Dual Behavioral Health Spec I

Central City Concern • Portland, OR

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Overdose Prevention & Aftercare Specialist (Dual Behavioral Health Specialist I) works as part of a multidisciplinary team to coordinate care and provide compassionate interventions for clients at elevated risk of opioid overdose. The position uses harm reduction principles, trauma-informed care, and evidence-based practices to provide outreach, initial engagement, needs and risk assessments, brief crisis interventions, and follow-up support. The specialist helps clients rapidly access withdrawal management, medication-assisted treatment, outpatient therapy, primary care, and other indicated services, and supports their continued engagement in care.

The specialist develops and facilitates interdisciplinary care plans and case conferences with clinical, housing, and supportive-housing colleagues; collaborates with health plans, hospitals, residential and subacute facilities; and may provide services to clients admitted to inpatient facilities. The role also supports client access to benefits and material resources and helps deliver naloxone and overdose-prevention training to agency staff. Services may be provided across OTRC SUDS, Blackburn SUDS, Warm Welcome, Behavioral Health in Supportive Housing (including CEP, Cedar Commons BH, and Bud Clark BH), and HEART, including HEART in Housing.

The position is based at Golden West in Portland, Oregon, and is scheduled Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Compensation is $29.00–$38.48 per hour; the hiring range for external candidates is capped at Step 11 ($33.65 per hour), with the range varying by relevant experience, licensure, and certifications. The role is represented by AFSCME.

Requirements

• QMHA-1 credential.
• CADC-1 credential.
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, or three years of relevant work experience specializing in chemical dependency and mental health treatment, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Meet Central City Concern privileging requirements as required by FTCA.
• Current CPR certification before the start date.
• Competence in effective communication; drug and alcohol assessments; service planning based on ASAM criteria; treatment and service terminology; psychosocial skills development; psychoeducation; assisting with mental health assessments; and implementing service-plan interventions.
• Pass a pre-employment drug screen, TB test, and background check, including clearance by the DHS Background Check Unit.
• Adhere to the agency’s drug-free workplace policy. A&D program staff must not have had a DUI conviction or diversion, felony conviction, or Uniform Controlled Substances Act conviction within the previous three years.
• Physical ability to bend, stoop, kneel, squat, twist, reach, pull, lift heavy objects, and climb stairs several times per day.
• Carry an agency-provided cell phone for work use.
• If using a vehicle for agency business: have a current driver’s license, access to a vehicle, qualify as an acceptable driver under the agency Fleet Safety policy, complete initial driver training within 60 days of driver approval and ongoing recertification training, and maintain at least $100,000/$300,000 personal auto liability coverage.
• Adhere to the agency’s nondiscrimination policies and interact respectfully with people of diverse ethnic, religious, cultural, lifestyle, and sexual-orientation backgrounds.
• Advanced knowledge of Motivational Interviewing, IDDT, and other evidence-based interventions, with continued education in crisis assessment and response.
• Ability to identify client needs, develop plans, perform timely and accurate risk assessments, distinguish client presentations, and respond to symptomatic behaviors.
• Knowledge and skills in counseling individuals and groups, mental health treatment, chemical dependency treatment, and community and social service agencies.
• Ability to work effectively with clients, peers, groups, and interdisciplinary teams; establish priorities; apply learning to new situations; and learn new skills.
• Ability to maintain a nonjudgmental attitude and demonstrate commitment to harm reduction and inclusive approaches that honor different pathways to recovery.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely in writing and verbally; maintain accurate records; manage time; and meet deadlines.
• Ability to work effectively in potentially hostile or abusive environments and communicate courteously with the public, clients, medical personnel, corrections personnel, police, and coworkers.
• Knowledge of de-escalation methods or ability to be trained in them.
• Ability to provide leadership, train and coach others, and adapt positively to change.
• Ability to consider the effects of underserved communities, oppression, structural racism, and individual bias on client outcomes.
• Knowledge of overdose-prevention best practices and drug-user health-promotion strategies.
• Excellent customer service, diplomacy, and tact with a wide range of people, including under stressful circumstances.

Responsibilities

• Provide same-day and next-day outreach, engagement, and brief solution-focused crisis interventions to clients who have experienced an opioid overdose.
• Participate in referral review and prioritization for clients identified as at risk of opioid overdose.
• Conduct risk assessments, evaluate level-of-care needs, and monitor clients’ health and safety.
• Identify eligible clients proactively using incident reports, Collective records, medical records, and other resources.
• Assess client needs and barriers to services through interviews, record review, and consultation, obtaining written consent as required.
• Develop and facilitate interdisciplinary, cross-departmental care plans and case conferences with clinical, housing, and supportive-housing teams.
• Help clients access withdrawal management, outpatient therapy, medication-assisted treatment, primary care, and other indicated services.
• Conduct non-coercive outreach, escort clients to meetings and appointments as needed, and help them access material resources such as medication and wound-care supplies.
• Monitor clients after interventions and support their re-engagement with overdose-prevention and other services.
• Collaborate with health plans to help clients access available benefits and supports.
• Work with residential facilities, subacute facilities, and hospitals on admission planning, care delivery, and discharge planning, and provide services to clients in inpatient facilities as needed.
• Collaborate in delivering naloxone-administration and overdose-prevention training, education, and technical assistance to agency staff and leaders.
• Maintain accurate client records in accordance with applicable laws, program standards, and funding requirements.
• Work within the scope of training and experience, seek consultation when appropriate, and attend required agency trainings.
• Comply with privacy and confidentiality requirements, including HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2, and report breaches of protected or personal information as required.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Student loan repayment options.
• Retirement savings plan with employer matching: 4.25% in the first year, 6% in the second year, and 8% in the third year.
• Paid time off beginning at four weeks of accrual per year, with accrual increasing with longevity.
• Up to 11 recognized holidays and two personal holidays, depending on work-shift schedule.
• Employer-paid life, short-term disability, and long-term disability insurance.
• Sabbatical program offering extended time off at years 7, 14, and 21.

What This Job Offers

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