Integrated Mental Health Therapist Position Description
FLSA Status: Exempt
Job Type: Full-time
Position Reports to: Chief Medical Officer
Incumbent Location: Peach/JFK
Employee Level: II
Interested applicants, please send your resume and statement of interest to Interim CEO, Alivia Haibach, MPA at ahaibach@mheds.org.
About Multi-Cultural Health Evaluation Delivery System (MHEDS)
MHEDS was established 50 years ago as a joint project of the Erie Diocesan Mission Office and the Erie Council of Churches to meet the health needs of African-American and Hispanic Farm Workers and other low-income individuals and their families. Refugee and immigrant health were added in the late 1990s. On January 1, 2019, MHEDS entered the Federally Qualified Health Center system as a Look-Alike.
Our service area is the City of Erie. Our mission is to enable all who wish to achieve complete mental, physical and social well-being by providing equitable, culturally sensitive, patient-centered health care, regardless of their ability to pay. MHEDS has a very diverse panel of patients: 35% are Asian, 29% Black/African American, 29% White, and the remainder mixed race. 6% are Latino/a. As an FQHC Look-Alike, MHEDS must comply with standards that ensure all patients have access to comprehensive health care services. We also offer health insurance enrollment, interpretation, and translation.
MHEDS expanded by opening a second site at the JFK Center in 2020. The second site allowed us to begin to offer women’s health and accommodation to serve more new arrivals. In late 2021, MHEDS began receiving Afghan refugees along with its anticipated arrivals. In early 2022 we began receiving Ukrainian refugees. Our anticipated 549 new patients became 1,010. This Federal Fiscal Year, we have been told to expect 750 refugees plus additional Afghans and an unknown number of Ukrainians. Eighty percent of MHEDS’ staff are hired from within the New American group, allowing us to be more aligned both linguistically and culturally with those we serve.
Company Values
Here at MHEDS, we are Flexible, Ethical, Positive Communicators, Culturally Competent, Productive, and Team Players. (See Attachment A).
Duties and Responsibilities
Clinical Duties
- Provides mental health services for MHEDS including group support services, being aware of the client’s areas of difficulty and providing a healthy environment for individual and group support.
- Provides patients the tools they need for personal growth and helping individuals make connections within the greater community to form a multi-faceted support network.
- Collects information about patients, using interview, case histories, observational techniques and other assessment tools; biopsychosocial histories will be obtained.
- Provides group counseling to appropriate patients on requested topics and focus.
- Consults with other professionals both within and outside MHEDS to facilitate patient treatment.
- Conducts age-appropriate mental health screenings approved by the Chief Medical Officer.
- Documents patient information including session notes, progress notes, recommendations and treatment plans.
- Counsels individuals, group, or families to help with mindfulness, manage crisis situations, and define treatment goals.
- Serves as a behavioral health team mentor for interns, clinicians in training and other counselors.
- Monitors interview notes, inventory results, and reference evidence-based resources to identify symptoms and manage the treatment plan.
- Assists with developing new policies for the behavioral health service line.
- Communicates clinical concerns to the medical health team.
- Promotes positive patient relations in accordance with policies and procedures.
- Serves as an advocate for patients concerning their mental health needs.
Administrative Duties
- Works with Chief Information Officer to maximize use of EMR for behavior health service line.
- Leads the team to ensure MHEDS has a consent process and documentation to ensure the highest level of compliance standards are met.
- Leads quality improvement initiatives and PDSAs for the behavior health service line.
Safety
- Adheres to safety, infection control, patient confidentiality, and related policies and procedures.
Company Values
- Ensures the six domains of healthcare quality are met during each patient visit: patient safety, effectiveness, patient-centered, timeliness, efficiency, and equity.
- Consistent with MHEDS’ values, treats all supervisors, co-workers, direct reports, patients, and any other internal or external person with respect and dignity.
- All other duties as assigned by supervisor and/or based on the needs of the health center.
Supervisory Capacity
This position does not supervise any position. (See Attachment B for position identification on the Organization Chart).
Education and/or Experience
- Graduation from an accredited counseling-related graduate program medical school and a current unrestricted license to practice counseling (LCSW, LPC, or MFT) in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is required.
- Must meet and maintain credentialing and privileging criteria as outlined in the credentialing and privileging policy.
- Must have at least two years of post-degree experience in the Human Service field dealing with mental health disorders; experience working with migrant and/or refugee populations a plus.
Language Skills
Must be able to speak and write in English. Additional language capabilities are a plus.
Physical Demands
Normal medical/administrative office setting demands include lifting and carrying or delivering supplies that usually weigh less than 10 pounds, but may occasionally weigh 20-30 pounds, within the building. Must possess a valid driver’s license and have the ability to drive a private vehicle.
Work Environment
The office and clinical areas are well illuminated, climate controlled, indoor areas. Work involves some exposure to hazards typical to a medical office environment, including potential exposure to infectious diseases and blood borne pathogens, chemical exposures, fire, mechanical and electrical hazards. Protective clothing and equipment are provided and required to be worn in potential exposure situations.
