Mental Health Counselor-Crisis Response for Youth & Families
Seneca believes that crisis response programs are a vital service for youth and families and should exist within a spectrum of services designed to allow youth to remain in their homes and communities. The Mobile Response Team (MRT) is a team of Crisis Response Staff who provide community-based support to youth experiencing mental health crises. The service is intended to offer families, schools, and providers an alternative to calling 911 when law enforcement may not be necessary for the level of presenting concerns. The goal of MRT is to provide proactive, early intervention before crises escalate, to divert youth from more restrictive interventions, and reduce criminalization of mental health for young people. MRT Crisis Response Staff provide these same-day crisis intervention services in homes, schools, and community locations Contra Costa County. Crisis Response Staff complete a comprehensive risk assessment and work with youth and caregivers to develop a safety plan. Crisis Response Staff collaborate with existing treatment team members and/or can provide linkage and advocacy to support youth in connecting to other mental health services.
Seneca Family of Agencies is committed to providing traditionally marginalized communities a network of outstanding mental health, community based, and educational services. Seneca’s agency-wide Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Advisory Board, Employee Resource Groups, and Language Practice Groups help our employees provide culturally and linguistically relevant services to the families we serve.
Responsibilities
- Provide community-based crisis intervention and stabilization services for youth and their families, including conducting risk assessments, creating safety plans, and supporting youth in accessing higher levels of care when needed.
- Provide case management services, including collaborating with a youth’s existing treatment team members (e.g., therapists, psychiatrists, child welfare workers, school staff, etc.) and/or providing referrals and linkage to additional mental health or community-based resources.
- Process referrals received from Psychiatric Emergency Services, including conducting initial outreach to families to introduce MRT services.
- Maintain flexibility with schedule changes to support coverage of the program and on-call and holiday rotation, as needed.
- Collaborate and communicate regularly as a team member with other crisis response staff
- Maintain accurate and timely documentation and paperwork.
- Participate in weekly individual and group supervision, team meetings, and any required trainings.
- Maintain professional behavior at all times, appropriately representing Seneca’s mission and philosophy.
- Commit to and engage in self-evaluation as well as organizational efforts goals, strategies, and systemic practices regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree.
- Bilingual English/Spanish language skills, preferred.
- Strong communication skills and flexibility.
- Direct experience (9 months to 1 year) working with child welfare involved youth, preferred.
- Cultural responsiveness; ability to work with a diverse population.
- Flexible schedule with ability to work evenings and weekends as needed.
- Clearance of TB test, fingerprinting, and any other State/Federal requirements.
- Own vehicle, valid California driver’s license, and insurability through Seneca’s vehicle policy
- Must show proof of COVID-19 full vaccination and booster.
Schedule
- Full Time
- 10:00-6:00, Monday-Friday
- Part-time roles also available
- Flexible schedule required, with the ability to provide on-call weekend and holiday rotation coverage
Benefits
- Starting at $22.00 per hour. Actual salary is dependent on creditable experience above the minimum qualifications for the role
- Additional compensation provided upon passing bilingual language proficiency exam
- Comprehensive employee benefits package, including medical, dental, vision and chiropractic coverage, as well as partially paid premiums for dependents
- Employer-paid Employee Assistance Plan (EAP)
- 5 weeks of flexible paid time off and 11 paid holidays
- Mileage reimbursement
- We provide a 403b retirement plan
- Scholarship opportunities, ongoing training, and professional development opportunities
Key Words: nonprofit, non-profit, mental health, mental health agency, behavioral health, healthcare, counselor, youth advocate, family advocate, children advocate, youth counselor, adolescent, advocate.