SUMMARY

Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) is an evidence-based practice used to identify, reduce, and prevent problematic use, abuse and dependence on alcohol and drugs. It also screens individuals for depression, suicide, trauma, and tobacco use. The SBIRT Specialist will be the Point of Contact (POC) for the individual and/or family to coordinate services at FNA or other community agencies providing a warm hand off with the intake department, assessment, or other community service. 

Grantsummary: Community Synergy provides suicide prevention, and postvention services to residents within the Fairbanks North Star Borough with a focus on the American Indian/Alaskan Native population ages 10 through 24. Community Synergy will expand service opportunities within the community and build a synergistic system of care.

JOB DUTIES

• Conducts Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) using empathy and engendering optimistic empowerment for consumers; using evidence-based practices identified by the program at FNA or designated community locations.
• Provides brief suicide assessment, safety planning including access to lethal means counseling, and rapid referral to crisis services for at-risk suicide. if warranted.
• Provides brief interventions for at-risk substance use to assist with discussing a potential issue and motivating the consumer to do something about the issue either by natural means, client-directed means or by seeking additional substance abuse treatment. Brief interventions can be used to build rapport, provide feedback and advice, and build readiness to change to reduce the risk of harm that could result from continued use of substances.
• May provide solution focused brief treatment, in collaboration with the Clinical Supervisor, focusing on the present, to teach tools to change basic attitudes and handle a variety of underlying co-existing problems.
• Refers consumers with moderate to high-risk substance use, mental health and/or suicide to available emergency services or other community or in-house mental health providers who are able to provide a more in-depth assessment, crisis intervention, outpatient and/or residential treatment services.
• If consumer is on a waitlist for treatment, SBIRT Specialist will attempt regular contact, provide health education, and regular communication with program staff providing a warm hand off for assessment and other services.
• Implements contingency management by providing vouchers for completion of screenings if program warrants.
• Ensures clinical and billing documentation is submitted through the appropriate channels in the electronic health record preferably on same day or within 24 hours.
• Participates in professional development and quality assurance activities to improve the quality of service provided.
• Attends staff meetings, in-service training, and presents cases for routine/problematic staffing as needed.
• Maintains consumer confidentiality in accordance with 42 CFR Part 2 and HIPPA.

• Documents activities by completing the Staff Activity Logs (SALS) daily. 

• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

NECESSARY KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITY

• Ability to rapidly establish a strong working relationship with a person seeking help, exhibiting an overall attitude of understanding and acceptance.
• Knowledge or ability to learn counseling skills such as active listening and helping consumers explore and resolve ambivalence.
• Ability to discuss sensitive topics and help a person who may be experiencing domestic violence, depression, anxiety, trauma, substance abuse and/or suicidal thoughts/behaviors.
• Knowledge of stages-of-change through which a consumer moves when thinking about, beginning, and trying to maintain new behavior.
• Knowledge of Alaska Native cultures and traditional healing practices.
• Knowledge of suicide risk, suicide prevention, and mental health topics.
• Skill in establishing and maintaining cooperative working relationships with colleagues, supervisors, agencies, and consumers.
• Ability to work independently as well as with teams.
• Ability to write professionally and communicate effectively, as well as act in a professional manner.
• Ability to report to work in a timely manner and apply proper time management skills.
• Ability to use computers and other common office technology.

• Collaborates and makes recommendations with FNA treatment programs and other community-based service options in placement committee meetings.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS (Education & Experience)

• High school diploma or equivalent, plus at least two (2) years providing behavioral health services, or bachelor’s degree with at least one (1 year of experience)
• Experience working with American Indian and/or Alaskan Native populations.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS (Education & Experience)

• Bachelor’s degree in a human service field preferred.
• Experience serving the Fairbanks population.
• Experience in providing behavioral health screening tools and computing results.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS (Education & Experience)

• BA in a behavior health/human service field, plus three (3) years of experience providing behavioral health services.
• Experience working with American Indian and/or Alaskan Native populations.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS (Education & Experience)

• Master’s degree in a human service field preferred.
• Experience serving the Fairbanks population.
• Experience in providing behavioral health screening tools and computing results.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This position corresponds to medium work, involving physical exertion of 20-50 lbs. frequently; such exertion involves the lifting and/or moving of young children in the program, and/or goods and materials within the facility. There is frequent walking, standing, climbing, stooping, bending, and squatting/crouching. The majority of work is performed in an office setting with a wide variety of people with differing functions, personalities, and abilities. The office is a non-smoking facility with outside smoking areas. May involve local travel between various program components of FNA and home visits where exposure to extreme weather conditions are likely. Works in an environment where protection of client confidentiality is essential.

SPECIFICATIONS

Supervision Received:

Position receives direct supervision from immediate supervisor; however, incumbent is expected to effectively perform day-to-day activity as denoted within job description. Work will be monitored through weekly meetings, monthly reports, and regular communication with your supervisor. General guidelines for operations are based on program requirements and the general policies and procedures of FNA.

Supervision Exercised:

No supervision requirements for this position.

Position Impact:

Impact at the program level is high. Program’s level of compliance with program standards is directly affected by the effective performance of duties, especially as they relate to providing program services.

Contacts:

Contacts may include, but are not limited to: volunteers, organizational staff, consumers, and outside agencies.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT STATEMENT

This Job Description describes the essential functions and qualifications. It is not an exhaustive statement of all the duties, responsibilities, or qualifications of the job; and management has the exclusive right to alter this job description at any time without notice. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional, job-related duties. This document is not intended to exclude modifications consistent with providing reasonable accommodation for a disability.

This position will (or may) require you to frequently (or incidentally) drive your personal vehicle for FNA business. Per FNA’s automotive insurance policy, to drive an FNA-owned vehicle, an individual must be at least 21 years of age. To drive an FNA-owned vehicle with consumers in the vehicle, an individual must be at least 25 years of age. No employee may transport a FNA consumer in a personal vehicle.

Continued employment status will be contingent upon satisfactory completion of a criminal background investigation and the pre-employment drug testing process. Where required, continued employment status (post job offer) will be contingent upon employee providing certification of annual tuberculosis (TB) screening and medical certification that employee does not, because of infectious or communicable disease, pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health and safety of program participants or others in the workplace.

Notice: All employment at the Fairbanks Native Association (FNA) is “at will.” This means the employee or FNA may terminate employment at any time and for any reason. Unless specified in writing, no duration of employment is expressed or implied for this position. Your signature indicates that you have read this Job Description and understand the essential functions of and qualifications for the job.