At Inland Housing Solutions, relationships are the foundation of effective care. Our Enhanced Care Management (ECM) team walks alongside Medi-Cal individuals, families, and child/youth members experiencing homelessness, medical, social, and behavioral health challenges — meeting them where they are with compassion, cultural competence, and trauma-informed practice to improve health outcomes.
The Behavioral Health (BH) Specialist is a master’s-level, office and field-based clinician passionate about serving vulnerable populations through California’s CalAIM Enhanced Care Management (ECM) program. Under the direction of the ECM Program Manager, the BH Specialist manages a caseload with complex behavioral health needs, delivering comprehensive, culturally sensitive, and recovery-oriented care. The role focuses on behavioral health assessment, short-term intervention, crisis response, care coordination, and seamless integration of mental health and substance use services into Whole-Person Care. Working collaboratively with members, families, the interdisciplinary ECM team, healthcare providers, and community resources. The BH Specialist addresses Social Drivers of Health (SDOH), facilitates access to medical, social and behavioral health, helps members navigate chronic disease management, preventive services, and community resources. May provide clinical or task supervision to associate-level staff or interns as needed.
Ideal candidates bring prior ECM/CalAIM experience and licensure-eligible (or licensed) clinical training. The position requires both telephonic outreach and in-person visits (including homes, clinics, hospitals, shelters, and community settings) and is not remote. New hires actively participate in outreach to build their independent caseload under close supervision.
Role and Responsibilities
Member Engagement & Support:
- Build trusting, therapeutic relationships using evidence-based, trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and recovery-oriented approaches (e.g., Motivational Interviewing, Harm Reduction) to address behavioral health needs and support whole-person recovery goals.
- Conduct comprehensive behavioral health assessments, risk/safety evaluations, and diagnostic screening (within scope); provide short-term counseling, crisis intervention, de-escalation, safety planning, and psychoeducation in community or member-preferred settings (homes, clinics, hospitals, shelters, etc.).
- Ensure members receive services that honor cultural preferences, health literacy levels, and family dynamics.
- Assist members in navigating the healthcare system, understanding their care plans, obtaining community supports, overcoming barriers to accessing care, and participating successfully in their treatment plans.
Care Coordination & Team Support:
- Serve as the primary behavioral health expert on the ECM interdisciplinary team; lead behavioral health care planning, provide consultation and clinical guidance to CHWs and non-licensed staff on acuity, escalation, crisis response, and mandated reporting.
- Collaborate with Lead Care Managers, RNs, CHWs, housing navigators, and external providers, weekly case reviews, huddles, reflective supervision, and ad hoc consultations to ensure integrated Whole-Person Care.
- Monitor member progress, adjust behavioral health interventions and care plans, coordinate warm hand-offs to higher levels of care, and facilitate continuity after psychiatric hospitalizations or SUD treatment.
Provider and Partner Relations:
- Build and maintain strong partnerships with county behavioral health, community mental health centers, SUD providers, hospitals, and crisis teams through regular outreach, joint case conferences, and education on ECM behavioral health services and CalAIM requirements.
Documentation & Compliance:
- Complete accurate, timely, clinically useful documentation (including double documentation when required) in all required systems (CRM, EHR, managed care portals, etc.) in full compliance with Medi-Cal, CalAIM, HIPAA, 42 CFR Part 2, and mandated reporting obligations; protecting PHI at all times.
- Attend required meetings, clinical supervision sessions, trainings, quality reviews, and compliance activities while upholding professional ethics, boundaries, and confidentiality.
Growth & Professional Development:
- Begin by supporting shared/higher-acuity caseloads and outreach, progressively assuming independent caseload management under close supervision; regularly update person-centered behavioral health goals, interventions, and barriers in collaboration with the team.
Other:
- Perform other duties as needed.
Required Qualifications
- Master’s degree in Social Work, Psychology, Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, or a closely related behavioral health field.
- Active California licensure (e.g. LCSW, LMFT, LPCC) or licensure-eligible and actively working toward licensure (e.g., ASW, AMFT, APCC).
- Minimum 2 years of clinical experience in behavioral health, including counseling, crisis intervention, risk assessment, and care coordination with high-acuity populations.
- Knowledge of Medi-Cal/CalAIM regulations, Enhanced Care Management (ECM) guidelines, and behavioral health best practices.
- Demonstrated cultural humility and commitment to trauma-informed, recovery-oriented, and person-centered care for unhoused and other vulnerable populations.
- Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and collaboration skills with proven ability to thrive in a multidisciplinary team environment.
- Proficiency with technology and multiple documentation platforms (e.g., EHRs, CRM systems); quick learner and highly adaptable.
- Valid California driver’s license, clean driving record, reliable insured vehicle, and willingness to travel extensively throughout Riverside and San Bernardino Counties.
- Ability to pass live scan/background check and pre-employment drug screening.
Preferred Qualifications
- Active California BBS license
- 2+ years of post-licensure clinical experience in community mental health, substance use disorder treatment, or homeless services.
- Prior experience delivering Enhanced Care Management (ECM) or other CalAIM services (e.g., as a behavioral health clinician in a health plan, FQHC, or community-based organization).
- Bilingual proficiency (especially Spanish/English).
- Training or certification in evidence-based practices relevant to the population (e.g., Motivational Interviewing, CBT for psychosis, DBT skills, Harm Reduction, Seeking Safety, or CAMS suicide prevention).
- Familiarity with local Riverside and San Bernardino County behavioral health resources, including County Mental Health, SAPT programs, Full-Service Partnerships, and crisis services.
- Lived experience with behavioral health recovery, homelessness, etc. (valued as a strength in peer-informed roles).
Physical Requirements and Work Environment
- Must be able to sit for long periods of time.
- Normal range of hearing and vision.
- Regularly required to operate a computer keyboard, mouse, telephone, reach with hands and arms.
- Must be able to lift up to 25 lbs. at a time.
- Regular, planned travel required for community-based visits and work in the office.
At IHS we are people advocates. We recognize that individuals come from all walks of life, have different circumstances, or may even have a disability. The strength of our organization is our employees. By uniting diverse cultures, backgrounds, personalities, strengths, and lived experiences, we can continue building a team of exceptional talents and perspectives that can deliver relevant high-quality services while effectively meeting clients where they are. We are committed to creating a workplace where all employees, regardless of background, or characteristics, are engaged, feel they belong, and can grow and develop long careers with our organization. We welcome you to apply!
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $35.00 - $50.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- Do you have ECM experience?
Work Location: In person
