Community Mental Health Associate

This positin is located at our Garlington Health Center in NE Portland, but will work actively in the community. The schedule for the postiion is Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Essential Function

The Street Outreach Worker works independently and as a member of a team to provide street outreach and engagement, housing placement, and time-limited home-based retention supports to individuals and household members impacted by homelessness and mental illness. The Worker must have strong interpersonal skills necessary to develop positive working relationships within the team and assist participants in developing trusting relationships with other individuals and support systems, and assist all participants in accessing program partner services as well as mainstream resources/health programs. The Street Outreach Worker is responsible for conducting outreach services both on the street and with local social service providers with the intent of securing housing and other essential services to resolve homelessness, while supporting a Trauma Informed Care environment. With the high prevalence of trauma among individuals receiving mental health services, it is required the Street Outreach Worker understand the effects of trauma on health, coping, and other aspects of the lives of those we serve. Services will be provided primarily on the street, in the community, and in the participants homes. The primary goal is to quickly place participants into housing and achieve long-term housing stability.

Essential Responsibilities

This position description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of responsibilities, skills, or working conditions associated with the position. Management reserves the right to modify, add or remove duties as necessary.

* Conduct outreach and engagement to mentally ill homeless people sleeping outside or at homeless service programs within the City of Portland and Multnomah County in coordination with partner staff.
* Connect with identified clients on the streets or in other unsafe conditions, and deliver street-based services such as counselling, emergency referrals, basic needs (food, blankets, clothing).
* Provide engagement services to clients utilizing strength-based case management, motivational interviewing and harm reduction concepts.
* Communicate with supervisor, manager and office coordinator in a timely manner on all individuals/households who are receiving outreach supports, or other services. Maintain full and prompt communication and approval for all client households on caseload, and service planning, and potential need for program client/rent assistance.
* Collaborate with QMHP to conduct Behavioral Health Assessments and collaboratively develop Treatment Plans (ISSPs) with participants, and all tasks related to enrollment as a Cascadia client for clinical and insurance billing purposes.
* Gather all client level data in a timely and accurate manner as required for HMIS/Service Point and contacted funders. This includes entry, exit, and services provided each month.
* Complete all applications related to housing placement and service access in a timely fashion. This includes providing quality information to each household engaged in service and housing options, as well as completing and submitting forms, applications and other documentation in collaboration with participating clients: includes, but is not limited to supportive housing application packets, apartment applications, rental subsidy applications, vulnerability assessments, referrals into BEST and other entitlement assistance programs, food stamps, AMHI programs, Crisis/Respite services and all other programs and resources of value to the participant household.
* Provide limited therapeutic intervention and skills training services, including practical support and advocacy to clients throughout the working relationship with focused intent to improve each clients ability to develop informal and formal support systems, with the intent of long-term housing stability, and full engagement in outpatient health and mental health supports.
* Accompany clients to appointments and provide transportation using company vehicle when necessary.
* Provide in-reach/liaison to community partners serving homeless people under the direction and in collaboration with the teams management and direct services staff and partners.
* Access available housing and community resources and address the barriers that may impede access to housing. Share housing resource information and strategies with supervisor and the team to increase the teams effectiveness.
* Coordinate referrals and connections to housing, mental health, substance abuse, medical and other social services providers.
* Develop relationships within the community and partner organizations to ensure client needs are met in a timely and effective manner.
* Provide advocacy services for clients including securing benefits, mental health services, housing programs, medical services and emergency services.
* Complete any documents required for client care, and services provision. Includes Multnomah Treatment Fund, internal agency transfer paperwork, Wellness Center referrals, and other appropriate mental health and/or addiction services based on outcome of assessment and consumers interest.
* Assist and verify all participants have a primary health care provider, and provide service coordination with other professionals and medical providers if a client is hospitalized to ensure timely and appropriate discharge into care. Provide timely follow-up.
* Ensure ongoing financial stewardship through the care, conservancy, planning, attention, maintenance, and management of financial and other resources, such as time, equipment, etc.
* 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. Maintain timely, professional, accurate and up-to-date documentation associated with billing, assessment, treatment, clients progress and other activities, as required.
* Respect and honor client rights and responsibilities and demonstrate professional boundaries and ethics.
* Assist in crisis situations as appropriate, following emergency protocols/procedures and coordinating with the treatment team with interventions which support a trauma informed environment for clients and staff and maximize safety of self and others.
* Adhere to mandatory abuse reporting laws and HIPAA requirements.
* Complete RFPs for client assistance, and follow all protocols and guidelines consistently and within required timelines.
* Complete annual employee training requirements on a timely basis per agency requirements. Attend seminars, training and other educational opportunities in order to develop professional skills and abilities.
* Participate in and be on time for all scheduled staff meetings, supervision sessions, clinical supervision sessions, partner meetings and other departmental and agency meetings.
* Maintain timely and accurate gathering of required data for Street Team funder reports, including data for Service Point/HMIS.
* Provide supports and assistance to team members, including partner team members with NARA, Urban League and JOIN.

Role-Specific Responsibilities

* Be attentive to outreach best practices in order to effectively engage culturally specific populations to play an active role in the teams success to quickly engage Native American, African American households, Latino and Asian Pacific Islanders and attain strong housing placement and housing retention outcome. Link Spanish-speaking households with our bilingual team members, and arrange for translation services as needed/eligible.
* Remain aware of discrimination issues, within the program and in the community, and communicate promptly with management staff around impacts and advocacy/education needs. Work as a member of a team to create a welcoming supportive work environment, and clinical program, which effectively serves and supports a diverse client population.
* Remain alert to safety risks and maintain appropriate professional boundaries within this unique and often challenging work environment.
* Maintain appropriate use of program electronic systems and tools at all times. Includes use of assigned agency cell phone, laptops/netbooks/desktop computers and other office equipment and vehicles.
* Maintain outreach vehicle in clean and good operation condition, following proper policies and procedures.
* Create and maintain a welcoming work and community living environment, model respect, friendliness, teamwork and compassion.
* Staff may be required to work a 12-hour shift, if the need arises, and when coordinated with the program supervisor or manager.
* Actively participate in severe weather outreach events, and be flexible around working location (shelter, street) and work hours/days (evenings, weekends).
* Perform other duties as assigned.