This position follows the Child Abuse Response and Evaluation Services (CARES) medical evaluation and forensic interview and process, to provide families in need of crisis intervention and on-going support. The Mental Health Consultant - CARES -  KSA African American (AA) position provides supports which enhance effective family functioning, including provide emotional support at time of crisis, provide short-term therapeutic intervention, provide emergency mental health suicide risk assessment for at-risk youth and parents, which may include a recommendation for psychiatric hospitalization, provide psycho-education including written materials regarding child abuse and neglect, help create emergency safety plans, and help access auxiliary support services such as food, clothing and shelter. The Mental Health Consultant - CARES -  KSA AA also provides consultation to CARES NW staff, as well as to families and professionals in the community. This Mental Health Consultant may give formal trainings to community mental health agencies and organizations, and attend a wide variety of multi-disciplinary community meetings including: DHS planning meetings, school meetings, and meetings with legal, law enforcement, medical and mental health professionals. The Mental Health Consultant may be asked to facilitate community meetings which address child abuse issues, i.e. the congregation of a church where a member has sexually abused child members, or a neighborhood meeting which addresses concerns about offenders in the community. 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA): This position requires advanced knowledge and experience working with the African American community, providing behavioral health prevention support, direct services, care coordination to ensure culturally relevant behavioral health services, outreach and engagement expertise. This would be demonstrated by knowledge of the traditions, values and concerns of the community being served as well as the ability to identify specific examples of experience working directly with individuals and families who identify with the African American Community. 

***As a newly hired Mental Health Consultant, you will receive a one-time New Hire Recruitment and Retention Incentive payment of $1,500 on your first paycheck. The incentive will be prorated based on the position's FTE status.***

As the Mental Health Consultant - CARES - KSA AA, other duties will include:

Family Support Counseling

• Provide crisis counseling, education and information, and resource and referral services to community supports and families who are at CARES NW for a child abuse evaluation. 

• Facilitate crisis assessment and triage for hospitalization or other crisis intervention as needed. 

• Provide community outreach to help bring together families, other caregivers, service providers and community members when clients and other families may not seek services at the CARES NW Program without a personal outreach.

•  Facilitate three-way conference phone calls for families facing difficult hardship with the parent or support adult and medical or mental health professionals. 

• Provide culturally appropriate support, direction, education and advocacy for families. 

• Provide short-term evidence based therapeutic treatment for families who are referred by the CARES NW clinic. 

• Specifically knows the African American community, historical and current barriers to mental health services and has knowledge of the traditions, values and customs.

Mental Health Consultation

• Provide expert consultation in areas of child development, child abuse and mental health to families following the CARES NW evaluation. 

• This includes families who have been to CARES NW, families seeking help through phone-in consultation, and community members who call CARES NW in search of information and support. 

• Support might include helping access food, clothing and shelter, case coordination, attendance at community meetings, and safety planning. 

• Attend community meetings such as Community Peace Collaborative Public Forum "A coalition for violence prevention and achievement", and the N/NE Health Department Community Health Fair, etc. 

• Collaborate with Department of Human Services representatives and the parent or support adult to provide services as part of the child’s case plan.

Multi-Disciplinary Consultation

• Provide expert consultation regarding child abuse and mental health to multi-disciplinary teams at CARES NW (medical providers, child interviewers, law enforcement and DHS workers), as well as to professionals in the community including teachers, community health nurses, therapists, religious leaders, foster parents, medical providers, criminal justice system workers and others. 

• Participate as expert in child abuse issues on community panels and as a member of professional consultation groups. 

• Provide trainings to community professionals regarding assessment and treatment of child abuse. 

• Write professional materials related to child abuse and neglect. 

Clinical Documentation

• Initiates and maintains electronic clinical record keeping on individual clients to comply with legal, medical, mental health (OARs) and programmatic standards for clinical care documentation. 

• -Completes administrative data collection to record information about service delivery and to meet compliance with program, County, and CARES NW data requirements.

Multnomah County offers an exceptional benefits package, including employer-funded retirement savings; health and dental insurance at very low cost to full-time employees and their dependents; paid parental leave; wellness programs; a focus on work-life balance; and much more. Find more details on our benefits website. 

TO QUALIFY:

We will consider any combination of relevant work experience, volunteering, education, and transferable skills as qualifying unless an item or section is labeled required. Please be clear and specific about how your background is relevant. For details about how we typically screen applications, review our overview of the selection process page.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS (REQUIRED):

Education/Certification: Must have a Masters degree and must meet the standards of Qualified Mental Health Professional - (QMHP - R) with the Mental Health & Addiction Certification Board of Oregon (MHACBO) - more information can be found at MHACBO website. Current QMHP - R, and/or licensed Board of Oregon (LPC, LCSW, PHD,etc)

• Graduate degree in psychology or

• Graduate degree in social work or counseling or

• Graduate degree in a behavioral science field  

Other: 

• Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA): This position requires advanced knowledge and experience working with the African American community, providing behavioral health prevention support, direct services, care coordination to ensure culturally relevant behavioral health services, outreach and engagement expertise. This would be demonstrated by knowledge of the traditions, values and concerns of the community being served as well as the ability to identify specific examples of experience working directly with individuals and families who identify with the African American Community. This position requires a background investigation, which may include being fingerprinted. 

• Valid Driver's License. 

Preferred Qualifications/ Transferable Skills*: You do not need to have the following preferred qualifications/ transferable skills to qualify. However, keep in mind we may consider some or all of the following when identifying the most qualified candidates. 

• Licensed Board of Oregon (LPC, LCSW, PhD,etc) (preferred).

• Knowledge of challenges and barriers faced by those with Severe and Persistent Mental Illness (SPMI) and the systems they encounter in Residential Services, Adult Protective Services and Crisis Services.  

• Lead with race through actions and advocacy with internal programs, with community partners and across departments throughout the county.

• Demonstrate the ability to flex style when faced with myriad dimensions of culture in order to be effective across cultural context.  

• Respect and appreciation for ethnic and cultural diversity.

• Ability to collaborate and build relationships to achieve positive work outcomes.

• Ability to maintain a safe and healthful workplace.

• High degree of resilience, is outcome driven and can thrive in an environment of rapid change while effectively managing pressure in an effective and professional manner.

*Transferable skills: Your transferable skills are any skills you have gained through education, work experience (including the military) or life experience that are relevant for this position. Be sure to describe any transferable skills on your application and clearly explain how they apply to this position.

SCREENING & EVALUATION (REQUIRED): 

The Application Packet: You must submit ALL requested items below. Failure to do so will be deemed as an incomplete application.

1. Attach a Resume demonstrating you meeting minimum qualifications; AND

2. Attach a Cover Letter addressing the following: 

• Describe if you have any experience providing mental health services to diverse communities and experience working within systems of behavioral health regulatory oversight ; AND

• How you meet the qualifications for this position; AND

3. Attach a copy of your QMHP-R and/or Board of Oregon Licensure (if applicable)

Note: The application, resume and cover letter should demonstrate your work experience/skills and how it is related to those shown in the ‘Overview’ and ‘To Qualify’ sections of the job announcement. Please be thorough, as these materials will be scored and determine your eligibility to advance in this recruitment process. 

The Selection Process: For details about how we typically screen applications, review our overview of the selection process page. We expect to evaluate candidates for this recruitment as follows:

• Initial review of minimum qualifications

• An evaluation of application materials to identify the most qualified candidates

• Consideration of top candidates/interviews

• Background, reference, and education checks

Note: Application information may be used throughout the entire selection process. This process is subject to change without notice.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Type of Position: This hourly union-represented position is eligible for overtime

Type: Represented

FLSA: Non-Exempt 

Applying for this posting will give you the opportunity to be placed on the eligible list for future opportunities for Mental Health Consultant positions as positions for these programs become available. The eligible list created from this recruitment may be used to fill regular, full or part time, temporary, and limited duration assignments.

Pay Equity: Please be advised that the pay range listed for this position is intended to provide general guidance on the earning potential for the role. However, actual compensation will be determined in accordance with the Oregon Equal Pay Law and will take into account factors such as the candidate's relevant experience and education. Candidates should expect that initial offers will be made within the listed pay range and may not be at or near the top of the range.

Diversity and Inclusion: At Multnomah County, we don't just accept difference; we value it and support it to create a culture of dignity and respect for our employees.

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran or protected veteran status, genetic information and other legally protected characteristics. The EEO Know Your Rights poster is available for your reference. Multnomah County is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor. We request priority protected veteran referrals.

Veterans’ Preference: Under Oregon Law, qualifying veterans may apply for veterans’ preference. Review our veterans’ preference page for details about eligibility and how to apply.

Accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act: We gladly provide reasonable accommodation to anyone whose specific disability prevents them from completing an application or participating in this recruitment process. Please contact the recruiter below in advance to request assistance. Individuals with hearing or speech impairments may contact the recruiter through the Telecommunications Relay Service by dialing 711.

Questions?

Recruiter:

Caitrin Thomaselli

Email:

caitrin.thomaselli@multco.us

Phone:

+1 (971) 4218257

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA): This position requires advanced knowledge and experience working with the African American community, providing behavioral health prevention support, direct services, care coordination to ensure culturally relevant behavioral health services, outreach and engagement expertise. This would be demonstrated by knowledge of the traditions, values and concerns of the community being served as well as the ability to identify specific examples of experience working directly with individuals and families who identify with the African American Community.