Youth Engagement Specialist

Position Description

This description identifies the major responsibilities of this position. It is not intended to include all aspects of the position such as additional duties assigned by supervisors and the requirement for flexibility in assigning other staff for the Agency’s overall benefit.

Position Summary

The Youth Engagement Specialist’s main purpose is to provide crisis intervention within the community for students in need of behavioral health support in schools with a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The Youth Engagement Specialist will promptly respond to the school, and/or will work directly on campus. This position shall intervene to alleviate the participant’s immediate social, emotional, or environmental crisis; and assess, evaluate, triage, and refer the participant for appropriate follow-up treatment to support a return to an effective lifestyle. This position has been identified as a safety-sensitive position that includes tasks or duties (i.e., driving) that the employer in good faith believes could affect the safety, health, or reputation of the Agency, participants, the employee performing the task, or others.

We offer

Horizon Health and Wellness, Inc. has offered quality healthcare services to central and southern Arizona for over 40 years. Our mission is to enhance the quality of life of the individuals, families and communities we serve, and empower them to attain their optimum potential. Our most important organizational philosophy is Kindness Matters. It is how we do our business and an essential component in all of our interactions with our patients and with each other.

• Professional development and career advancement opportunities!
• Competitive compensation
• Hire bonus eligible!
• Medical, dental, vision insurance (2 HSA plans and 1 PPO, and 1 Cost Savers plan)
• 401k investment plan with company match up to 6%
• Generous paid time off and paid holidays
• Tuition reimbursement (Not for profit - FQHC and company contribution annually of $5000)
• The opportunity to help us make a difference in the lives of the patients and communities we serve!

Responsibilities

• Coordinated response with Student Resource Officers to any significant behavioral incident within the school
• Provide critical incident debriefing for the school if a situation arises
• Provide or refer for prevention services as needed/requested by the school (Safe Talk, Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASSIST), resilience building training, etc.)
• Available as a SME (subject matter expert) to all school staff (i.e. SROs, school counselors, assistant principals, teachers)
• Upon parental consent, attend school IEP meetings or other behavior intervention meetings between school and parents
• Initiate behavioral health assessments
• Provide referrals to the outpatient provider for additional ongoing behavioral health support to students on the campus
• Outreach to parents
• Obtain ROIs/consent form from parents
• Provide appropriate counseling/therapy
• Agency to provide ongoing behavioral services on site, in home and/or in office for enrolled children
• Provide office based or tele health medical services for enrolled children
• Facilitate connection to crisis services or other resources ,as needed
• Assists in developing crisis staff schedule to meet the needs of the community.
• Maintain effective local public relations with schools, law enforcement agencies, local hospitals, and make appropriate referrals to other agencies.
• Use community and Agency resources responsibly and knowledgeably.
• Willingness to work nights, weekends and holidays as needed.
• Keeps clear, concise and accurate records of clinical activity according to Agency policy procedures.
• Coordinates follow-up services of participants after initial contact.
• Meets regularly with the Crisis Program Coordinator and other clinical staff for the purpose of clinical/case problem solving.
• Establishes and maintains a working relationship with referral resources
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications Required

• Bachelor's degree BH/medical-related field plus 1-year experience in BH; or HS diploma or GED plus 4 years experience in BH work; or combined BH education and experience totaling 4 years.
• Must be at least 21 years of age or older.
• Possess a valid driver’s license with an acceptable driving record, home telephone, and reliable transportation
• Must be trained in CASII and ESCII assessment tools
• Trained in crisis intervention and offer services to agency participants and residents in the community
• Appropriate referrals and placements within the treatment continuum
• Demonstrate ability to provide counseling/case management to child participants in the Mental Health program
• Experience working with children in Integrated Healthcare, Behavioral Health, or Primary Care environment
• Maintain current CPI Training
• Critical Incident and Stress Management Training
• Identifying Victims in Human Trafficking Training
• Demonstrates knowledge of special populations such as substance abuse
• Demonstrates ability to develop a treatment plan and summary based on participant's needs
• Demonstrates ability to distinguish between alcohol and other drug-related symptoms and other pre-existing physical problems or pathologic behaviors
• Demonstrates ability to understand the biopsychosocial influences and effects of dependencies
• Demonstrates knowledge of how the acute and chronic nature of the dependence and the ways medical, emotional, behavioral, social, educational, and other interventions are used to treat the participant
• Demonstrated knowledge of referral resources .available to participants
• Able to effectively employ analytical and problem-solving skills
• Must be certified in First Aid and CPR
• Must obtain and maintain a fingerprint clearance card and pass a background check

Qualifications Preferred

• Master's degree or Doctorate in Psychology or BH/medical-related field plus 1-year experience in BH.
• Bilingual – English/Spanish
• Advanced knowledge of cultural diversity and sensitivity