Behavioral Health Coordinator

About Barrier Free Living

Barrier Free Living (BFL) is dedicated to helping New Yorkers with disabilities live independently in the community. Through its various programs, BFL provides a broad range of residential and nonresidential services to disabled survivors of domestic violence, transitional shelter to the disabled homeless, and outreach to physically disabled individuals with mental health and/or chemical addiction issues. Services include case management; housing placements; independent living skills training; occupational therapy; short and long-term individual counseling; advocacy within the medical, mental health, child welfare, law enforcement, and criminal justice systems; and referrals to outside services.

About Barrier Free Living Apartments

Barrier Free Living Apartments (BFLA) is a supportive housing program. BFLA offers services to vulnerable and needy populations with disabilities who are survivors of domestic violence, specifically, homeless disabled adults and disabled veterans and for families who have a head of household with a disabling medical condition. BFLA’s program is physically designed and equipped to serve people with physical disabilities. The facility is located in the South Bronx. There are two buildings: a 70-unit studio apartment building for adult singles and a 50-unit apartment building for families. BFLA’s supportive housing program is located on Cypress Avenue and East 138th/139th Streets.

Role Summary

The Behavioral Health Coordinator is instrumental in creating a safe and welcoming community by providing direct services and case management to BFLA tenants. The Behavioral Health Coordinator is part of an interdisciplinary team that includes harm reduction, the family center, occupational therapy, building maintenance, and front desk security (Resident Aides).

Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload of 10-15 SPMI/MICA tenants
• Complete program Intake/Assessment of new tenants
• Develop, monitor, and update service plans that are mutually developed with each tenant
• Follow up meetings with tenant including home visits to discuss related service plan goals and benchmarks
• Provide individual supportive counseling with tenants to assist in developing skills to stabilize their medical, psychosocial and behavioral health status
• Provide crisis intervention and other services to assist tenants to develop better coping skills
• Collaborate with the interdisciplinary team to obtain strategies to assist tenants in achieving identified goals to maintain stability
• Accompany tenants to Family/Criminal/Housing Court hearings and advocate for tenant as needed
• Provide referrals for legal assistance and any other service provider within the community as needed
• Assist tenant with any ACS or Prevention services requirements
• Complete ongoing apartment inspections, tobacco assessment, and vocational assessments as required by DOHMH contract
• Monitor tenants ability to pay rent and utility bills to ensure housing stability
• Participate in staff/case conference meetings, supervision, and required training
• Ensuring timely and accurate entry of progress notes in AWARDS
• Comply with all agency and program policies and procedures

Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in Social Work, Psychology, Counseling, or related field
• Experience in supportive counseling, harm reduction stages of change model, motivational interviewing, and trauma-informed care.
• Experience working with mental illness, substance users, domestic violence and familiarity with disability issues a must
• Excellent computer skills (PC)
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to work in fast-paced, NY/NY III supportive housing environment a must.
• Excellent language skills in American Sign Language or bilingual English/Spanish desired.
• Valid NYS driver's license a plus

Equal Opportunity Employer

BFL provides equal employment opportunity to all applicants, with employment based upon personal capabilities and qualifications without discrimination because of race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, pregnancy, alienage or citizenship status, marital status, creed, genetic disposition or carrier status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other protected characteristic as established by law. Applicants who need a reasonable accommodation to perform the essential job duties are encouraged to submit requests to HR for consideration.