Spanish-English Bilingual Community Mental Health Advocate

We are seeking a Bilingual Community Mental Health Advocate for the HEAL TSAP Mental Health Program. This is a Department of Justice Office of Victims of Crime (OVC)-funded program to expand access to mental health/behavioral services for survivors of trafficking, many of whom are limited English proficiency Spanish speaking clients. This project is coordinated through HEAL Refugee Health & Asylum Collaborative in partnership with Asylee Women Enterprise (AWE). The Mental Health Advocate will screen clients for mental health and SUD disorders at Asylee Women Enterprise and provide a brief intervention and referral to services. The Mental Health Advocate will help navigate clients who are referred to the program to behavioral health services and other available social services. The Mental Health Advocate will benefit from cross-training to be fully integrated into clinic and program operations.

Specific duties & responsibilities:

• Responsible for outreach, education, and referral to services
• Screens clients for mental health and alcohol/substance use disorder using validated scales
• Provides a brief Advocate-led intervention for patients with mild behavioral health disorders
• Facilitates healthcare navigation; assists clients with completing applications for services
• Refers clients to appropriate services following a triage algorithm
• Assists in providing and/or coordinating the clinical activities of the HEAL TSAP Mental Health Program
• Provides client education in some aspects of mental health; offers unbiased and confidential assistance
• Documents all patient encounters in HIPAA secure platforms, as required for reporting to the funding sources
• Maintains and updates a resource network of referrals for clients
• Participates in relevant training, conferences, and multidisciplinary client care.
• Obtains and maintains CHW-certification if required by the Maryland Department of Health
• Attends the required meetings for the OVC grant recipients
• Maintains professional/personal boundaries with patients, keeping the supervisor apprised of all situations of possible conflict, and maintain strict confidentiality of all patient information.
• Assists with coordination of Latino outreach activities and is a key contact person for leaders of community-based organizations
• Effectively collaborates will all community-based partners and provides excellent customer service