Case Manager for DHS Homeless Housing and Mental Health

Mental Health America of Los Angeles (MHALA) has been a pioneer in mental health service, advocacy, innovation, and training for nearly a century, working to ensure that people with mental health needs achieve meaningful, healthy lives in their communities. MHALA is among the largest and most comprehensive nonprofit mental health agencies in Los Angeles County, supporting over 19,000 low-income and no-income individuals annually with integrated services in mental and physical healthcare, homelessness and housing, supported employment, and wellness and financial services. Special programs serve Veterans and transition-age youth. MHALA also provides training for the behavioral health workforce and the broader community.

About the role

Provide high-quality Intensive Case Management Services (ICMS) to clients eligible for permanent housing through the Department of Health Services (DHS) Housing for Health (HFH) program. Use a client-centered approach and excellent customer service sensitive to the challenges faced by people experiencing homelessness with medical and behavioral health issues as they move into and maintain permanent supportive housing.

Responsibilities

• Provide case management support to a caseload of 40 low/high-acuity members.
• Assist individuals at every stage of the housing stabilization process, including flexible services to meet clients' individual needs for all LACDA/HACLA-linked subsidies.
• Complete all LACDA/HACLA-related documentation, interviews, and certificate utilization; serve as a point of contact for LACDA/HACLA subsidies.
• Outreach and engagement: process referrals from DHS, CES partners, and other HFH partners; establish rapport with clients; use a “screening in” philosophy; conduct face-to-face screenings; obtain consents; link to other needed providers and services.
• Conduct intake and enrollment activities with eligible clients, including assisting with gathering eligibility documentation, completing project intake forms and authorizations, and enrolling into ICMS.
• Provide temporary housing assistance until permanent housing is secured.
• Assist at all levels of move-in to permanent housing: help clients become document-ready, complete applications and paperwork, coordinate move-in, and orient new tenants to their unit/building.
• Assist clients with accessing services and addressing immediate needs; conduct DHS-approved comprehensive psychosocial assessment; develop and implement an individualized case management services plan in collaboration with the client.
• Ensure clients are linked to and accessing health, mental health, and substance use disorder services as needed, including establishing a medical home and maintaining continuity of care; assist with medication and treatment regimens.
• Assist clients with obtaining income or benefits, locating and securing employment or educational activities, addressing basic needs, life skills, community participation, daily independent living skills, social/leisure, personal hygiene, budgeting, legal issues, and transportation.
• Provide housing location services (if scattered site) and educate clients on tenant rights and responsibilities.
• Educate clients on appropriate use of crisis intervention services versus 911 emergency calls; provide eviction prevention counseling; work with property management and HFH partners to resolve issues threatening housing stability.
• Support program documentation standards in accordance with MHALA, LACDMH County Contracted Provider standards, and funding source requirements; document in Electronic Health Records (EHR) with 24-hour turnaround.
• Participate in the On-call Crisis Prevention rotation schedule; ensure HFH clients are notified of 24/7 crisis prevention line access.
• Engage in professional development activities to maintain and enhance personal and professional skills.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED and 2 years’ experience providing psychosocial rehab-related services to a disabled population (preferred).
• Bilingual Spanish speaking (preferred).
• Ability to function well in a team-oriented approach to client services.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Ability to learn and utilize Homeless Management Information Systems (HMIS) and Electronic Health Records Systems.
• Experience working with clients with mental illness, chronic health issues, and substance use disorders.
• Expertise in chronic homelessness, outreach and engagement strategies, intensive case management services, best practice models, mental health and substance use disorder services, crisis intervention, suicide assessment and prevention, affordable housing and public benefits applications, housing and landlord/tenant rights, and eviction prevention.
• Flexible work schedule to include some nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Current class C driver’s license, a vehicle for transportation, proof of valid automobile insurance, and ability to be insured by MHALA liability insurance (conditions of employment).
• TB clearance and annual retesting (conditions of employment).

Pay

$24.00 per hour (actual compensation determined based on experience and other factors permitted by law).

Schedule

35 hours per week.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and full benefits package.
• Employee assistance program.
• Generous paid time off.
• 35-hour workweek promoting work/life balance.
• Opportunities for growth in a team-oriented, diverse culture.