SCCMHA JOB VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
PATH Outreach Worker & Veterans Specialist
PAY RANGE: $65,592.33 - $81,212.99 annually
POSITION SUMMARY:
Under general supervision of Housing Resource Center Supervisor. Provides daily outreach to homeless shelters, feeding programs, and police departments in order to identify and engage in services those individuals who are veterans or homeless and have serious persistent mental illness or co-occurring developmental disabilities or substance use disorders. Provides consultation to community providers who serve veterans or the homeless regarding any person of concern who is served in their program and appears to the provider as possibly in need of mental health services. Coordinates with local veteran agencies/programs in order to ensure veterans receipt of services are provided to eligible clients. Engages consumers, screens for eligibility for Saginaw County Community Mental Health Authority (SCCMHA) services and follows their access progress until engaged with a primary worker in the SCCMHA network. Provides referrals to other mental health services when consumer is not eligible for SCCMHA. Assists consumers with entitlement applications such as SSI, SSDI, Medicaid, Housing, etc. This position will be knowledgeable about and actively support culturally competent recovery based practices; person centered planning as a shared decision making process with the individual, who defines his/her life goals and is assisted in developing a unique path toward those goals; and a trauma informed culture of safety to aid consumer in the recovery process.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBLITIES:
1. Provides services up to six hours a day, five days a week in the host settings of emergency shelters and feeding programs in order to identify individuals who are homeless and in need of engagement in mental health services. Time spent in shelters will include daily consultation with shelter managers, direct consumer screening and may include informal participation in shelter activities to facilitate contact with consumers in the setting; e.g. serving meals or preparing food. May include shelter based office hours or other predictable presence in shelter locations so that consumer/residents are aware that the mental health outreach worker is available for shelter residents on a drop in basis. However, the objective of this outreach activity is active engagement of consumers who are not self identifying as in need of service. Passive activity such as waiting for referrals or consumer requests for service is discouraged. This is an active case finding service, thus this worker is expected to approach homeless individuals who might be resistant and otherwise difficult to engage. Sensitivity to professional demeanor, institutional and cultural biases is essential to creating bonds and building trust with disenfranchised populations.
2. Provides screening for eligibility for SCCMHA services, interviews consumers and referring advocates regarding presenting problems, history and health care benefit enrollment. Willing to be trained in SOAR and continue ongoing training to provide assistance to homeless individuals. Participates in the SOAR program to facilitate disability applications. May advocate for a consumer throughout the access process including accompanying consumer to intake appointment or facilitating intake interview at shelter or community location. May participate in Person Centered Planning when requested to do so by consumer.
3. Provides linking and coordination of services to veterans within the community to help them access veterans services. Provides screening and evaluates information to identify potential eligibility for veteran services and other federal and benefit programs (i.e. Social Security, welfare, insurance, etc.). Acts as liaison between shelters, Community Mental Health and Veterans Administration programs for both in-network and outreached participants. Consults with VA staff to determine specifics related to eligibility standards and application requirements for benefits. Works closely with Veterans Administration programs to determine client eligibility for benefits, permanent housing and temporary financial assistance.
4. Understands and uses housing first, recovery and welcoming principles in all consumer relations and teaches these principles in community settings. May request assistance from Housing Resource Center or Primary Treatment Team Peer Advocates when engaging consumers in the community. Provides consultation to advocates regarding newly enrolled consumers who remain in shelter or on the streets.
5. Opens an electronic medical record for new or closed consumers and completes the screening form. Provides an appointment for initial assessment.
6. Provides community outreach to individuals on the street or other places in the community when requested to do so by the police or other referring agency. May work in partnership with a police officer, Crisis and Centralized Access Intake staff or other professionals to ensure safety when approaching unknown homeless individuals on the street. Makes at least weekly contact with City of Saginaw Police shift commanders to inquire about homeless individuals who the police have observed on the street. Is available to provide screening of individuals who have been discharged to a shelter from a psychiatric unit or from jail.
7. Identifies chronic homeless individuals in the community who are resistant to engagement in services and provides periodic wellness checks in order to monitor their well being, establish relationships and be prepared to provide intervention when the consumer requests or when mental health consultation is requested from other agencies.
8. Works with Housing Resource Center to provide assistance to individuals ready to move from the street or shelter into independent housing either private or subsidized. May assist case managers or Housing Resource Center staff with the development of an Independent Living Housing Plan for consumers residing in shelters.
9. Maintains progress notes in the SCCMHA electronic medical record on a daily basis, enters service activity event data in the SCCMHA record and maintains other contact records as required by Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH) Grant. Performs HMIS data entry. Reviews data for accuracy and completeness.
10. Prepares quarterly and annual reports for Michigan Department of Mental Health PATH project, assists with the annual revision of the program specifications and renewal application.
11. Participates in various workgroups of the Saginaw Continuum of Care committee as assigned.
12. Adheres to the mission, vision, core values and operating principles of SCCMHA at all times.
INCIDENTAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITES:
1. May address community groups or organizations.
2. Performs related administrative tasks such as completing time cards, travel vouchers, etc..
3. Occasionally assists consumers in moving into new living accommodations.
4. Attends in-service training, seminars, conferences, and workshops in order to sustain professional competency.
5. Reacts productively to change and handles other essential tasks as assigned.
(The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities required of personnel so classified.)
REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS:
Reports to: Housing Resource Center Supervisor
Supervises: None
WORKING CONDITIONS/ENVIRONMENT:
Works in community settings and on the street providing outreach to homeless individuals. In host settings may provide assistance with tasks of the shelter such as food preparation or serving of food under the oversight and assignment of the shelter host manager. Close contact with consumers who may have communicable disease and consumers who may be hostile, aggressive, and/or potentially violent. Transports consumers in automobile in all kinds of weather conditions and occasionally to high crime areas.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Education: Bachelor’s degree with relevant experience and must be able to apply and obtain a limited licensed bachelor social worker (LLBSW) within thirty (30) days upon offer of employment and obtain a licensed bachelor social worker (LBSW) within one (1) year from start date of position.
Experience: A minimum of one (1) year of experience in dealing with mentally ill individuals. Experience working with veterans and/or veterans initiatives is preferred.
Licenses and Certifications: Valid Michigan Driver’s license with a good driving record. Must be able to apply and obtain a limited licensed bachelor social worker (LLBSW) within thirty (30) days upon offer of employment and obtain a licensed bachelor social worker (LBSW) within one (1) year from start date of position.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
1. Knowledge of mental illness community housing and other resources, psychology, social work, and mental health programs.
2. Ability to function independently and to communicate effectively in both verbal and written format.
3. Ability to work in crisis situations with considerable stress.
4. Ability to understand individuals from all social, economic and cultural backgrounds.
Physical/Mental Requirements:
1. Hearing acuity to converse in person and on telephone.
2. Visual Acuity to observe consumers behavior, read and proofread documents and use computers.
3. Ability to walk, stand or sit for extended periods of time.
4. Manual dexterity to write and to operate standard office equipment (PC, Keyboard, Copy Machine, Fax Machine, etc.)
5. Ability to lift and carry files and supplies at least 20 pounds.
6. Strong interpersonal skills to interact with leadership, employees, consumers and the general public.
7. Analytical skills necessary to conduct research, analyze, and interpret complex data and identify and solve problems by proposing courses of action.
8. Ability to plan short and long range and to manage and schedule time.
9. Ability to handle stress in meeting deadlines and dealing with large numbers of employees and/or consumers.
(Listed qualifications are for guidance in filling this position. Any combination of education and experience that provides the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities will be considered; however, mandatory licensing or certification requirements cannot be waived. Physical/mental requirements cannot be waived unless specifically indicated.)
