Mental Health Associate (Garden Park Apartments)

ABOUT US

Founded in 1991, Hope Solutions "formerly Contra Costa Interfaith Housing" is a vibrant and socially responsive non-profit agency that provides permanent housing and vital support services to over 3,500 families and individuals in Contra Costa County who are homeless or are at risk for homelessness. Over 40 faith-based communities support our work, although there are no religious requirements or affiliations required to receive services.

Are you seeking a new role that fully utilizes your talents and potential—while helping to make the world a better place? If so, please read on!

What are you passionate about?

At Hope Solutions—we envision a world in which everyone has a place to call home and the support of a strong community so that they can live with dignity and reach their full potential. We strive to be inclusive and responsive to community needs. We are committed to excellence and accomplish our work with integrity, respect, compassion, and humility.

Hope Solution's mission is to heal the effects of poverty and homelessness by providing permanent housing and vital support services to highly vulnerable families and individuals.

Could our mission be your mission?

Learn more about us @ hopesolutions.org

TEAM SNAPSHOT

We’re adding to our team of passionate folks—who are on a mission to help make the lives of others better—through services and support that lead to a higher quality of life for our clients. 

We’d like to learn more about you—apply for the role! What’s our team like? 

Here’s a snapshot of some of the folks at Hope Solutions who help advance our vision to achieve—secure housing and the dignity of self-sufficiency for the homeless and at-risk families and individuals in Contra Costa County.

A FEW OF US...

Deanne—Chief Executive Officer—lives in Central Contra Costa County with her husband and three children. She enjoys hiking the East Bay hills, camping, reading, cooking, and cheering too loudly at her kids’ games.

Alex—Chief Operating Officer— lives in Walnut Creek with his wife, son, and dog. Alex has an MSW and is a self-described macro social worker. He is an avid reader and a huge baseball fan (Go Giants!). He loves spending time at home with his family making food, listening to jazz, and relaxing.

Bill—Director of Housing Programs—lives in Central Contra Costa County with his partner and is involved in raising his godson. Bill is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who has been working with under-served populations for more than 20 years. He also serves on the Contra Costa County Healthcare for the Homeless Co-Applicant Board. He enjoys reading, gardening, and meditation. 

Christina—Chief Financial Officer—lives in Pleasant Hill with her husband, three teenagers, and their dog. Christina has an MPA, a Graduate Certificate in Non-Profit Management, is a Certified Non-Profit Accountant, and has a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting. She has over 20 years of finance and accounting experience, working the last several years in the non-profit sector. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling with her family.

Tanya—Director of Housing Navigation—lives in East Contra Costa County. She is married with one daughter and two sons. Tanya has a Master's in Counseling Psychology and has worked with under-served populations for over 15 years. She enjoys music, comedy, movies, exercising, and watching basketball games.

Beth—Director of Clinical and Support Services—lives with her sister and son in Central Contra Costa County. Beth is a licensed psychologist who has worked with children and families for over 30 years. She is incredibly passionate about working with young children, ages birth to 5 years old, and their families. She enjoys singing, cooking, gardening, and traveling with her family.

Iesha – Director of Re-Entry Housing and Services – lives in Central Contra Costa County with her husband, daughter, son, dog, and cat. She enjoys reading, painting, and listening to vinyl records. She is a huge baseball (GO A’s!) and basketball (Go Celtics!) fan but enjoys watching football too! She has a strong background in workforce development and social enterprise to support the underserved in gainful employment.

Jasmine—Consulting Director of Strategic Initiatives—lives in Contra Costa County and is married with three children and three dogs. Jasmine has an MS in Organizational Leadership and Innovation. She is the co-convener of the Multi-faith ACTION Coalition. She serves on the boards of the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program as well as the Tourette Association of America.

Kristina—Director of Human Resources—lives in Solano County with her youngest child and French Bulldogs. She has over 20 years of experience in human resources, leadership, operations, and people management. Kristina has a Bachelor's in Business Administration with a concentration in Human Resources and is SHRM-SCP certified. She enjoys spending time with family, yoga, indoor cycling, and hiking, and loves to laugh. She believes if you look for the good in all things, you will find it.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR:

The role of the Mental Health Associate is defined by adaptability and responsiveness, positioning you to cater to the distinct needs of our clients. Collaboration with diverse interdisciplinary team members and community partners is paramount, emphasizing the value of collective efforts. We eagerly anticipate individuals who embody compassion and exhibit an unwavering commitment to nurturing the innate potential within others. As an integral component of our team, you will be responsible for providing crucial mental health and case management support to families and children transitioning from homelessness to permanent supportive housing at Garden Park Apartments.

As a Mental Health Associate, your role serves as a conduit for transformation, necessitating a nuanced grasp of individual needs and the capacity to nimbly adjust to these requisites. Through a harmonious collaboration with team members and the establishment of connections within the broader community fabric, you play an indispensable part in cultivating comprehensive support systems. Your compassionate perspective serves as the cornerstone of your service, steering the path for formerly homeless families and children toward heightened well-being.

WHAT YOU WILL DO:

Mental Health Support Services

• Provide on-site, in-home, or community-based therapeutic services to children and families living at Garden Park Apartments (GPA) who are experiencing emotional challenges. Many of these children may be receiving EPSDT services.
• Provide individual and group therapeutic services to children.
• Assist in delivering family therapy and parenting support groups.
• Provide crisis intervention to facilitate mental health crises, ensuring that families remain safe and supporting their ability to keep their families united and living independently, if possible.
• Collaborate with case managers and youth enrichment coordinator to support families using a team approach.
• Provide conflict mediation to residents at odds with family members or neighbors.
• Complete accurate and timely EPSDT chart notes for all services provided to children assigned under this contract.
• Meet individual EPSDT contract goals for hourly billing, including averaging a minimum of 10-12 hours per week of direct service to clients.
• Participate in weekly group and individual supervision, using that time to develop therapeutic skills and clinical knowledge and explore growth opportunities as a mental health provider. Participate in clinical training as possible/needed.

Reports and Data Collection:

• Assist the services team with the following data entry, reports, and forms:
  • Reports that document service delivery and progress towards goals for HOPE SOLUTIONS programs.
  • Daily case notes for individual, family, and group work.
  • Daily notes for EPSDT clients.
  • EPSDT billing reports, internal audits, and filing of notes.

Program Enrichment Activities:

• Assist with staff supervision of volunteer programs and activities delivered to families served by Hope Solutions. These may include weekend and evening commitments.
• Work with other staff members to provide community resources for families and individuals, such as furnishings for new apartments, social and health-related activities, life skills and employment support, and youth enrichment.
• Other tasks as assigned by the Clinical Case Manager, Manager of Clinical Services, or Director of Clinical and Support Services.

Cultural Responsiveness:

• Awareness of and aptitude to understand, respect, and adapt to cultural and identity-based differences within group environments appropriately and effectively.
• Knowledge of and commitment to concepts and issues tied to social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion and belonging.
• Experience fostering and reinforcing an environment that values unique experiences, cultures, personal humility and authenticity backgrounds, and goals.
• Participate in and complete our new employee onboarding process, which includes reading and discussing a short chapter in the book, The Color of Law.
• Review and commit to our Diversity, Inclusion, Equity, and Belonging Commitment.

Organizational/Administrative Responsibilities:

• Professionally represent Hope Solutions in all circumstances.
• Comply with all legal/ethical professional guidelines for maintaining consumer confidentiality, adhering to HIPAA guidelines, protecting consumer rights, advocating on consumers’ behalf, and assuring consumer safety.
• Establish and maintain professional boundaries in working with clients.
• Comply with all local, state, and federal regulations, policies, procedures, standards of practice, and outcome requirements of the Supportive Housing Program and Hope Solutions.
• Provide monthly attendance reports and other outcome summaries as requested.
• Collaborate with mental health clinicians and interns to ensure youth access to appropriate mental health support as needed, including EPSDT services.
• Plan and implement summer activities for youth and teens during the summer months when the Afterschool Program is suspended. This is done in collaboration with the Volunteer/Outreach Manager.
• Develop and deliver parenting education in collaboration with the service team.
• On-call, after-hours, and backup work may be required.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Position Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, or Counseling.
• Registered with the Board of Behavioral Sciences as an associate working toward licensure as an LCSW, LMFT, or LPCC.
• Bi-lingual in English/Spanish is a plus.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills.
• Computer proficiency in the use of Microsoft and database applications.
• Must have an operational vehicle, auto insurance, valid California driver’s license, and be willing to drive for work.
• Must pass LiveScan screening and TB test.
• Salary contingent upon skill and experience.

Physical Qualifications:

• The person in this position may make home visits to consumers who live on second or third-floor apartments (without elevators) and will need to be able to climb stairs.
• May accompany consumers on walks to local resources (grocery store, childcare, parks) up to ½ mile in distance.
• Must be able to work in a desk setting for up to 3 hours at a time to make calls to consumers, research resources on the internet, and collaborate with community providers with calls/emails.
• Office setting activities are required, such as typing on a laptop/computer to respond to emails, entering case notes into a database, and copying/faxing forms and documents on a copy machine related to maintaining or obtaining housing.
• Occasionally must be able to lift and carry objects weighing up to 25 pounds, including furnishings for new residents, files, holiday gifts, and food donations.
• Ability to drive an automobile and transport oneself and consumers to appointments or meet at consumer homes, including driving at night.

Compensation & Benefits:

• Flexible, dynamic work environment
• 100% premium paid for employee Kaiser health and dental care.
• Matched 403b retirement savings.
• 10 paid holidays, plus 2 floating holidays.
• Ability to accrue 2-4 weeks' vacation depending on tenure.
• Life insurance and Employee Assistance Program.

We are an equal opportunity employer. If you're a good fit, we want to meet you!