Mental Health Care Coordinator

WestCoast Children’s Clinic, located in Oakland, California, is a non-profit community psychology clinic that provides mental health services to Bay Area children, youth and families. Working at WestCoast Children’s Clinic means being part of an organization that is client-centered, trauma-informed, collaborative, and committed to justice and equity. 

The Mental Health Care Coordinator (Intensive Care Coordinator/ICC) is responsible for engaging and coordinating care for youth/young adults and their family members, foster parents, or other support persons. The position identifies and brings together family, natural supports (friends, extended family, neighbors, community members) and formal system partners (child welfare, school, juvenile probation, etc.) to form a Child & Family Team (CFT) which collectively works together to address goals and ensure successful and enduring change. 

The Mental Health Care Coordinator organizes and facilitates regular CFT meetings among all the teams on their caseload, and they monitor and contribute to progress toward the youth’s goals, while providing diversity of care through conducting needs and strengths assessments, case management, behavioral skill building and providing stabilization and comprehensive support to foster youth in a 24 hour drop-in center. An ideal candidate is outgoing and demonstrates flexibility, initiative, creativity, inclusivity and knowledge of the unique challenges youth and young adults face in the Bay Area community.

Additionally, this position provides services and participates in agency meetings in a combination of environments including virtual (zoom / phone) and in-person office or community locations (drop-in center, client homes, school, parks, etc.)

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide outreach to and engagement with youth and be a strong advocate for the youth within the team.
• Provide community-based trauma-informed services to foster youth or former foster youth transitioning to or struggling with independent living. 
• Provide intensive skill building with youth, with a focus on independent living.
• Provide assessments, crisis intervention, stabilization, and safety plans. 
• Identify and connect youth & young adults with other agencies to address their needs, including housing, medical, mental health, education, employment, advocacy, placement stability, and enrichment activities. 
• Work collaboratively in partnership with the team to engage and connect clients to appropriate resources and services.
• Assist with initial contact and intake, establishing relationships and building trust in order to help clients navigate systems for access to services.
• Provide advocacy, targeted case management and community based rehabilitation services to children and their families. 
• Provide psycho-education about mental health issues and advocacy services for clients.
• Comply with policies, procedures, documentation and paperwork for EPSDT Medi-Cal billing and meeting billing requirements as set by the agency.
• Provide services in the community and stabilization support services to children and TAY in an in-person milieu environment.

Qualifications:

• At least 2 years of experience working directly with children and/or families from a mental health framework (required)
• Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Criminal Justice, Social Work or related field (required)
• Group / treatment team facilitation experience and skills are highly desired
• Passionate about working with foster youth, families & young adults who have complex traumatic histories
• Highly motivated to work from a team-based approach
• Values humility, compassion, self-care, and ongoing personal growth
• Flexible schedule with ability to work evenings and occasional weekends as needed
• Ability to travel by car to meet with clients, generally within a 90 mile radius of the WCC office. Clean CA DMV record, current car insurance and a vehicle; travel is required

Competencies (skills, abilities, and knowledge):

• Cultural Humility - Awareness of the impacts of power, privilege, race and SOGIE on self, clients & others.
  
• Efficiency and Time Management - Ability to be well-organized, manage time/schedule effectively, and prioritize and complete timely documentation.
  
• Team-Based Care - Enthusiastically able to work collaboratively as part of a multidisciplina