Independently Licensed Behavioral Health Provider (LPCC, LCSW, LMFT)

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! Wellness Equity Alliance is actively seeking compassionate and driven individuals for several pivotal roles in our groundbreaking Street Medicine program. Street Medicine is an innovative and compassionate approach to healthcare, designed to meet individuals experiencing homelessness right where they are: on the streets, in shelters, or within underserved communities. Working for WEA is more than a job; it's a calling to serve those who are most in need, directly in their environment.

Purpose of the position

The purpose of the Behavioral Health Provider (LPCC, LCSW, LMHC, LMFT) in the South Los Angeles Street Medicine Program is to provide comprehensive, accessible behavioral health services to unhoused individuals living on the streets of Los Angeles. This role aims to support their mental and emotional well-being through high-quality assessments, treatment, counseling, education, and harm reduction strategies. By collaborating with a multidisciplinary street medicine team—including medical providers, outreach workers, and community partners—the Behavioral Health Provider ensures an integrative and holistic approach to healthcare delivery. The focus is on fostering trust, enhancing engagement, and reducing barriers to care for individuals with complex behavioral health and substance use needs.

Behavioral health providers in this role require diverse skills and the ability to perform various duties to effectively support the psychological, emotional, and physical well-being of individuals experiencing homelessness. The essential functions listed below outline key responsibilities but do not encompass the full scope of duties. Employees may also be required to perform additional responsibilities as needed.

Providers must adhere to all guidelines regarding cultural humility, patient-centered care, harm reduction principles, trauma-informed practices, safety, ethical treatment, teamwork, participation in ongoing training, and compliance with organizational policies and public health standards.

Requirements

Key Responsibilities

Advocacy & Education

• Staff & Community Education: Educating team members and community partners on the unique needs and challenges of individuals experiencing homelessness and the principles of harm reduction.
• Case Management Education & Training: Training staff on effective case management strategies that address both behavioral health and social determinants of health.
• Risk Management Identification & Referral: Identifying potential risks to individual well-being and linking individuals to appropriate resources and referrals.
  
  

Psychosocial Management

• Crisis Intervention: Providing immediate support during behavioral health crises to stabilize and engage individuals in care.
• Psychosocial Assessment/Functioning: Conducting comprehensive assessments to evaluate mental health, substance use, and social functioning, and developing individualized care plans.
• Counseling Support & Referral: Offering therapeutic interventions and facilitating access to additional support services, including substance use treatment and housing resources.
  
  

Continuity Of Care & Transition Support

• Care Coordination: Facilitating transitions between street-based care, shelter services, and healthcare systems to ensure continuity and access to needed services.
• Community Resource Navigation: Maintaining a current list of available community resources, including harm reduction services, housing programs, and mental health supports.
• Education and Advocacy: Empowering individuals by providing information on available community services and advocating for their access to essential healthcare and social supports.
• Collaboration: Partnering with healthcare providers, outreach teams, and community organizations to ensure a comprehensive and coordinated approach to care.
• Professional Discretion: Using clinical judgment to guide individuals to appropriate levels of care while respecting their autonomy and choices.
• Mental Health Support: Coordinating ongoing behavioral health services and facilitating engagement with long-term care providers when appropriate.
• Multidisciplinary Collaboration: Working closely with medical providers, harm reduction specialists, outreach workers, and peer support teams to deliver holistic, patient-centered care.
• Street-Based Outreach: Engaging individuals in their environment with a compassionate and non-judgmental approach to build trust and encourage participation in services.
• Care Coordination: Ensuring seamless integration of behavioral health support within the broader street medicine framework to provide comprehensive care and support.
  
  

Adaptability

Essential Skills and Qualifications

• Flexible Work Environment: Mental health providers must be highly adaptable and flexible, capable of working in various street-based settings, encampments, shelters, and community clinics. This includes navigating the unique challenges of providing care in unpredictable environments while addressing the diverse and complex needs of individuals experiencing homelessness.
• Resourcefulness: Providers should effectively manage logistical challenges that arise in dynamic environments, including coordinating care across different locations and responding to rapidly changing situations in the field.
  
  

Communication Skills

• Effective Communication: Strong verbal and written communication skills are essential for engaging with individuals experiencing homelessness, medical providers, harm reduction specialists, and community partners.
• Clarity: Ability to convey complex mental health concepts in a clear, compassionate, and accessible manner, particularly to individuals with limited understanding of mental health issues or those in crisis.
• Professional Interaction: Comfort in collaborating with various stakeholders, including public health officials, law enforcement, social service providers, and outreach teams.
  
  

Cultural Competency

• Diverse Backgrounds: Sensitivity to and respect for individuals from diverse cultural, socio-economic, and lived experience backgrounds, recognizing the systemic challenges they face, including housing insecurity, substance use, and trauma.
• Tailored Interventions: Ability to adapt interventions to meet the unique needs of individuals living on the streets, ensuring culturally responsive and person-centered care.
  
  

Empathy And Compassion

• Building Trust: Strong interpersonal skills to foster trusting relationships with individuals who may be reluctant to engage in services, emphasizing harm reduction and non-judgmental care approaches.
• Supportive Care: A compassionate approach that acknowledges the stigma and challenges associated with mental health, substance use, and chronic homelessness, empowering individuals in their care journey.
  
  

Multi-Tasking And Project Management

• Task Management: Demonstrated ability to manage multiple responsibilities in a fast-moving environment, balancing direct client care with administrative duties and collaboration with community partners.
• Independent Work: Ability to work autonomously in field settings while maintaining attention to detail and ensuring high-quality care delivery and documentation.
  
  

Efficiency In a Fast-Paced Environment

• Dynamic Work Environment: Capacity to thrive in an unpredictable, high-demand environment where priorities shift rapidly, requiring quick decision-making and adaptability.
• Resilience: Ability to maintain composure, professionalism, and effectiveness under pressure, responding to urgent and sometimes challenging situations with patience and resourcefulness.
  
  

Qualifications And Education Requirements

• At least five years of clinical or medical social work/ Community mental health delivery experience is required.
• Master’s Degree from a School of Social Work accredited by the Council of Social Work Education. Any relevant master’s degree in behavioral health leading to licensure in California.
• California –Independently Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC), Licensed Family Therapist (LMFT) required.
  
  

Preferred Skills

• Knowledge of contemporary behavioral and systems theories relevant to health care; community-based healthcare service delivery, dynamics, and interventions; grief and bereavement counseling; substance abuse identification and interventions; support for victims of abuse, neglect, or violence; community or financial resources for underserved or vulnerable populations.