Mobile Mental Health Associate (Project Respond/Shelter Behavioral Health Team)

Mobile Mental Health Associate (Project Respond/Shelter Behavioral Health Team)

Job Overview

Location/Schedule: This position is based out of Kerns building in NE Portland, but work is performed in the community setting including client residences, schools, police precincts, shelters, residential facilities, and public spaces. The schedule for this position is Friday through Monday, mid-shift, 11:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Position: Mobile Mental Health Associate

Program: Project Respond/Shelter Behavioral Health Team (SBHT)

Cascadia's 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 provides outreach and support to individuals identified in Multnomah County publicly funded shelters as having behavioral health challenges related to mental health or substance use that are impacting their use and success in the shelter program. They will provide engagement, de-escalation, and brief case management and culturally responsive services to support individuals in regaining stability and maintaining shelter placement. 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 County’s Acute Care Continuum, shelter service providers, 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.

• Provide on-site engagement, de-escalation, advocacy, referral and support to adults accessing Multnomah County Publicly Funded Shelters.

• Assist in crisis situations as appropriate, following emergency protocols/procedures and coordinate with the Shelter Services Team.

• Assess individuals 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 team from Multnomah County Locally Funded Shelters.

• Coordinate responses to situations with other shelter staff and community providers.

• Identify and assess risk factors for harm to self or others in the context of the client’s 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 information and facilitate linkage to mental health treatment and other social services.

• Consult with teammates, supervisors, program managers, and program medical directors as appropriate.

• Respect client rights and responsibilities and demonstrate professional boundaries and ethics.

• Adhere to mandatory abuse reporting laws and HIPAA requirements.

• 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; is familiar with fire regulations and evacuation procedures.

• Complete annual employee training requirements on a timely basis as indicated in the licensing requirements for the facility as well as agency requirements