Description :Note: All applicants must comply with ICL/NYC’s vaccination policy. Individuals selected for employment must provide verification that they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (with an FDA-authorized vaccine).Job SummaryOARS (Older Adult Recovery Supports) which will offer enriched mental health engagement, treatment and recovery services for low/moderate income older adults age 55+ with mental illness, including serious mental illness (SMI) or Co-occurring Conditions. Within this population, we will further prioritize residents of Hispanic/ Latinx background (many of whom are monolingual in Spanish). The geographic catchment area is comprised of three Brooklyn, NY neighborhoods that have been most severely impacted by COVID-19, including Community District (CD) 3 (Bedford-Stuyvesant), CD5 (East New York/Starrett City/Cypress Hills), and CD16 (Ocean Hill/ Brownsville). These three CDs are home to a combined 420,000 residents, with a majority from communities of color: 61% are Black, 27% are Latinx; 29% are foreign-born, and 13% have limited English Proficiency. Approximately 25% of residents are age 55+, and 14% are age 65+, according to US Census data. The NYC Department for the Aging reports that poverty among the 65+ age group ranged from 22% in Cypress Hill to 42% in Starrett City, with an average of 29% across CDs and above the rates for Brooklyn (18%) and NYC (16%) (2019).These neighborhoods are among the most at-risk, high-need areas in NYC in terms of social determinants of health (SDOH) and disproportionately poor health outcomes – East New York and Bedford-Stuyvesant are Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA) as designated by Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).38 Detrimental conditions were reflected in the devastation caused by COVID-19, as these neighborhoods had case and death rates significantly above the NYC averages: Between them, these neighborhoods recorded 10,588 cases per 100,000 residents (NYC: 9,149) and a death rate of 530/100,000 (NYC: 328); East New York, in particular, was hit hard, with a death rate of 945/100,000, the highest rate of COVID-19 deaths in the city. As elsewhere, older New Yorkers were most at risk, with poverty and/or being of Latinx or African-American background compounding the likelihood of becoming infected, hospitalized, or succumbing to COVID-19.The Behavioral Health Specialist is responsible for providing outreach, engagement, and supportive counseling services as part of a team-based critical time intervention model designed to increase engagement in recovery, connection to services and supports, and decreased ED/hospital utilizationEssential Job Functions
Provide supportive counseling, rehabilitation, and care coordination services in the community (homes, shelters, street) to individuals who are disengaged from treatment or who have recent ED/hospital utilization to increase engagement in recovery and connection to services and supports.
Assist individuals in developing life goals and engaging in recovery planning to identify services and supports, and increase wellness self-management skills
Documents activities and services, and other related reports in an organized, timely, and accurate manner as per policy and procedure.
Works as part of a multi-disciplinary team; attends and participates in teams meetings to provide input/feedback around psychosocial and medical conditions to review client status, update plans and goals, review outcomes to further program goals.
Collaborate with treatment providers and participate in routine case conferences to discuss progress
Provide support and psychoeducation to family members, friends and other collateral individuals.
Provide all services in a culturally relevant and competent manner.
Provide referrals and engagement support for service linkages, e.g., medical services, entitlements, transportation, food assistance, housing, vocational training and placement, participation in psychosocial clubhouses and self-help groups, etc.
Provides telephonic and face-to-face outreach, engagement, rehabilitation and supportive counseling in the field
Provides crisis intervention and follow-up.
May be assigned other tasks and duties reasonably related to the job responsibilities.
Minimum Qualifications
Education: LMSW/LMHC/CASAC
Experience: One year of experience providing services to individuals diagnosed with behavioral health disorders
Spanish-speaking preferred, not required.
Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Good written and verbal communication skills; computer proficiency required.
Sensitivity to issues involved in working in a diverse organization is essential
Ability to work independently and also collaboratively with other team members
Ability to interact appropriately and respectfully with clients, staff and community members
