Mental Health Resource Navigator, Jcis

Position Title: Mental Health Resource Navigator

Organization: Jewish Family Service of San Diego

Department: JCIS

Position Type: Full-Time (37.5+ hours/week), Non-Exempt

Work Setting: Onsite

Reports To: Director, Center for Jewish Care

Pay Range: $32-$36/hour

Total Compensation:  

In addition to standard pay, compensation for this position includes:

• Comprehensive, low-cost healthcare coverage for employees
• Generous employer 401(k) contributions
• Employer-covered life insurance

Time Away from Work:

Being able to take time away from work is critical in bringing your best self to work. Time off benefits for this position include:

• Generous paid vacation time and sick leave
• 17 paid holidays, including Federal, Jewish, and floating holidays.
• 2 Wellness Days to be taken any time during the year to support employees’ mental wellness.

Position Overview:

The Mental Health Resource Navigator plays a critical role in the continuum of services for individuals and families who turn to JFS and Hillel for support. Working in a team, the Mental Health Resource Navigator coordinates care for individuals, families, and college students with a focus on clients who are experiencing Mental Health issues, assists clients in navigating complex social service resource systems, and breaks down goals into manageable tasks that establish patterns of success. The Mental Health Resource Navigator will meet with clients virtually, at the office, on campus, and/or in the field to coordinate appropriate services and provide coaching and ongoing support for each client to attain and maintain self-sufficiency. The Mental Health Resource Navigator will provide ongoing care that is client-centered and outcome-oriented.  The Mental Health Resource Navigator will become part of the Hillel community, as well as the JFS community.

The Center for Jewish Care offers critical relief services and free resources for individuals and families in the Jewish community who need assistance. The Center for Jewish Care team provides culturally competent coaching, resource navigation, and a variety of integrated services including Mental Health navigation, direct financial assistance, food and transportation to individuals of all ages that are struggling to maintain economic and social-emotional stability.

Responsibilities:

• Provide ongoing case management, coaching, and care coordination services to a designated caseload of clients who are experiencing Mental Health concerns
• Provide Mental Health assessments to assist clients in identifying appropriate Mental Health Resources
• Provide coaching to stabilize immediate Mental Health crises with improved coping skills while also navigating towards longer-term community providers and insurance-eligible counseling and support groups
• Offer up to six one-hour Mental Health coaching sessions for JCIS clients who need short-term assistance or need help getting more comfortable with a Mental Health referral
• Offer resources to clients, both within JFS and in the community
• Offer Mental Health First Aid, wellness workshops, and/or similar trainings to JFS and the Jewish community
• Act as the client's consistent touchpoint and cross-team coordinator to monitor continued progress in other JFS services
• Monitor client progress to determine effectiveness of service delivery and to assess progress towards individual goals and objectives
• Maintain client information and case documentation in a confidential and professional manner in software system with integrity and in line with the quality standard set by supervisor
• Participate in maintaining a network of services and resources for clients in San Diego County with emphasis on Mental Health Resources
• Act as point person for behavioral health groups wishing to use the JFS space, e.g., PFLAG, NAMI, DBSA
• Establish and maintain relationships with Mental Health providers in the community with Jewish cultural competency
• Consult and coordinate with Jewish and secular partners to establish warm hand-offs and referrals
• Spend up to 20 hours per week as the onsite Mental Health Resource Navigator for Hillel on multiple college campuses
• Attend program related meetings, including agency’s case consultation meetings, grant progress meetings, and staff meetings

Skills/Experience/Abilities That Are a Must-Have:

• Master’s degree in counseling or social work (with a clinical focus)
• Minimum of two years of experience in a Mental Health assessment/case management/resource coordination role
• Experience working in a higher education setting preferred
• Understanding of the low-income population and the concept of trauma informed care
• Demonstrated persistence in finding resources that address the multi-factored impacts of poverty
• Experience setting limits when working with stressed clients, often in some level of urgency
• Ability to show an unconditional positive regard for clients who turn to JFS for support
• Previous training in Motivational Interviewing and Trauma Informed Care preferred
• Ability to work with multiple software systems, including complex case management databases
• Comfort in providing services to clients in person and in community, as needed
• Knowledge of Jewish culture and the local Jewish community
• Desire to work in an integrated team environment
• Position will require scheduling flexibility and will include some night and Sunday hours

Important Notice:

Incomplete submissions will not be considered. Please, no phone calls. Please, principals only. Please, local candidates only (relocation is not provided).

About Jewish Family Service of San Diego
Jewish Family Service of San Diego is a client-centered, impact-driven organization working to build a stronger, more resilient community.  For over 100 years, Jewish Family Service has been a trusted resource for the entire community, offering an array of services that are always life-changing, and often life-saving.  At Jewish Family Service, we believe our employees are the backbone of our Agency.  We strive to ensure that each employee is treated with dignity and respect.  Our goal is your success.  Come work at JFS and be our partner in Moving Forward Together.  To learn more about JFS, please visit jfssd.org. 

*Jewish Family Service is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.