Mental Health Specialist Details

Mental Health Specialist

San Diego Youth Services - Spring Valley, CA

Employment Type : Full-Time

SDYS Job Announcement:

HERE Now PEI Program

San Diego Youth Services provides vital services to more than 28,000 youth every year at 100+ community and school locations. We provide safe places to live and long-term solutions through shelter, foster homes, community centers and housing. Through prevention, early intervention and treatment, we also help youth before they need higher levels of care or become homeless.

Join us in building futures.

We Offer:

• Comprehensive health insurance coverage
• Dental/Vision/Life Insurance
• Employee wellness program
• Generous PTO plan
• Retirement Plan
• Diverse and inclusive work environment

Status: Temporary (through June 2021), Full-time; $22.33/hour

Specific Responsibilities: Accountable to the Program Manager to provide comprehensive trauma-informed school-based suicide Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) services as part of the Helping, Engaging, Reconnecting and Educating (HERE) Now program. Shall work to ensure the delivery of quality services on schools, including middle school and high school, and in community locations to serve children, youth and transition aged youth (TAY), with suicide prevention and early intervention services. Shall participate in the three components that include: 1) a multi-level suicide prevention program implemented through the public health approach; 2) evidence-based practices that focuses on reducing risk and enhancing protective factors for 7th through 12th grade youth, and 3) a comprehensive and collaborative approach to suicide prevention for at-risk middle through high school youth that includes support services and necessary linkages. Specifically, shall work with District employees, youth, and parents in creating an overall school environment conducive to appropriate learning for the pupils in the District that promotes positive mental health, stigma reduction, and suicide prevention.

Duties:

• Develop, implement, and evaluate an integrated trauma-informed approach for youth and families with co-occurring psychiatric and substance disorders, adhering to and upholding the rigorous standards of San Diego Youth Services as mandated by its mission, purpose, guiding principles and standards of quality.
• Work with diverse groups of middle and high school youth (7th-12th grade), transitional aged-youth and their families in a culturally-sensitive and culturally-competent manner.
• Work with school personnel and families to reduce disparities and stigma in accessing mental health services and to provide high quality services to youth and families.
• Participate in the School Oversight Team in conjunction with parents, Youth/Family Support Partners, the Program Manager, school administrators, teachers and other adults.
• Coordinate and provide risk assessments and crisis intervention, resources, and support services to youth/families.
• Assist Clinical Coordinator in high risk assessments and as needed provide individual intervention services to youth identified as “at risk” based on assessment.
• Assist Clinical Coordinator in assisting HERE Now staff in accomplishing their assessments whenever applicable.
• Care coordination with area mental health support and services as well as other needed services for youth/families with depression, other mental health problems, substance abuse or whose history of trauma would indicate a high risk for suicide or self-harm.
• Coordinate system-wide issues with the BHS Liaison when appropriate.
• Maintain confidentiality and privacy standards of service-partners’ protected health information and other applicable information and material in accordance to agency and center policies, and applicable regulations and laws, including HIPAA.
• Respond to service-partners during a crisis or urgent matter, including those that occur outside of normal business operating hours, by implementing and following the on-call procedures whenever the rotation of on-call falls into the scope of responsibilities for the assigned period.

Perform other Duties as assigned or required.

Physical Requirements: Must have ability to bend at the waist, kneel or crouch to assist students. Must have ability to hear and speak to exchange information and make presentations. Must have ability to lift and carry 20 pounds-lifting books, materials and equipment to execute lessons and presentations. Seeing to read, prepare and review a variety of activities and to monitor student activities. Sitting or standing for extended periods of time. Walking extended lengths to move around campuses. Potential exposure to physical injury from aggressive behavior.

Qualifications: License-eligible in Marital and Family Therapy, Social Work, or Psychology by the state of California, and a minimum of two years of job-related experience, including direct service experience with at-risk, multiple families and children on a school campus and/or home-based settings. Must be registered with the Board of Behavioral Science and must be in good standing. Experience with youth, family, and community development. Must possess excellent oral and written skills and be able to provide services to small and large groups of youth and adults. Must work well autonomously with other agencies and program staff in varying disciplines. Must be highly organized with the ability to focus on multiple priorities and meet deadlines. Must have the ability to work in a fast-paced and busy school-based environment. Creativity and sense of humor a must. Must be willing to develop or possess working knowledge of trauma-informed care and dual diagnosis treatment; experience working in trauma-informed and dual diagnosis programs preferred. Must be able to work with and represent a culturally and ethnically diverse community. Must be able to work efficiently remotely; be able to follow all the guidelines provided by the agency, government and health authorities to maintain safety and health when the job requires physical presence and/or contact with others during the COVID-19 pandemic. Must maintain CPR/First-Aid Certificate. Must have reliable vehicle and relevant auto insurance, plus a clean driving record (mileage reimbursed). Must be available to work weekends and evenings as assigned by supervisor and/or as needed. Employment subject to clearances, which may include fingerprinting, background checks, TB testing, and drug testing.

An Equal Opportunity Employer

SDYS is committed to creating a diverse work environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.
In compliance with the Immigration and Nationality Act as amended,
all new employees must verify their eligibility to work in the United States.

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