Outreach Specialist for Veteran Mental Health Services

Mental Health America of Los Angeles•Lancaster, CA

4h•$24 - $25•Hybrid

About The Position

Mental Health America of Los Angeles (MHALA) is a nonprofit mental health agency dedicated to helping individuals with mental health needs achieve meaningful, healthy lives. MHALA is one of the largest providers of mental health services in Los Angeles County, serving over 19,000 individuals annually with integrated services in healthcare, homelessness, employment, and wellness. The agency also offers training programs and fosters a supportive work environment with a focus on work-life balance, diversity, and opportunities for growth. MHALA provides a competitive salary and a full benefits package, including an employee assistance program and generous paid time off. The Veteran Outreach Specialist role is a 35-hour per week position with a pay rate of $24.00 - $25.00 per hour. The specialist will work under the general supervision of the Program Manager to identify and assist homeless and at-risk veterans and their families in accessing services through the Military Resource Center, utilizing a psychosocial rehabilitation model. Responsibilities include community outreach, administering eligibility assessments, providing resource linkage, and maintaining outreach logs. The role also involves collaborating with various community institutions and agencies to identify and assist veterans, coordinating with case management teams, and ensuring program compliance through accurate record-keeping and data entry.

Requirements

High School diploma or GED required
One year of providing psychiatric rehabilitation services to a disabled population/low income and/or homeless population required
Knowledge of health care, social service resource systems and self-help intervention strategies.
Crisis intervention and conflict resolution skills including use of motivational interviewing, harm reduction approach, and trauma-informed care.
Strong oral/written communication and listening skills.
Must be team-oriented, self-directed, have good listening and communication skills, the ability to empathize and relate positively to a wide variety of people and dedicated to fulfilling the demands of the position.
Experience working in diverse settings with people across all socio-economic spectrums.
Proficient typing and computer skills, including Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word and Excel)
Must function well in a team-oriented approach to member services.
Highly organized, detail oriented, and able to effectively manage multiple assignments through accuracy and thoroughness.
Driving with current class C driver’s license, a vehicle for transportation, proof of valid automobile insurance, the ability to be insured by MHALA’s liability insurance are conditions of employment
TB clearance and re-testing every year are conditions of continued employment
Employment verification directly from three (3) past employers within the most recent 7-year period

Nice To Haves

Veterans encouraged to apply
Bachelor’s degree in Social Work or related field preferred
Flexible work schedule to include some evenings or weekends when necessary.

Responsibilities

Maintain an outreach log of prospective veterans in SSVF program and provide the number of Veterans outreached in the community on a bi-weekly basis to program intake staff.
Provide information and resource linkage for veterans in the service area by direction to Military Resource Center.
Work as part of a team, makes regular visits to local institutions and other community sites where homeless veterans are known to be present [i.e., community shelters, community access centers, local veteran’s services, hospital emergency rooms, local jail, soup kitchens, community parks, other social service agencies, etc].
Establish and maintain good rapport and regular contact with local agency workers and administrators [i.e., police, fire, MET team, emergency room workers, parks & recreation workers, etc.] who are a source of referrals of homeless veterans in need of assistance and services.
Participate actively in the program’s established system(s) for accepting and responding to community-based requests to provide assistance for homeless veterans.
Implement strategies for and conducts outreach to hard-to-engage homeless veterans who are identified by local community referral sources, or who are living on the streets in the identified community/service area.
Assists Housing and Benefits Specialist with Veterans in locating requested services to include housing, food, health care, benefits, transportation and entitlements, etc. on a case-by-case basis or at HBS request.
Provide identification of and prescreening for eligibility of potential applicants.
Coordinate initial screening and assessment with case management team, participates in Stand Downs and all other VA/community outreach activities as directed by Program Manager.
Responsible for meeting approved prescreen outcomes for veteran enrollments on a monthly basis.
Provide information about SSVF services and information on community resources to current and potential participants.
Work cooperatively with team members to help ensure smooth and seamless delivery of comprehensive services to program participants.
Attend meetings and case conferences in the community.
Serve as a spokesperson for the organization in public interactions, local community events, meetings, that will further build the brand and encourage local partnerships.
Participate in staff and community meetings and in the day-to-day operations of the program as needed.
Maintain all records and documentation needed for program compliance and accountability in accordance with MHALA standards and SSVF requirements, and all billing and supporting documentation shall be entered into LAHSA’s HMIS (data record system) within 24 hours from the date of service delivery.
All required data collection documents (as applicable to your program: HMIS) are submitted on or before due date.
Help problem solve with the Veteran to identify an immediate safe place, even if temporary, to stay within the Veteran’s network of family, friends, or other social supports.
In partnership with other community stakeholders, ensures immediate or continued access to crisis services/shelter and connection to permanent housing through coordinated entry.
Engage in collateral duties as directed by program management as needed.