Behavioral Health Outreach Specialist - Seattle/Belltown

Evergreen Treatment Services•Seattle, WA

58d•Onsite

About The Position

The Outreach Team focuses on engaging clients living on streets and encampments with low barrier resource navigation, maintaining engagement with case management services, and establishing partnerships with other providers and organizations to coordinate care. The REACH Outreach Team conducts assessments and provides referrals to services such as shelter, case management, behavioral and physical healthcare, substance use treatment, harm reduction resources, and housing, if able. REACH services are person-centered, strengths-based, traumainformed, culturally relevant, and respectfully provided from a harm reduction perspective to promote client autonomy and dignity in how they access resources and services. The Behavioral Health Outreach Specialist will also be responsible for forging pathways and partnerships with outpatient mental health and substance use treatment providers, emergency departments, community-based organizations, and neighborhood businesses. With expertise in behavioral health services, this position will pair with REACH staff to engage people who are living outside with unmet mental health and substance use treatment needs. This position will coordinate linkage to the appropriate services according to the clients' needs, including but not limited to coordination with outpatient behavioral health programs (e.g. PACT and HOST) as well as crisis-oriented programs including HealthOne, Health99, King County Crisis & Commitments, the CARE team and Mobile Rapid Response Crisis Team. A critical function of this position is to conduct warm handoffs (accompaniment) from streets to behavioral health appointments, and from hospitals and jails to community placements. Additionally, direct services provided by this staff will include risk-reduction and safer use strategies, substance use disorder assessment, intervention, and linkage to medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) and recovery support services. The Behavioral Health Outreach Specialist will serve as a subject matter expert for helping clients access behavioral health and substance use treatment, providing consultation on available services to other REACH staff. Behavioral health and substance use services will be provided in a holistic manner across the entire continuum of care, including traditional out-patient treatment settings, crisis care, and outreach-based services. The position is a full-time (Monday-Friday, 8-5pm), in person direct-service based position that will conduct outreach to individuals at various sites in Seattle and, at times, to sites throughout King County. As with all REACH direct-service positions, the Behavioral Health Outreach Specialist will provide services to people where they are; meeting with clients in street-based or community settings.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent required, undergraduate degree with coursework in the social service field preferred.
A minimum of three years' experience in work related to social work or outreach programs.
Experience providing services to individuals who are experiencing homelessness and behavioral health conditions from a harm reduction perspective is essential.
An understanding of racial justice and social equity and a commitment to helping create an equitable environment for all ETS clients and patients as well as fellow staff.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, patients, and staff from a wide variety of ethnic, socioeconomic, and cultural backgrounds.
Strong interpersonal skills and verbal/ written communication skills.
Excellent organizational skills and ability to prioritize workload, work independently, and complete tasks timely and efficiently.
Punctual, dependable, able to work under pressure, receptive to change, willingness to learn, cooperative approach to problem solving.
Flexible team player, with excellent attention to detail.
Ability to maintain confidentiality and use discretion when handling highly sensitive information.
Knowledge of King County resources for behavioral health and substance use treatment preferred.
Ability to set boundaries, resolve conflict and de-escalate issues.
Computer literate, with basic knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, as well as a high level of initiative in keeping current with technological change.
Use of a program vehicle, for which a valid Driver's License and acceptable driving record is required.

Responsibilities

Advance Mission & Vision
Help ETS succeed in carrying out our mission through working together with other staff to transform systems of harm and inequity to create different approaches to improving community health and safety through addressing substance use, mental health and homelessness.
Assist with the organization-wide initiative to reimagine our interconnectedness within our community to overcome the aspects of our society and organizational culture shaped by white supremacy and settler colonialism.
Clinical Support and Engagement
Build trusting relationships with clients who are living outside, use drugs, and have mental health needs, emphasizing harm reduction practices.
Conduct brief assessments to understand clients' substance use patterns, mental health status, and social determinants of health.
Assess the nature and severity of clients' behavioral health needs and match clinical interventions to the individual's stage of change.
Develop individualized harm reduction plans in collaboration with clients, focusing on reducing risks associated with drug use and unmet mental health needs.
Utilize clinical supervision, psychiatric consultation and peer support for exploring clinical intervention strategies, resource development, self-care and burnout prevention.
Harm Reduction Education and Counseling
Educate clients on safer drug use practices, overdose prevention, and accessing harm reduction resources (e.g., syringe exchange programs, MOUD, co-occurring outpatient programming etc.).
Utilize Motivational Interviewing to provide brief, ongoing counseling and support to help clients set achievable goals related to their mental health, substance use and overall well-being.
Short Term Case Management and Referrals
Assist clients in navigating social services, healthcare systems, and community resources to address their housing, employment, and healthcare needs. This includes helping clients schedule appointments and accompanying them to the appointments.
Coordinate with external agencies and service providers to ensure comprehensive care and support for clients, including medical detox and inpatient substance use or psychiatric treatment when indicated.
Outreach and Community Engagement
Conduct street outreach to engage with individuals who may be hesitant to access traditional services.
Develop and maintain productive, respectful relationships with community stakeholders and other resources including SUD and mental health treatment providers.
Identify gaps and barriers in available community resources and advocate for systemic changes that will facilitate easier access to care for individuals facing the most barriers.
Participate in regional and local meetings that pertain to initiatives related to addressing the behavioral health needs of people experiencing homelessness or housing instability in King County.
Participate in case conferencing meetings for outreach and other homeless service providers to discuss clients with high barriers to accessing services.
Documentation and Evaluation
Maintain accurate and confidential client records in compliance with organizational policies and legal requirements.
Collect data and prepare reports on activities per agency and contract requirements.
Participate in program evaluation and quality improvement activities to enhance service delivery and outcomes.
Provide services consistent with ETS/REACH policies and procedures.