Behavioral Health Specialist II

About the position CASES is a New York City agency working at the forefront of the intersection between behavioral health and involvement in the criminal justice system. Our mission is to increase public safety through innovative services that reduce crime and incarceration, improve behavioral health, promote recovery and rehabilitation, and create opportunities for success in the community. The Behavioral Health division consists of a continuum of services for justice-involved individuals with serious mental illness, including outpatient clinic, health home care management (HHCM), assertive community treatment (ACT), and intensive mobile treatment (IMT). IMT is a multi-disciplinary team of behavioral health professionals (e.g., psychiatric care providers, registered nurses, behavioral health specialists, peer support staff) who work with 27 clients identified by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) Single Point of Access (SPOA) who have frequent movement across the behavioral health care system (outpatient and inpatient), the housing system (shelter, street, supportive, and independent housing) and the criminal justice system (jail, probation, parole); existing underlying risk of violence and/or violent behavior; serious mental illness diagnosis; and/or a history of, or active use of, substances. IMT services include assessment and treatment planning, crisis intervention, medication management, medication assisted treatment, integrated mental health and substance abuse treatment, individual and group therapies, psycho-education, psychosocial and vocational rehabilitation, assistance with medical concerns and medication, linkage and follow-up assistance to primary medical care including on-going communication with primary care physicians, assistance with activities of daily living, assistance obtaining entitlements, housing procurement and support, linkage/coordination with the criminal justice system, and shelter system, and assistance in using family and community resources. The primary goal of IMT is engagement and improving clients’ quality of life through engagement in treatment, rehabilitation, housing and support services that promote wellness, recovery, community integration as well as community safety.

Responsibilities

• Work with clients, families and/or significant others involved with the consumer to develop a person-centered treatment plan.
• Lead team efforts around the screening and assessment of clients for the treatment of co-occurring substance use disorders including through involvement in an interdisciplinary assessment.
• Advocate and liaise with clients within the criminal justice and shelter system.
• Assist clients in securing medical care, entitlement and other community supports that promote integrated physical and mental health, safety, wellbeing and recovery.
• Provide or connect clients with employment counseling, vocational rehabilitation, completion of housing applications and placement, and provision of life skills training.
• Provide team training and individual counseling that includes principles of Integrated Dual Disorder Treatment, as appropriate.
• Complete progress notes and assessments in the electronic health record within a timely manner.
• Work with external stakeholders - such as hospitals, shelters, jails, primary care - to achieve positive client outcomes.
• Provide services in a strength-based, recovery-oriented, trauma-informed, and culturally sensitive manner.

Requirements

• Master's degree in a relevant field.
• Must have expertise in the assessment and treatment of substance use disorders.
• At least two years of experience working with adults who have needs in the areas of mental health, substance use, trauma, violence risk, homelessness, frequent psychiatric hospitalizations, and criminal-justice involvement.
• Previous use of an electronic health record, Footholds AWARDS preferred.
• Strong commitment to social justice and the CASES mission.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience in a multidisciplinary setting and field-based clinical work.
• Fluency in Spanish.

Benefits

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Vacation and Paid Time Off – starting at 25 days-off annually, plus an additional summer self-care day
• 12 Paid Holidays per year
• Retirement 403b Competitive matching up to 6%
• Employee Referral Program

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