Community Mental Health Associate

Mental Health Associate

Job Overview

Location/Schedule: This position is based at the Garlington Health Center located in NE Portland, OR. The schedule for the position is Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Position: Community Mental Health Associate

Program: Housing Outreach Team

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 Community Mental Health Associate works independently and as a member of a team to provide engagement, housing placement, and time-limited home-based retention supports to individuals and household members impacted by homelessness and mental illness. The Community Mental Health Associate 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 position is part of a team that provides community based behavioral health services and long-term rental subsidies. The program uses a holistic, whole person, culturally responsive approach as well as motivational interviewing, assertive engagement and the Harm Reduction model. All incumbents must understand, appreciate and respect the 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, skills, or working conditions associated with the position.  Management reserves the right to modify, add or remove duties as necessary.  

• 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.

Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelors degree in a behavioral science field from an accredited college or university or three years of full time professional experience working with adults with severe and persistent mental illness. Demonstrate the competencies to become credentialed as a Qualified Mental Health Associate (QMHA), as outlined in OAR 309-016-0005.

Experience:

• Experience providing culturally specific services preferred.

Specialized Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Must be able to effectively engage and support the client community served and provide culturally specific services

• Demonstrated ability to engage and provide culturally relevant services to African-American, Latino/Latina and/or Native American individuals and families experiencing homelessness, financial poverty, and mental illness

• Demonstrated ability to engage and provide high quality culturally relevant services

• Understanding of Motivational Interviewing, Trauma Informed Care, and principles of Illness Management Recovery, and skills to provide strength based practices

• Operate Computer hardware and software at a level to effectively perform the job functions

• Enter and retrieve data

Other:

• Bilingual ability with proficiency in Spanish is preferred, but not required.

• 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.

• Access and ability to use a reliable vehicle in order to travel to partner sites and community appointments.

• Ability to perform CPR, First Aid, and properly use AED equipment. CPR/ First Aid certifications are required and must remain current.

Working Conditions  

Working conditions vary by program and site. Daily routines may be hectic, requiring flexibility to perform various site functions, occasionally covering for other employees, and adapting to interrupted meal breaks. Precautions are necessary to handle potential risks, including exposure to violent behavior, disease, and biohazards. Self-care is essential, as Peer Providers must model positive self-care for clients.  

Mental Demands: The role involves managing diverse tasks with unpredictability, requiring flexible time management to handle disruptions that may impact costs, employee morale, or client well-being.  

Physical Demands: Peer Providers will design activities that promote community integration and help clients develop socially acceptable behaviors as per their treatment plans. The role may involve using agency vehicles to assist clients in community engagement activities and employees must be pre-approved to provide transportation using agency vehicles. Peer Providers must also support team safety in potentially volatile situations.  

Cascadia is an Equal Opportunity Employer. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at 503.963.7654.

This position is represented by a labor union.

Cascadia is an Equal Opportunity Employer. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at 503.963.7654.

Employees are responsible for obtaining and maintaining all licenses, certifications, registrations, and other credentials required for their position. Required credentials must remain active and in good standing as a condition of employment. Candidates are encouraged to familiarize themselves with any applicable credentialing requirements, including associated fees and renewal or maintenance obligations, prior to applying.

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 1st of the month following hire date)
• VSP Vision Discount Plan
• 403(b) Retirement Plan - Eligible after 60 days with immediate 100% vesting and a 1-to-1 company match up to 3% per pay period, plus the opportunity for an additional discretionary contribution (up to 5%) at the end of the fiscal year.
• 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)
• Bike to Work Reimbursement

Starting Rate Range in USD ($)

$26.45 - $27.65