Tribal Crisis Follow-up Counselor II

Description

About VOAWW:

Volunteers of America Western Washington is a non-profit organization operating in Western Washington for over 125 years. Our Christian roots drive us to put our faith into action for the benefit of every member of the community. We celebrate our unique perspectives and lived experiences that allow us to better serve and uplift our community – and each other. Volunteers of America Western Washington is officially a designated CARE trauma informed organization.

Benefits (Full time)

• Vacation and Sick Time: Vacation up to 200 hours, Sick time up to 108.64 hours
• Competitive compensation
• Holidays: 8 paid per year + 2 paid floating holidays
• Medical, Dental, and Vision
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Flexible Savings Account (FSA) medical & dependent care
• Free Employee Assistance program
• 403(b) Retirement Plan matching
• Professional Development opportunities

About Care Crisis Response Services (CCRS):

CCRS is a 24/7 crisis center offering suicide prevention, crisis intervention, and professional consultation services, including behavioral health evaluations. We provide brief crisis counseling and help clients identify appropriate services for their behavioral health crises. Our operations include regional and 988 crisis lines across Washington State.

General Function:

This full-time hourly position provides behavioral health support and follow-up services across Tribal programs. This Counselor assesses individual needs, conducts suicide risk assessments, develops treatment and referral plans, and ensures individuals receive timely, appropriate services. Staff in this role will have the opportunity to receive population-specific training to support diverse community needs. This position requires flexibility to provide surge staffing or cross-program support when needed. The position serves the American Indian and Alaskan Native population, including Tribal members, descendants, First Nations, unrecognized tribes, and tribally affiliated community members.

Principal Activities:

• Reach out to callers for ongoing support and check-ins
• Coordinate and manage Native and Strong Lifeline follow-up calls
• Assess individuals' needs and collaboratively develop plans to connect them with necessary services
• Provide exceptional customer service during each client interaction
• Create and maintain accurate, professional client records
• Coordinate with Care Crisis Response Services staff to ensure smooth referrals for callers from the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and regional crisis lines in Washington State
• Process referrals and collaborate with community partners to facilitate service linkage
• Conduct suicide risk assessments, including safety planning and means restriction
• Build and maintain effective relationships with community partners and referral sources
• Use the Washington State Provider One database to connect callers with their assigned Managed Care Coordinators
• Contribute to an environment that focuses on ensuring integrity, respect, accountability, and trauma informed service
• Other duties as assigned

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Qualifications

Requirements:

• Tribally affiliated. This can either be tribal enrollment or descendancy with ties to a tribal community
• Master’s degree required. At least one (1) year of experience in a healthcare contact center and/or in mental health counseling.
• Knowledge of Native populations in Washington State preferred
• Agency Affiliated Counselor Registration is required within 30 days of employment, or equivalent, and must remain in active status during employment
• Passing a typing test with a score of 35 WPM or higher
• Demonstrated respect for diversity

Required Skills:

• Fluency in English (oral and written)
• Courteous, empathic, and professional demeanor
• Proficiency in Motivational Interviewing and active listening
• Strong problem-solving and information-gathering skills
• Superior communication skills to convey information clearly and effectively
• Ability to multitask, including talking and typing simultaneously
• Respect for diversity and cultural competency
• Efficiency in documenting notes in electronic medical records
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to effectively manage a schedule and client caseload

Home Office Technology Requirements

• High-Speed Internet: Minimum download speed of 100Mbps and upload speed of 10Mbps. To ensure smooth workflow, you will be required to provide a recent internet speed test result as proof
• Secured Wired Connection: A direct wired connection to the internet using a secured ethernet cable is mandatory. Wireless connections (WiFi) are not allowed due to potential security risks and performance limitations
• No Satellite Internet: Satellite internet service providers such as HughesNet, Starlink, or Visat are not supported due to latency issues that can negatively impact service delivery

Effect on End Results:

• Provide a reliable information and referral telephone service to the community and maintain a comprehensive directory and database for agencies and businesses
• Uphold high program standards to be recognized as a trusted community resource and support program sustainability through generated income
• Deliver accurate and helpful information to clients, funding sources, human service professionals, and community decision-makers
• Ensure the telephone service is fully staffed and operational during working hours
• Maintain strong volunteer and staff morale and active participation
• Promote cooperation and teamwork between community human service agencies and VOA programs

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and all employment-related decisions are made without consideration of individuals’ race, sex, age, national origin, disability status or any other protected characteristic.