Description

Wellness Equity Alliance (WEA) is a novel national public health organization comprised of a multidisciplinary team of population and public health experts with backgrounds in infectious disease, public health, emergency medicine, primary care, cardiology, pediatrics, psychiatry, community health work (CHW), nursing and advanced practice pharmacy. We work nearly exclusively with underrepresented communities, fundamentally addressing health-care disparities and the social determinants of health (SDoH) that have been amplified during the COVID-19 pandemic, prioritizing the following:

• People experiencing homelessness
• Indigenous communities
• Immigrant communities
• Rural communities
• BIPoC communities
• LGBTQIA+ communities
• Justice-impacted communities

The WEA team is diverse, inclusive, and nimble enough to assemble teams of healthcare professionals within days using our proven local staff recruitment models to address population health crises and communicable disease outbreaks. The WEA team’s partnership model is collaborative and allows hospitals, health jurisdictions, state/local government agencies to provide timely care using equity-based strategies for individuals and marginalized communities.

Elevate your career to new heights with an opportunity that transcends traditional healthcare boundaries!WEA is actively seeking compassionate and driven individuals for several pivotal roles in our groundbreaking School-Based Health Center (SBHC) program for Bernalillo County, New Mexico. Our approach will focus on health promotion, prevention, and treatment centered on behavioral health and primary care (including sexual health and gender-affirming care) located in large mobile units (including a brick-and-mortar clinic) in schools across the county. Working for WEA is more than a job; it's a calling to serve those most in need directly in their environment.

Purpose of the position

WEA is actively seeking compassionate and driven professionals for several pivotal roles in our innovative Mobile School Health Center program in Bernalillo County. This initiative is designed to deliver comprehensive healthcare services directly to middle and elementary schools, ensuring every student can access high-quality care, regardless of their circumstances.
The Mobile School Health Center represents a transformative approach to healthcare, bringing primary care, behavioral health support, preventive services, and more directly to students within their school environments. Our dedicated mobile healthcare teams are committed to meeting students where they are addressing their physical and mental health needs right on school grounds. 

By providing accessible and equitable healthcare, we aim to support the well-being of students, foster a supportive learning environment, and address the healthcare disparities that affect underserved communities. Join us in making a meaningful impact on the lives of children and families in Bernalillo County and become part of a team dedicated to delivering compassionate care and driving positive change in the community.

Joining our dedicated team at the Wellness Equity Alliance (WEA) is more than a job; it is a calling to serve those most in need. By providing critical behavioral health services in school settings, you will become a beacon of hope and change, ensuring every student receives the compassionate care they deserve, regardless of their circumstances. Our mission is deeply rooted in delivering equitable healthcare to underserved communities, and we are looking for individuals who embrace this mission wholeheartedly.

We seek dedicated and compassionate Licensed Behavioral Health Professionals to provide high-quality mental health services to students in a mobile clinic setting. New Mexico independently licensed (LCSW, LPCC, LMFT) and New Mexico non-independent licensed (LMHC, LMSW) professionals are encouraged to apply.

Key Responsibilities

Mental health providers serving as mobile school healthcare providers need diverse skills and the ability to perform various duties to support students' psychological and physical well-being effectively. The essential functions listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classification.  They are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities.  Employees may also perform other duties as assigned.

Employees must abide by all sensitivity to cultural diversity, patient care, patient rights, ethical treatment, safety and security of physical environments, emergency management, teamwork, respect for others, participation in ongoing education and training, communication, and adherence to safety and quality programs, sustaining compliance with National Patient Safety Goals, and licensure and health screenings.

• Advocacy & Education: Patient/Family Self Care Management, Patient/Family Health Management Education, Bioethics Referrals & Management, Physician, Staff & Community Education, Case Management Education & Training, Risk Management Identification & Referral 
• Psychosocial Management: Crisis Intervention, Psychosocial Assessment/Functioning, Counseling Support & Referral, Abuse/Neglect Identification & Referral (Partner, Child, Elder), Family Issues Affecting Care, Coping/Emotional Adjustment, Grief/Bereavement Support (Individual & Group), Adoption Resources, Health/Wellness Promotion, Substance Abuse Screening/Resources, Psychiatric Screening/Behavior, Management, Staff Support and Crisis Intervention (Critical Incident Stress Debriefing)
• Patient/Family Care Conferences: Interdisciplinary Care Communication/Coordination, Continuity of Care Planning Management.
• Continuity/Transition Management for School-Based Health Center

As part of the Care Coordination team, the role involves facilitating student and family decisions and communications regarding post-acute care. This includes professional responsibility for maintaining knowledge of community resources relevant to clinical social work and mental health services. Key responsibilities include community resource management, which involves keeping an up-to-date list of community resources and services.  

Additional continuity of care provides education and advocacy, which teaches students and families about available community resources and mental health service coordination.

- Care Coordination:  Ensuring smooth transitions between different levels of care and support.

- Collaboration: Working closely with community organizations to provide comprehensive support.

- Professional Discretion:  Using professional judgment to guide students and families to appropriate services and support systems.

- Mental Health Support: Coordinating mental health services and facilitating access to necessary care within the community.

• Collaboration and Teamwork:

  - Skills in working collaboratively with school staff, including teachers, counselors, and nurses.

  - Ability to coordinate care with other healthcare providers and community resources.

• Performance & Outcomes Management: Understanding of Federal/State/Local Regulatory Agency Compliance, Joint Commission Standards Compliance, Evidenced Based Practice; Understanding of Organizational Financial Performance/Management, Length of Stay, Cost per Case, Revenue Cycle

Additional Job Functions:

Counseling and Therapy:

     Conduct regular mental health screenings and assessments.

     Provides interventions and counsels patients and families for emotional, social, and resource issues. 

     Offer individual and group counseling sessions.

     Implement therapeutic interventions tailored to the needs of students.

Identify students at risk for mental health issues and provide appropriate referrals for a higher level of care.

Crisis Management:

  - Respond to mental health crises and provide immediate support and stabilization.

  - Develop and implement crisis intervention plans.

Advocacy:

• Advocates for students' mental health needs within the school system.
• Work to reduce the stigma associated with mental health issues.
• Serves as the multi-disciplinary team professional advocating for the patient’s perspective in planning for care.

Health Promotion and Education:

  - Design and implement health promotion activities and workshops.

  - Educate students, staff, and parents about mental health and wellness.

Maintains current clinical training and skills to provide competent care to:

• Disadvantaged, Disenfranchised, and Vulnerable Patients and Families
• Crisis Management
• Evidence-Based Trauma Informed Care
• School-Based Healthcare Practices.
• Adolescent Substance Abuse Interventions

Coordinate care and services for complex student needs.

               - Liaise with external mental health providers, social services, and community organizations.

Caseload Management: 

• Efficiently manages caseload with a timely response to referrals and high-risk screenings.
  • Transition Planning:  Collaborates with the RN Care Coordinator to develop optimal transition plans for students following discharge from the clinic.
  • Documentation: Clearly and articulately documents assessments and interventions in the medical record and care plan, ensuring all information pertinent to the student's disposition is included within the required timeframe.
  • Interdisciplinary Team Participation: Actively participates in patient care conferences as part of the interdisciplinary team and provides consultation to staff regarding psychosocial issues affecting students' care and post-clinic situations.
  • Resource Mobilization: Mobilizes resources to ensure rapid and timely student movement through the system and promotes timely and safe post-clinic care.
  • Service Access Assistance: Assists students and families in accessing services such as housing, personal care attendants, government entitlement programs, etc., to maximize the potential for health maintenance post-discharge.
  • Community Referrals: Makes referrals to appropriate community agencies to ensure complete and appropriate transitions of care post-discharge and maintains a professional relationship with community health, welfare, and social agencies.
  • Risk Assessment and Transition Planning: Identifies, assesses, and participates in transition planning for students at risk for readmission.

Essential Skills and Qualifications:

Adaptability

Given the mobile nature of the role, mental health providers should also be adaptable and flexible, able to work in various school settings, and comfortable with travel between locations. They should be equipped to handle the unique challenges of providing care in different environments and be resourceful in addressing any logistical issues.

Communication Skills

  - Effective verbal and written communication skills to interact with students, parents, teachers, and school administrators.

  - Ability to explain complex mental health concepts in a clear, accessible manner.

Cultural Competency

  - Sensitivity to and respect for diverse cultural backgrounds and experiences.

  - Ability to tailor interventions to meet the unique needs of students from different cultures.

Empathy and Compassion

  - Strong interpersonal skills to build trusting relationships with students.

  - Ability to provide empathetic and compassionate care.

• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple tasks or projects effectively
• Ability to work independently as needed with a high degree of detail orientation.
• Ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced environment with changing priorities