Crisis Responder

Canopy Roots • Brooklyn Center, MN

1d • $35 - $42 • Onsite

About The Position

As a Crisis Responder (CR) you will provide timely and compassionate mental health support to individuals experiencing crises. This role is in partnership with the City of Brooklyn Center to provide culturally responsive crisis services to community members. This role involves rapid response, crisis assessment, and collaboration with emergency services to ensure the safety and well-being of individuals in distress. This is a pilot unit with a current contract end date of May 2026; employment is not guaranteed beyond that date. This unit will be comprised of two mental health practitioners, at least one of which will be a licensed mental health professional.

Requirements

• Must meet one of the following educational and experience criteria: Meet the criteria for Mental Health Practitioner as defined by Minnesota state statute through equivalent education and experience. ( https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/245I.04#stat.245.04.2 ) Meet the criteria for Mental Health Professional as defined by Minnesota state statute through equivalent education and experience. ( https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/245I.04#stat.245I.04.4 ): Master's degree or higher in social work or a closely related field with coursework emphasis in areas such as social work methods, human growth and behavior, and principles or social welfare. Bachelor's degree in social work, psychology, sociology, or human services, and at least 27 quarter credits of graduate work in the above areas, and three years or more of full-time supervised experience as a social worker. Licensed as a Graduate Social Worker by the Minnesota Board of Social Work.
• Must have and maintain a valid Minnesota driver's license
• Lift and carry objects weighing up to 50 pounds
• Stand for at least 30 minutes at a time
• Walk for at least 15 minutes at a time
• Run for at least 10 seconds
• Climb stairs independently
• Reach forward and overhead
• Squat or kneel
• Twist and bend from the trunk
• Use a keyboard
• Engage in repetitive motion
• Be able to hear and process verbal communication in person and via radio

Nice To Haves

• Providing community-based mental health services
• Experience working with diverse populations and a commitment to culturally responsive care
• Knowledge of community resources for mental health, social services, and basic needs.
• Experience in effectively using harm reduction principles, trauma-informed care, and person-centered approaches
• Understanding of race-based disparities and the impact of these disparities on the development of a community, social justice, corrective justice, socio-economic statuses, and the effects on the overall health and wellness of populations.
• Ability to effectively perform in high-pressure situations that need sensitivity, flexibility, resourcefulness, and independent judgment.

Responsibilities

• Emergency Response & Situational Assessment Respond to 911 dispatched calls to assist in crises, often first emergency services on scene.
• Assess service recipient needs to determine appropriate and culturally informed interventions: Trauma-informed emotional support Crisis de-escalation, both emotionally focused intervention and addressing practical needs Psychoeducation, for recipient & their support systems Risk assessments and safety planning Service connection, including voluntary transport to community providers for further stabilization as needed Community resource connections Skills training to cope with current stressors or mental health symptoms Additional brief interventions as needed
• Enter residences and buildings during crises to provide assistance and support
• Utilize sprinter vans labeled with Canopy Roots and City of Brooklyn Center logos to respond to calls. Vehicles do not use bright lights or sirens. Responders are identified by a uniform with an identifying label.
• Collect and document call information to measure program effectiveness, in accordance with privacy laws.
• Collaboration & Coordination Work with a crisis responder partner to provide culturally responsive crisis response services to members of the community
• Collaboratively work with first response agencies (police, fire, emergency medical services, 911/dispatch) and other community stakeholders/partners.
• Provide consultation, support, and resources to police officers when responding to behavioral health-related calls.
• Participate in community engagement events.
• Participate in weekly collective meetings to discuss calls and gain expertise/feedback from colleagues
• Resource Connection Connect individuals experiencing crisis to mental health resources, natural supports, or community members
• Make appropriate referrals to mental health services, community resources, and other support service providers
• Demonstrate flexibility and collaboration when working closely with a partner in dynamic situations.
• Prioritize each recipient's agency, dignity, and autonomy, ensuring interventions are person-centered and culturally responsive.
• Understand the scope and limitations of the BCR role, providing support while recognizing when to connect recipients to additional resources.
• Prioritize safety-for self, partner, and community members-while maintaining calm in high-stress environments.
• Be comfortable with uncertainty and lack of closure, understanding that many calls will not have immediate resolution or follow-up.
• Be open to ongoing feedback, supervision, and reflective practice, integrating learning into daily work.
• Exercise professional assertiveness, maintaining clear boundaries and resisting external pressure to act beyond program scope.
• Recognize that work in emergency contexts requires strict adherence to compliance, documentation, and safety protocols.

Benefits

• Canopy-sponsored health, dental, and vision insurance options through Blue Cross Blue Shield MN and Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Employer-paid short-term disability insurance, AD&D, and life insurance
• Employer-paid Employee Assistance Program
• 56 hours of Wellness leave annually (prorated amount available on your first day of employment)
• 128 hours of Paid Time Off accrued annually
• 401k retirement plan with employer match
• Continuing education units (CEU) for mental health professionals
• Supervision towards licensure

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level