Temporary Case Manager for DHS Homeless Housing and Mental Health

Mental Health America of Los Angeles•Valencia, CA

About The Position

Mental Health America of Los Angeles (MHALA) is a leading nonprofit mental health agency dedicated to helping individuals with mental health needs live meaningful lives. With a history spanning nearly a century, MHALA provides comprehensive services in healthcare, homelessness, employment, and wellness. The agency supports over 19,000 individuals annually and offers integrated services for various populations, including Veterans and transition-age youth. MHALA emphasizes a supportive work environment with core values of communication, collaboration, transparency, and work-life balance, encouraging self-care and offering a 35-hour workweek. The agency fosters diversity and a team-oriented culture with growth opportunities. MHALA provides a competitive salary and a full benefits package, including an employee assistance program and generous paid time off.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED
2 years’ experience providing psychosocial rehab-related services to a disabled population
Must function well in a team-oriented approach to client services.
Proficient in computer applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.
Be able to learn and utilize Homeless Management Information Systems (HMIS) and Electronic Health Records Systems.
Have experience working with clients with mental illness, chronic health issues, and substance use disorders.
Have expertise in the following areas: chronic homelessness, outreach and engagement strategies, intensive case management services, best practice models, mental health and substance use disorder services, crisis intervention, suicide assessment and prevention, affordable housing and public benefits applications, housing and landlord/tenant rights, eviction prevention, etc.
Flexible work schedule to include some nights, weekends, and holidays.
Driving with a current class C driver’s license, a vehicle for transportation, proof of valid automobile insurance, and the ability to be insured by MHALA liability insurance are conditions of employment.
TB clearance and annual retesting are conditions of employment.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual Spanish speaking preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide case management support to a caseload of 40 low/high-acuity members.
Assist individuals at every stage of the housing stabilization process, including flexible services to meet clients' individual needs for all LACDA/HACLA-linked subsidies.
Complete all LACDA/HACLA-related documentation, interviews, and certificate utilization and serve as a point of contact for LACDA/HACLA subsidies.
Conduct outreach and engagement, including processing referrals from DHS, CES partners, and other HFH partners, establishing rapport with clients, providing a “screening in” philosophy, conducting a face-to-face screening, obtaining consents, and linkage to other needed providers and services.
Conduct intake and enrollment activities with eligible clients, including assisting clients with gathering other program eligibility documentation, completing project intake forms, and authorizations, and enrolling into ICMS.
Provide assistance with temporary housing assistance until permanent housing can be secured.
Assist at all levels of move-in to permanent housing, including assisting clients with becoming document ready, assisting with all applications and paperwork, coordinating client move-in, and orienting new tenants to their unit/building.
Assist clients with accessing services and addressing their immediate needs, conduct DHS-approved comprehensive psychosocial assessment, and develop and implement individualized case management services plan in collaboration with and authorized by the client based on the client’s comprehensive assessment and/or reassessment.
Ensure clients are linked to and accessing health, mental health, and substance use disorder services as needed, including assisting clients with establishing a medical home and maintaining continuity with their medical home.
Assist with maintaining medication and treatment regimens.
Assist clients with obtaining income and/or establishing benefits, with locating and securing employment and volunteer and/or educational activities, assist with basic needs, life skills, community participation, improving and/or maintaining daily independent living skills, social/leisure, personal hygiene skills, budgeting and money management, legal issues and making appropriate referrals to overcome barriers to accessing and obtaining permanent housing, and provide transportation as needed.
Provide housing location services (if scattered site), and educate clients on tenant rights and responsibilities.
Educate the client on the appropriate use of crisis intervention services versus 911 emergency calls, etc.
Provide eviction prevention counseling; work with property management and HFH partner to help clients resolve issues that threaten their housing stability, including tenant rights and responsibilities.
Assist and support program documentation standards of staff in accordance with MHALA, LACDMH County Contracted Provider standards and funding source requirements, and documents in Electronic Health Records (EHR), including 24-hour turnaround documentation.
Participate in the On-call Crisis Prevention rotation schedule; ensure that HFH clients are notified of their ability to access the crisis prevention line 24-hour/7 days a week.
Read, perform research, attend classes, workshops or seminars and participate in other professional development activities to maintain and enhance personal and professional skills.