PATH Outreach Worker & Veterans Specialist

Saginaw County Community Mental Health Authority•Saginaw, MI

4d•$65,592 - $81,213•Hybrid

About The Position

Under general supervision of Housing Resource Center Supervisor, this role provides daily outreach to homeless shelters, feeding programs, and police departments to identify and engage individuals who are veterans or homeless and have serious persistent mental illness or co-occurring developmental disabilities or substance use disorders. The position consults with community providers serving veterans or the homeless regarding individuals who may need mental health services. It coordinates with local veteran agencies to ensure eligible clients receive services. The role engages consumers, screens for eligibility for Saginaw County Community Mental Health Authority (SCCMHA) services, and monitors their access progress until engaged with a primary worker. Referrals are provided for those not eligible for SCCMHA, and assistance is given with entitlement applications such as SSI, SSDI, Medicaid, and Housing. This position requires knowledge of and active support for culturally competent recovery-based practices, person-centered planning, and a trauma-informed culture of safety.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree with relevant experience.
Must be able to apply for and obtain a limited licensed bachelor social worker (LLBSW) within thirty (30) days upon offer of employment.
Must be able to obtain a licensed bachelor social worker (LBSW) within one (1) year from the start date of the position.
A minimum of one (1) year of experience in dealing with mentally ill individuals.
Valid Michigan Driver’s license with a good driving record.
Knowledge of mental illness community housing and other resources, psychology, social work, and mental health programs.
Ability to function independently.
Ability to communicate effectively in both verbal and written format.
Ability to work in crisis situations with considerable stress.
Ability to understand individuals from all social, economic, and cultural backgrounds.
Hearing acuity to converse in person and on telephone.
Visual Acuity to observe consumers behavior, read and proofread documents and use computers.
Ability to walk, stand or sit for extended periods of time.
Manual dexterity to write and to operate standard office equipment (PC, Keyboard, Copy Machine, Fax Machine, etc.).
Ability to lift and carry files and supplies at least 20 pounds.
Strong interpersonal skills to interact with leadership, employees, consumers and the general public.
Analytical skills necessary to conduct research, analyze, and interpret complex data and identify and solve problems by proposing courses of action.
Ability to plan short and long range and to manage and schedule time.
Ability to handle stress in meeting deadlines and dealing with large numbers of employees and/or consumers.

Nice To Haves

Experience working with veterans and/or veterans initiatives is preferred.

Responsibilities

Provides services up to six hours a day, five days a week in host settings like emergency shelters and feeding programs to identify individuals who are homeless and need mental health services. This includes daily consultation with shelter managers, direct consumer screening, and informal participation in shelter activities to facilitate contact. The objective is active engagement of consumers not self-identifying as in need of service, approaching resistant individuals with sensitivity to professional demeanor and institutional/cultural biases to build trust.
Conducts screening for SCCMHA services eligibility, interviews consumers and referring advocates about presenting problems, history, and health care benefit enrollment. Willing to be trained in and participate in the SOAR program to facilitate disability applications. May advocate for consumers throughout the access process, including accompanying them to intake appointments or facilitating intake interviews. May participate in Person Centered Planning when requested by the consumer.
Links and coordinates services for veterans within the community to help them access veteran services. Screens and evaluates information to identify potential eligibility for veteran services and other federal and benefit programs (e.g., Social Security, welfare, insurance). Acts as a liaison between shelters, Community Mental Health, and Veterans Administration programs. Consults with VA staff to determine eligibility standards and application requirements. Works closely with VA programs to determine client eligibility for benefits, permanent housing, and temporary financial assistance.
Understands and uses housing first, recovery, and welcoming principles in all consumer relations and teaches these principles in community settings. May request assistance from the Housing Resource Center or Primary Treatment Team Peer Advocates when engaging consumers. Provides consultation to advocates regarding newly enrolled consumers who remain in shelter or on the streets.
Opens an electronic medical record for new or closed consumers and completes the screening form. Provides an appointment for initial assessment.
Provides community outreach to individuals on the street or in other community locations when requested by police or other referring agencies. May partner with police officers, Crisis and Centralized Access Intake staff, or other professionals for safety when approaching unknown homeless individuals. Makes at least weekly contact with City of Saginaw Police shift commanders to inquire about homeless individuals observed on the street. Available to screen individuals discharged from psychiatric units or jail to a shelter.
Identifies chronic homeless individuals resistant to engagement and provides periodic wellness checks to monitor well-being, establish relationships, and be prepared for intervention when the consumer requests or when mental health consultation is requested from other agencies.
Works with the Housing Resource Center to assist individuals ready to move from the street or shelter into independent housing. May assist case managers or Housing Resource Center staff with developing an Independent Living Housing Plan for consumers residing in shelters.
Maintains daily progress notes in the SCCMHA electronic medical record, enters service activity event data, and maintains other contact records as required by the Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH) Grant. Performs HMIS data entry and reviews data for accuracy and completeness.
Prepares quarterly and annual reports for the Michigan Department of Mental Health PATH project, and assists with the annual revision of program specifications and renewal application.
Participates in various workgroups of the Saginaw Continuum of Care committee as assigned.
Adheres to the mission, vision, core values, and operating principles of SCCMHA at all times.