclusive and accessible experience for all job seekers, including individuals with disabilities. Our goal is to foster an inclusive and accountable workplace where everyone has the opportunity to be successful. If you need a reasonable accommodation to apply for a position or participate in the interview process, then please connect with us and describe the specific accommodation requested for your disability-related limitations.