Mental Health Specialist

San Diego Youth Services

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

Mental Health Specialist

San Diego Youth Services seeks a Mental Health Specialist in our HERE Now program to be based at our Spring Valley Campus. This is a full-time & exempt position reporting to the HERE Now Program Manager.

San Diego Youth Services:  Who we are

San Diego Youth Services has helped improve the lives of more than 780,000 homeless, runaway and vulnerable youth since its beginning in 1970. We provide safe places to live and long-term solutions through shelter, foster homes, community centers and housing to more than 28,000 youth every year at 100+ community and school locations. Through prevention, early intervention and treatment, we also help youth before they need higher levels of care or become homeless.

We aim to:

1. Meet the basic needs of youth.  Hunger, poverty and youth homelessness are on the rise for many youth and their families today. We help meet these basic needs for youth. What could be more vital than food and shelter? We provide safe places to live and long-term solutions through shelter, foster homes, community centers and housing.
2. Create positive connection. We help youth focus on positive life changes and healthy relationships as part of providing needed resources and services. San Diego Youth Services has long provided foster homes and adoption support services for families considering adopting a youth in the foster care system.
3. Help youth develop life skills. In addition to a range of safe and stable housing options, we offer support to help youth develop the independent living skills necessary to become self-sufficient and keep off the streets.
4. Promote overall health and well-being. Early intervention and care for the whole child are critical. We provide a broad continuum of services to help youth overcome trauma and challenges that put them at risk, including case management, counseling, mental health treatment and educational support and resources.

SDYS has a staff of approximately 215 employees and 80 volunteers working across San Diego County and an annual budget of approximately $22 million.

You can learn more about us at www.sdyouthservices.org

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION HIRING FOR

The program, Helping, Engaging, Reconnecting and Educating (HERE) Now, focuses on increasing awareness, promoting conversations and inspiring connections to prevent suicide—one community, one school, one life at a time.

CONTEXT OF THE POSITION

This position’s objective is to provide comprehensive trauma-informed school-based suicide Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) services countywide as part of the Helping, Engaging, Reconnecting and Educating (HERE) Now program.  This includes the delivery of quality services on schools, including middle school and high school, and in community locations to serve children, youth and transition aged youth (TAY), with suicide prevention and early intervention services.

Essential functions include:

• Work with diverse groups of middle and high school youth (7^th-12^th grade), transitional aged-youth and their families in a culturally sensitive and culturally competent manner. 
• Work with school personnel and community to reduce disparities and stigma in accessing mental health services and to provide high quality services to youth and families.
• Responsible for the implementation of the Signs of Suicide (SOS) presentation to students and caregivers.
• Plan, coordinate and conduct trainings and presentations to school staff, gatekeepers and stakeholders.
• Coordinate and provide risk assessments and crisis intervention, resources, and support services to youth/families.
  • Predominantly conduct high risk assessments and provide individual intervention services to youth identified as “at risk” based on assessment.
  • Care coordination with area mental health support and services as well as other needed services for youth/families with depression, other mental health problems, substance abuse or whose history of trauma would indicate a high risk for suicide or self-harm.
• Assist Clinical Coordinator in supporting other HERE Now staff in accomplishing their assessments whenever applicable.
• Assist Clinical Coordinator in training new hires and volunteers.
• Participate in coordinated crisis response including grief and loss counseling as needed.
• Assist in supporting subcontractors in service implementation.
• Maintain accurate and timely uniform record documentation. Maintain data collection and contract compliance of records as required. Maintain clear, effective and open communication
• Support the development, implementation, and evaluation of an integrated trauma-informed approach for youth and families with co-occurring psychiatric and substance disorders.
  • ​​​​​​​Assist in updating program policy and procedures.
• Perform other Duties as assigned or required.

PREFERRED PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

• · License-eligible in Marital and Family Therapy, Social Work, or Psychology by the state of California, and a minimum of two years of job-related experience, including direct service experience with at-risk, multiple families and children on a school campus and/or home-based settings. Must be registered with the Board of Behavioral Science and must be in good standing. Experience with youth, family, and community development.

• Must be able to follow all the guidelines provided by the agency, government and health authorities to maintain safety and health when the job requires physical presence and/or contact with others during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the submission of proof of vaccination as mandated by the California Public Health Order.

• Must possess excellent oral and written skills and be able to provide services to small and large groups of youth and adults. Must be able to work with and represent a culturally and ethnically diverse community. Must work well autonomously with other agencies and program staff in varying disciplines.

• Must be highly organized with the ability to focus on multiple priorities and meet deadlines. Must have the ability to work in a fast-paced and busy school-based environment. Creativity and sense of humor a must. Must be willing to develop or possess working knowledge of trauma-informed care and dual diagnosis treatment; experience working in trauma-informed and dual diagnosis programs preferred.

• Must maintain CPR/First-Aid Certificate.

• Must have reliable vehicle and relevant auto insurance, plus a clean driving record (mileage reimbursed).

• Must be available to work weekends and evenings as assigned by supervisor and/or as needed.

• Employment subject to clearances, which may include fingerprinting, background checks, TB testing, and drug testing.

SDYS EXPECTATIONS

• Adhere to and uphold the rigorous standards of SDYS as mandated by its mission, purpose, guiding principles and standards of quality.
• Maintain confidentiality and privacy standards of service partner protected health information and other applicable information and material in accordance to agency and center policies, and applicable regulations and laws including HIPAA. 
• Welcome and support SDYS volunteers and assist them in accomplishing their services whenever applicable.
• Effectively communicate with people from diverse backgrounds and experiences.
• Receive and give supportive feedback to foster equity and inclusion in working relationships.
• Recognize, nurture, and learn from strengths in co-workers.
• Maintain warm, welcoming and safe work environments.
• Possess flexibility to accomplish job responsibilities in several work environments, whether it be from home, on the road, or in an office.

Salary: $68,000-$70,000/Annually

To apply, please send resume and cover letter through job posting on SDYS website.

SDYS offers a comprehensive benefits package to full time employees that includes generous PTO, personal holidays, health, vision, dental, life insurance, parental leave and a 403(b)-retirement plan with matching contribution. 

Candidates must be able to follow all the guidelines provided by the agency, government, and health authorities to maintain safety and health when the job requires physical presence and/or contact with others during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the submission of proof of vaccination as mandated by the California Public Health Order. The successful candidate will need to submit verification of vaccination or have a valid religious or medical reason not to be vaccinated.

SDYS is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.  Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. In compliance with the Immigration and Nationality Act as amended, all new employees must verify their eligibility to work in the United States.