Behavioral Health Advocate

Position Summary:                                                                                                       

The Behavioral Health Advocate will provide assessment, safety planning, supportive counseling, and mental health and substance use disorder treatment advocacy for survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, and other victims of crime. The Advocate will facilitate support groups in the community, specializing in individuals with mental health and substance use concerns.  

Job Specifications/Qualifications: (Min. knowledge, skills, and abilities required)           

Education/Training/Experience: 0H.S. Degree  1 College Degree*  0 Certification/License*

Master’s degree from an accredited university or college in the field of counseling, social work, psychology, rehabilitation, special education or in a related human services field; or hold a Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited university or college in the field of counseling, social work, psychology, rehabilitation, special education or in a related human services field and have two years’ experience working with (eg. assessing, counseling, treating) individuals (adult/children) with serious emotional disturbance or substance abuse problems;

Two (2) years of experience working in the domestic violence field and Florida States Attorney’s Office preferred

Competency-based Core training (30 hours) within 90 days of employment required.

Technical or Administrative Knowledge:

Computer skills, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, are required.

Special Skills and Abilities:

Organizational and communication skills; ability to work collaboratively with others; valid driver’s license and transportation; demonstrated ability to work with people in crisis.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:                                                                                              

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 that do not cause an undue hardship on the company may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions, as long as that would not hinder or prevent performance of duties or be of a safety concern.

Key to denote % of time requirements necessary to perform essential functions of this job.

0% = Zero (O)         1-35% = Little (L)         36-70% = Moderate (M)         71-100% = Great (G)

- Physical Requirements:  0 Light: Lifting 0-10 lbs.   1 Moderate: Lifting 11-25 lbs.  0 Heavy: Lifting 25 lbs.

L – Lifting   

L – Operating motor vehicle   

M – Reaching above/below the waist

M – Pushing/pulling movements

M – Standing 

M – Kneeling 

M – Sitting 

M – Walking    

M – Bending/stooping

M – Climbing stairs / ladders

M –Typing 

M – Color / Depth perception

M – Fine hand & finger movements

M – Operate various equipment

- Working Conditions and Schedules:

O - Exposed at times to fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, extreme heat, risk of electrical shock, and vibration.

L - Exposed to various noise levels (L= private office, M= showroom/service area, G= jackhammer/metal works/heavy equipment)

L- Working environment: non-private, varies from outside open parking lot, to showroom, to cubicle workspace, to adaptive office.

M - Available to works nights, weekends and holidays.

G - Interacting with co-workers, vendors, and customers.     

G - Office machines, phones, fax, computers, postage meter, etc. 

- Necessary traits for this position: 1 Seeing 1 Hearing 1 Talking* 1 Reading* 1Writing*

0 Basic comprehension of English language using the traits* marked above for purposes of safety, management direction and job responsibility, and minimal third-party interaction.

1 Proficiency of the traits* marked above in the following languages for business letters, memos, customer interaction, presentations, demonstrations, employee direction, audits, etc.:   1English 0Spanish 0French 0Other _________________

Job Functions, Unique Duties and Responsibilities:                                                 

Essential Functions include but are not limited to the following: 

General

•    Follow the administrative guidelines and policies

•    Maintain a community image consistent with the mission

•    Engage in a relationship with the team which is proactive, mutually beneficial, fosters teamwork, and advances the mission

•    Exercise due care and stewardship of resources, including equipment, food, money, volunteer, and staff time

•    Oversee the general physical environment for health, safety, and proper maintenance of facilities

Advocacy and Case Management

•    60% Provide comprehensive case management, focusing on behavioral health, which includes providing information about crime victims’ rights, crisis stabilization, safety planning, law                         enforcement and victim advocacy, assisting in securing stable housing, assisting in identifying and securing employment, and service planning in support of recovery and self-sufficiency

•    13% Develop, manage, and facilitate support groups as needed, focusing on individuals with mental health and substance use concerns.

•    12% Provide referrals to local community partner agencies.

•    5% Answer the hotline.

•    2% Be familiar with mental health/substance use screenings and assist with TBI screenings at intake. 

•    1% Collaborate with community agencies specializing in mental health and substance use treatment. 

•    Providing individual, group and family therapy

•    Coordinating and implementing behavioral health programming associated with the treatment plan and with the recipient’s performance plan;

•    Monitoring the overall course of treatment services and observing and documenting direct care staff’s implementation of the recipient’s individualized treatment plan

•    Develops and assists in individualized discharge planning for the residents by utilizing treatment team and written chart information to determine residents’ aftercare needs;

Program Support

•    1% Regularly update team members regarding resource listings and the status of participants.  

•    1% Update participant files weekly.

•    1% Collect, organize, and enter data into appropriate formats for the WS database and other databases weekly. 

•    1% Develop self-knowledge of issues domestic violence, laws, policies, and case histories.

•    1% Participate in training opportunities including: the mandatory 24-hour DCF Core Training and 6 shadowing hours to be registered for confidentiality and privilege; maintain 17 hours of domestic        violence training per year.  

•    1% Attend staff meetings and local community meetings.

•    Training of direct care staff in the implementation of the individualized treatment plan for behavioral health overlay services;

•    Attends regular treatment team meetings to provide therapists perspective to total case management of the resident by reading and discussing written progress notes from charts and                           communicating any state or local agency legal requirement for case management with the interdisciplinary team.  Monitors overall course of treatment services;

Advancement/Community Relations:

•    Collaborate with other organizations and groups within the community to build partnerships and enhance fundraising activities.

•    Assist in planning and coordinating events meant to raise funds (sanctioned events, community events, etc).

•    Provide staff support at events, as needed.

Other

•    1% Assist with other duties as assigned.