Intensive Case Manager for DHS Homeless Housing and Mental Health

About the Organization

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. The agency achieves impact in mental and physical healthcare, homelessness and housing, supported employment, and wellness and financial services, with special programs for Veterans and transition-age youth. MHALA also provides training programs for individuals joining the behavioral health workforce and for the larger community around mental health issues.

MHALA works to ensure that its employees are just as cared for as its members. Communication, collaboration, transparency, and a healthy work/life balance are core components of the agency culture. Employees are encouraged to engage in self-care and can enjoy a 35-hour workweek. MHALA fosters diversity at all levels of the organization and promotes a team-oriented culture that offers opportunities for growth. The agency offers a competitive salary and full benefits package, including an employee assistance program and generous paid time off.

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. This role uses a client-centered approach and excellent customer service, sensitive to the challenges that people experiencing homelessness with a range of medical and behavioral health issues face as they move into and maintain permanent supportive housing.

Responsibilities

• Provide case management support for project-based housing to a caseload of up to 25 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.
• Conduct outreach and engagement, including processing referrals from DHS, CES partners, and other HFH partners; establish rapport with clients using a “screening in” philosophy; conduct face-to-face screenings; obtain consents; and link clients to other needed providers and services.
• Conduct intake and enrollment activities with eligible clients, including assisting with gathering program eligibility documentation, completing project intake forms, authorizations, and enrolling into ICMS.
• Assist with temporary housing until permanent housing can be secured.
• Support clients at all levels of move-in to permanent housing, including helping clients become document-ready, assisting with applications and paperwork, coordinating move-in, and orienting new tenants to their unit/building.
• Assist clients with accessing services and addressing immediate needs; conduct DHS-approved comprehensive psychosocial assessments; develop and implement individualized case management service plans in collaboration with and authorized by the client.
• Ensure clients are linked to and accessing health, mental health, and substance use disorder services as needed, including assisting with establishing and maintaining a medical home and treatment regimens.
• Assist clients with obtaining income, establishing benefits, locating employment, volunteer or educational activities, and addressing basic needs, life skills, community participation, daily 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, crisis intervention, and 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, and funding source requirements; document in Electronic Health Records (EHR) with 24-hour turnaround.
• Participate in the On-call Crisis Prevention rotation schedule and ensure clients are notified of 24/7 crisis prevention line access.
• Maintain and enhance professional skills through research, classes, workshops, seminars, and other professional development activities.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED and 2 years’ experience providing psychosocial rehab-related services to a disabled population (preferred).
• Ability to function well in a team-oriented approach to client services.
• Proficient in computer applications such as 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, 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.
• TB clearance and annual re-testing.
• Employment verification directly from three (3) past employers within the most recent 7-year period.

Pay

$24.00 per hour (actual compensation will be 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.