Behavioral Health Associate

Overview
Behavioral Health Associates assist social services teams to provide supportive counseling, advocacy, and education to help patients and their families navigate mental illness, access community resources, and manage symptoms to help them remain safely in the community. This is a junior position that provides direct care as part of a team. Join us in building on our 130-year history and become a part of the Future of Care that is strengthening communities with high quality, integrated behavioral health programs. VNS Health Behavioral Health team members provide vital client-centered behavioral health care to New Yorkers most in need, across all stages of life and mental well-being. We deliver care wherever our clients are, including outpatient clinics, clients’ homes, and the community. Our short- and long-term service models include acute, transitional, and intensive care management programs that impact the most vulnerable populations, from children, to adolescents, to aging adults. As part of our fast-growing Behavioral Health team, you’ll have an opportunity to develop and advance your skills, whether you’re early in your career or an experienced professional.

What We Provide

• Attractive sign-on bonus and referral bonus opportunities
• Generous paid time off (PTO), starting at 30 days of paid time off and 9 company holidays – confirm days off based on employee type- see reference guide
• Health insurance plan for you and your loved ones, Medical, Dental, Vision, Life and Disability
• E mployer-matched retirement saving funds
• Personal and financial wellness programs 
• Pre-tax flexible spending accounts (FSAs) for healthcare and dependent care  
• Generous tuition reimbursement for qualifying degrees
• Opportunities for professional growth and career advancement 
• Internal mobility, CEU credits, and advancement opportunities  
• Interdisciplinary network of colleagues through the VNS Health Social Services Community of Professionals

What You Will Do

• Assists with the development of the social work assessment of patients/ families
• Assists in the development of a social work treatment plan and goals with emphasis on symptom management and psychiatric rehabilitation
• Provides ongoing social work services and/or collaborates and refers to appropriate agencies
• Provides advocacy and assistance in obtaining entitlements and community services to patients, families and other caregivers
• Assists clients with understanding their mental illness by providing psycho education and assistance with symptom management
• Assists staff, patients, families and other caregivers to understand third party reimbursement, entitlements and community resources
• Initiates and maintains written and verbal communications according to VNS Health policy
• Performs established workflow procedures
• Maintains productivity sufficient to meet VNS Health goals
• Acts as liaison with other community agencies
• Participates in related VNS Home Care activities, e.g., utilization review, staff meetings, education programs, etc.
• Assumes responsibility for continued professional growth

About the Program

Behavioral Health Recruitment Guide

Comprehensive program summaries and recruitment messaging for use in job postings and candidate outreach.

Intensive Mobile Treatment (IMT)

The Intensive Mobile Treatment (IMT) program provides comprehensive, community-based psychiatric care for adults living with serious mental illness who have experienced frequent hospitalizations, housing instability, or involvement with the justice system.

Why Join This Program: Make a direct impact on some of New York City's most vulnerable adults while working as part of a highly collaborative, community-based care team.

Assertive Community Treatment (ACT)

The Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) program delivers intensive, multidisciplinary behavioral health services to adults with serious mental illness who have a history of repeated psychiatric hospitalizations and difficulty engaging in traditional outpatient care.

Why Join This Program: Join a team that meets clients where they are and helps transform lives through innovative, recovery-focused care.

Integrated Outpatient Mental Health / Substance Use Disorder Clinic (IOS)

The Integrated Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Clinic (IOS) provides coordinated treatment for individuals experiencing mental health and/or substance use challenges.

Why Join This Program: Work in an integrated care setting where you can address both mental health and substance use needs through a holistic approach.

School-Based Outpatient Mental Health Clinic

The School-Based Outpatient Mental Health Clinic provides accessible behavioral health services to children, adolescents, and their families within the school setting.

Why Join This Program: Help students thrive by bringing critical behavioral health services directly into the communities where they learn and grow.

Promise Zone

Promise Zone is a school-based behavioral health program that supports emotionally and behaviorally challenged children and adolescents, their families, and school communities.

Why Join This Program: Partner with families, educators, and students to create lasting positive outcomes for youth.

Geriatric Mental Health Initiative (GMHI)

The Geriatric Mental Health Initiative (GMHI) supports older adults experiencing depression through screening, assessment, and in-home counseling services.

Why Join This Program: Make a meaningful difference in the lives of older adults by addressing mental health needs and reducing social isolation.

FRIENDS Program – Children and Family Support Team (CFST)

The FRIENDS Program provides crisis intervention, case management, and family support services to children and adolescents experiencing significant emotional and behavioral challenges.

Why Join This Program: Support children and families during critical moments and help build stronger foundations for long-term success.

Adult Mobile Crisis

The Adult Mobile Crisis program provides rapid, community-based crisis intervention and short-term case management for adults experiencing or at risk of a behavioral health crisis.

Why Join This Program: Be on the front lines of behavioral health crisis response and help individuals access care when they need it most.

Children’s Mobile Crisis

The Children’s Mobile Crisis program delivers immediate behavioral health crisis response services for children and adolescents in need of psychiatric assessment, stabilization, and de-escalation.

Why Join This Program: Provide life-changing support to children and families during moments of crisis and vulnerability.

Home Based Crisis Intervention (HBCI)

The Home Based Crisis Intervention (HBCI) program provides intensive, short-term crisis intervention and family support services to children and adolescents at risk of out-of-home placement.

Why Join This Program: Help keep families together by delivering intensive support that promotes stability and resilience.

Safe Pathways Suicide Prevention

Safe Pathways Suicide Prevention is a specialized outreach and intervention program serving LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC youth and young adults who may be at risk for suicide.

Why Join This Program: Advance health equity and save lives by supporting underserved youth through prevention, outreach, and compassionate care.

Health Home Care Management

Health Home Care Management provides long-term care coordination and case management services for adults living with serious mental illness, substance use disorders, HIV/AIDS, and other complex chronic conditions. The program helps individuals navigate healthcare systems, access community resources, improve health outcomes, and achieve greater stability through coordinated, person-centered care.

Why Join This Program: Work across healthcare and community systems to help high-risk individuals improve their health, independence, and quality of life.

Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Care Management

The SUD Care Management program provides short-term care management, treatment linkage, and support services for adults and adolescents living with substance use disorders. The program focuses on engaging individuals with frequent emergency department and inpatient utilization, helping them access treatment, recovery resources, and ongoing support.

Why Join This Program: Play a key role in connecting individuals to recovery services and reducing barriers to treatment.

WeCARE Wellness Care Management

WeCARE Wellness Care Management supports individuals receiving cash assistance who have medical or behavioral health conditions that impact employability. Through wellness-focused care coordination, resource navigation, and case management, the program helps participants improve health outcomes, increase stability, and move toward greater self-sufficiency.

Why Join This Program: Empower individuals facing complex health and socioeconomic challenges while helping them build pathways toward improved wellness and independence.

Qualifications
Education:
Bachelor's Degree in Social Work or a related human services field required
Work Experience:
Minimum one year of social work experience in a mental health or social service setting required


Pay Range
USD $25.46 - USD $31.86 /Hr.
About Us
VNS Health has been committed to meeting the needs of New Yorkers for over 130 years. We’re one of the largest nonprofit home- and community-based health care organizations in the country, and today, more than 11,500 team members work together to make a difference in the lives of more than 99,000 patients and members on any given day.