POSITION TITLE: Crisis Counselor, San Diego County (Full-Time) - CalHOPE

This full-time position is based in San Diego County. It is a Hybrid role, where individuals work from their Home Office and "in the field."

Company Description: NAMI San Diego (National Alliance on Mental Illness) is a nonprofit organization that provides free education, support services, and advocacy to improve the quality of life of everyone affected by mental illnesses.

Primary Responsibilities/Function: The CalHOPE team provides remote, non-clinical emotional and crisis support to individuals in San Diego and Imperial Counties in response to anyone impacted by a recent disaster and the associated stressors. The mission is to assist individuals in understanding their current situation and reactions, mitigating stress, developing coping strategies, providing emotional support, and encouraging linkages with resources and longer-term supportive services. Our team members provide this support primarily via phone; they also meet with individuals and groups in-person and via virtual meetings, when needed. The CalHOPE Program is comprised of 4 teams of Crisis Counselors and their Team Lead. Crisis Counselors will typically be assigned to provide support and outreach in a single County but may offer support virtually to individuals outside that County.

The Crisis Counselor is responsible for providing individual and group, non-clinical crisis counseling, providing individuals with available resources and referrals to appropriate benefits, resources, and social services. They also support the program by conducting outreach, which may include giving presentations to providers as well as community members. Crisis Counselors report to their Team Lead. Typical workdays/hours are Monday to Friday: 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM and may include evenings and weekends based on outreach and other program needs. Our Crisis Counselors will work from home, as well as "in the field" where they will provide individual and group crisis counseling, conduct outreach, and attend meetings and trainings in person.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide Individual, Family, and Group Crisis Counseling - provide emotional support, helping them to understand their reactions, review their options, provide information, and refer/connect them with resources, services, and agencies that may assist them in improving their situations.
• Demonstrate knowledge and provide services in line with recovery principles, cultural humility, co-occurring, gender responsiveness, and trauma informed practices.
• Conducts outreach activities with the community as well as providers of various services. This may include: developing and giving presentations about CalHOPE and about topics such as coping skills and stress management; posting flyers; and facilitating groups.
• Create presentations, flyers, and related materials.
• Represents program in the community and networks with other agencies and partners to ensure needs of support are met.
• Consistently complete and enter required documentation accurately and on a timely basis.
• Maintain open communication lines with their POD, their Team Lead, other CalHOPE employees, and other NAMI San Diego & Imperial Counties employees and volunteers.
• May support the team with developing/revising procedures and documentation to ensure effective operations.
• Comply with State and Federal Privacy and Security laws.
• Attend necessary meetings, workshops, events, and training seminars.
• Regular, predictable attendance is required.
• Complete trainings identified by CalMHSA, NAMI CA and NAMI SD IC.
• Apprises Team Lead of project statuses and needs.
• Other duties as assigned.

Accountability: Reports to Team Lead.

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with qualified disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Prolonged periods of standing and walking.
• Must be able to lift and pull up to 15 pounds at times.

Minimum Requirements, including linguistic and cultural skills, education, experiences, licenses and certifications:

• Experience providing non-clinical crisis counseling, peer support or related experience.
• In depth knowledge of San Diego's behavioral health and social services, resources, and culture.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills, positivity, attention to detail, flexibility, and enjoys working in an ever-changing environment.
• Excellent planning, organizing, analyzing, problem solving, and time management skills.
• Able to work with minimal direction and supervision.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Strong positive viewpoint towards individuals with mental health challenges and history of substance use, and their families.
• Ability to get along and work effectively with others.
• Intermediate to advanced knowledge of computer software (Zoom, Microsoft Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel, SharePoint, etc.) and web navigation.
• Willing and able to drive personal car, have valid California Driver's, and comprehensive automobile insurance as required by law. Must have a satisfactory driving record and be willing to sign an authorization to enroll in the DMV's Employee Pull Notice Program.
• Must be able to pass a criminal background check.
• Able to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing.
• Reliable and consistent attendance.

Additional Preferred Skills and Experience:

• Lived experience of self, or a family member or loved one with behavioral health challenges.
• Experience working remotely and leading virtual teams.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) or other languages.
• Has existing connections to Behavioral Health and Social Service Providers in San Diego County
• Strong presentation/training skills and experience.

COVID Protocols and Work Environment: As an essential worker, a successful candidate will follow CDC guidelines, state guidelines and local mandates for COVID-19 prevention.