Responsibilities
Job Title: Mental Health Aide (School Based)
Location: Fremont County School District- Lander
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Mileage reimbursement for work related traveling activities, work cellphone provided, position starts at 32 hours/week, benefits available.
POSITION SUMMARY:
In partnership with the Wyoming Department of Education, and the Wyoming Behavioral Institute Outpatient & Telehealth Clinic, tele-therapeutic services will be offered to students and their families. The WBI (Wyoming Behavioral Institute) Outpatient & Telehealth Clinic provides intensive and targeted clinical therapeutic services to improve the continuum of care to students and to provide access to mental/behavioral healthcare services to the underserved. The Mental Health Aide serves as first contact with students and their families and is responsible for assisting students and their families with the initial consult and enrollment for telehealth services and providing case management services, securing student insurance and other payment processes, participating as a member of the treatment team, scheduling, and coordinating other needs from intake to discharge. The Mental Health Aide will collaborate effectively with teachers, school staff, and administration to coordinate services and schedule therapy sessions during the school day. Also, the Mental Health Aide provides accurate and timely communication, reporting for grant requirements, documentation, problem-solving, and making recommendations to referrals sources and the treatment team. works within the school setting, and must be able to effectively collaborate with teachers, school staff, and administration to coordinate services and schedule therapy sessions during the school day and school vacations. Other duties as assigned.
WORKING CONDITIONS:
Duties require sitting, standing, and walking regularly. Requires reaching overhead occasionally and lifting occasionally up to 25 lbs. Position requires that the individual be in good physical and mental health sufficient to support behavioral health patients of all ages. A Mental Health Aide must be able to maintain the ability to provide and support services through telehealth, including the need to speak and hear via teleconference. The mental health aide works in the school setting and will follow professional standards for providing services within the school setting. Hours may be irregular including evenings, duties variable. May be occasional occupational exposure to blood borne pathogens or other potentially infectious materials.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCES REQUIRED:
Must be 21 years of age. Associate's degree (or higher) in mental health/behavioral health, Social Sciences, Social Work, or related field is preferred or equivalent relevant work experience will be considered. Experience and willingness to provide services in school settings and through telehealth is required. Ability/willingness to become certified as a Certified Mental Health Worker and/or a Family Care Coordinator. Two (2) years of experience in patient care and mental and behavioral health care or equivalent is preferred; demonstrated ability to successfully organize and enter data, complete reporting, organize patient files, communicate effectively through teleservices, and meet licensing, accreditation, and grant standards. Must have knowledge of developmental tasks of children, adolescents, adults, and families and apply knowledge in assessment and planning of care. Experience in Case Management or Wraparound services is beneficial.
PERSONAL TRAITS, QUALITIES & APPTITUDES:
Demonstrates personal traits/behavior consistent with the values of Wyoming Behavioral Institute. Must be self-directed/self-motivated; must have good communication and interpersonal skills; must be flexible; must have good critical thinking/decision making skills and must have good understanding of systems and change processes. Must be able to: (1) perform a variety of duties often changing from one task to another of a different nature without loss of efficiency or composure; (2) accept responsibility for direction, control and planning of activity; (3) make evaluations and decisions based on measurable or verifiable criteria; (4) work independently and manage conflict/difficulties as they arise; (5) recognize the rights and responsibilities of patient confidentiality; (6) convey empathy and compassion to those experiencing pain, physical or emotional distress, and/or grief; (7) relate to others in a manner which creates a sense of teamwork and cooperation; (8) communicate effectively with people from every socioeconomic, cultural, and educational background; (9) exhibit flexibility and cope effectively in an ever changing, fast-paced health care environment; (10) perform effectively when confronted with emergency, critical, unusual and/or dangerous situations; (11) demonstrate the quality work ethic of doing the right thing the right way; and (12) maintain a customer focus and strive to satisfy the customer's perceived needs.
Qualifications
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Essential Functions:

• Engage with referred students and their families to provide a comprehensive overview of available services and facilitate the enrollment process in the therapy program.
• Conduct assessments to identify the needs of students and their families, including necessities such as food, clothing, and transportation, and assist them in accessing relevant services and programs.
• Actively participate as a member of the Learning Collaborative within district.
• Contribute to weekly treatment team meetings (huddles) with active and informed participation.
• Coordinate and schedule services between WBI's Mental Health Professionals, the student and their family/guardians to ensure seamless service delivery.
• Ensure the accurate and timely entry of data for reporting and documentation purposes.
• Maintain an organized and efficient patient file system.
• Assist in discharge planning, providing support and making necessary referrals as prompted by WBI's Mental Health Professionals or as needed to ensure continuation of care.
• Communicate regularly and promptly with relevant treatment team members and family members, ensuring all parties are informed and engaged as appropriate.

Other Functions:
Interventions

• Provide tailored support services based on student eligibility, needs, enrollment, and discharge requirements.
• Engage with students in an appropriate way for their developmental stage.
• Conduct monthly data collection with students and families to monitor progress and outcomes.
• Coordinate all service scheduling for students, ensuring that appointments align with their academic and personal needs.
• Oversee the organization and scheduling of services, maintaining strong relationships with schools, school personnel, community support organizations, and other social service agencies.

Data Collection/Entry/Organization

• Perform data entry across multiple record and tracking platforms to support trend analysis and reporting.
• Identify and communicate data driven trends in the referral and discharge process.
• Ensure the accurate collection and entry related to student eligibility, grant requirements and family needs.
• Review and report on data and processes to the outpatient team, grant support staff, school personnel, and mental health professionals.
• Maintain necessary communication between county and state agencies to ensure compliance and collaboration.
• Uphold thorough documentation of all case management services and address quality of care issues as they arise.

Therapeutic Environment

• Contribute to the effective functioning of the assigned programs and facility-wide activities and services.
• Report unsafe conditions to appropriate personnel.
• Assure students' rights are upheld.
• Ensure tele-therapy space meets privacy standards and ensure safety of students.
• Serve as support during therapy sessions, when need arises.

Provider and/or Supervision of Care

• Collaborate effectively with school, family, and mental health workers in making decisions regarding each student's need for care.
• Intervene effectively in unusual and complex student/family situations.
• Provide accurate safety support in crisis situations and participates in debriefing after crisis situations.
• Update and coordinate tele-services to meet the needs of students and their families.
• Communicate effectively with students, families, health care team members, school personnel, and community providers regarding student status and progress.
• Ensure enrollment and/or referrals are completed according to grant guidelines and in a timely manner.
• Provide liaison and referral services to community agencies and appear in court when requested or subpoenaed.
• Comply with required standards for medical/legal reporting situations (i.e., child abuse, dependent adult abuse, psychiatric commitment).
• Represent the facility at legal hearings as requested.
• Ensure that documentation meets policies, procedures, standards, and laws.