Community Mental Health Monitor, Mental Health-Assisted Outpatient Treatment Program

The Bureau of Mental Health’s (BMH) mission is to improve mental health and wellness for people in New York City, and to eliminate racial and other long-standing societal disparities by providing services, resources, and opportunities to New Yorkers that are grounded in accurate, data-driven information that fosters community participation, thus reducing the stigma around mental health. The Office of Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) is responsible for the management and oversight of the Assisted Outpatient Treatment Program in New York City. The New York State Legislature passed Kendra’s law as an amendment to the Mental Hygiene Law to allow for outpatient civil commitment of individuals with histories of serious mental illness, difficulty engaging in rehabilitation, and who present high risk to themselves or the community. The program enables these individuals to live safely in the community, avoid repeated inpatient hospitalizations, and ensure they have access to comprehensive outpatient services.

Position Summary: It is impossible to run an AOT team without the Community Mental Health Monitor. Community Mental Health Monitors are needed to monitor and ensure compliance of court orders and voluntary agreements for those individuals determined to be eligible for the program, making this position critical to the daily operation of the program. For New York City to be in compliance with the Kendra’s Law mandate, we must hire Community Mental Health Monitors. If this position is not filled, the AOT office will have a limited bandwidth to monitor the mandated services effectively and efficiently for this high-risk population.

Job Duties and Responsibilities: Working closely with mental health providers and staff from the Office of Assisted Outpatient Treatment, the Community Mental Health Monitor will:

• Monitor and evaluate the community service providers’ engagement with consumers assigned to their services through a court ordered treatment plan.

• Monitor weekly contact with community service providers responsible for Care Coordinator (CC), Assertive Community Treatment (ACT), or Intensive Mobile Treatment (IMT) services, to ensure they are fulfilling their required responsibilities.

• Verify consumer community services monthly by completing the monthly service verification.

• Ensure that treatment plans are complete timely.

• Make recommendations on policies and procedures for the AOT Teams and community providers to improve consumer’s adherence to treatment plans while in the community.

• Monitor, follow-up, and document significant events as reported by the community providers, timely and according to the policy and procedure guidelines.

• Participate in case conferences with community partners to discuss consumer eligibility for AOT as well as progress under the court order.

• Maintain consumers’ electronic and hard cover records.

• Collaborate with other community treatment/service providers and/or hospitals regarding current consumers.

Preferred Skills:

• Extensive knowledge of community mental health resources; excellent interpersonal and communication skills; ability to interface with service providers from all sectors of the service system; and strong organizational skills.
• Master’s in Social Work

Why you should work for us:

• Loan Forgiveness: As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal/state loan forgiveness and repayment assistance programs that lessen your payments or even fully forgive your full balance. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website (https://studentaid.gov/pslf/)
• Benefits: City employees are entitled to unmatched benefits such as:

o a premium-free health insurance plan that saves employees over $10K annually, per a 2024 assessment.
o additional health, fitness, and financial benefits may be available based on the position’s associated union/benefit fund.
o a public sector defined benefit pension plan with steady monthly payments in retirement.
o a tax-deferred savings program and
o a robust Worksite Wellness Program that offers resources and opportunities to keep you healthy while serving New Yorkers.

• Work From Home Policy: Depending on your position, you may be able to work up to two days during the week from home.

- Job Security - you could enjoy more job security compared to private sector employment and be able to contribute to making NYC a healthy place to live and work.

Established in 1805, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC Health Department) is the oldest and largest health department in the U.S., dedicated to protecting and improving the health of NYC. Our mission is to safeguard the health of every resident and cultivate a city where everyone, regardless of age, background, or location, can achieve their optimal health. We provide a wide array of programs and services focused on food and nutrition, anti-tobacco support, chronic disease prevention, HIV/AIDS treatment, family and child health, environmental health, mental health, and social justice initiatives. As the primary population health strategist and policy authority for NYC, with a rich history of public health initiatives and scientific advancements, from addressing the 1822 yellow fever outbreak to the COVID-19 pandemic, we serve as a global leader in public health innovation and expertise.

Come join us and help to continue our efforts in making a difference in the lives of all New Yorkers!

Commitment to Equity:

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.

The NYC Health Department is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation to all individuals. To request reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, contact Sye-Eun Ahn, Director of the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity, at sahn1@health.nyc.gov or 347-396-6549.

COMMUNITY COORDINATOR - 56058