Behav Health Associate Grant Funded

University of Maryland Medical System; Bel Air (MD); On-site; USD 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Maryland Medical System is seeking a Behavior al Health Associate – Grant Funded to support coordination of care for patients transitioning from hospital-based care to community-based resources. This role works with a multidisciplinary team to initiate appropriate levels of care, coordinate aftercare planning, and facilitate referrals to community programs.

You will help obtain insurance authorizations, gather collateral information, and support the use of psychiatric scales and

Qualifications

• High School Diploma required; associates/bachelors preferred in human services.
• Minimum two years' experience with chronic mental illness preferred; lived experience required.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with multidisciplinary team to link patients with community resources for aftercare.
• Schedule outpatient appointments and arrange home medications before discharge.
• Identify barriers to recovery (finances, housing, transportation) to improve engagement.
• Review discharge plans with patient, family, and community providers for continuity of care.
• Co-facilitate group sessions with Behavioral Health Clinician when appropriate.
• Participate in daily rounds and treatment plan meetings to understand goals and barriers.

Skills

Effective communication

Trauma-informed approach

HIPAA/confidentiality

Fast-paced environment adaptation

Education

High School Diploma

Associates or Bachelors in Human Services

Job description

Behavioral Health Associate – Grant Funded

Job Code: 699664

Department: Behavioral Health Services

Status: Nonexempt

Work Schedule - Full-time - Day Shift - Mon-Fri 8:30am-4:30pm / Some evening flexibility required.

Acts as an extension of the psychiatric providers and team. Works in collaboration with the behavioral health team, medical team, and community stakeholders, is responsible for assisting with tasks that are program specific but center around initiating/coordinating placement in appropriate level of care and/or aftercare planning for patients in order to ensure a smooth transition back into the community once symptoms are stabilized. Familiar with community resources and able to make referrals to community organizations/ programs based on identified treatment needs. Maintains ongoing professional relationships with community organizations for ease of referrals, etc. Assists with obtaining insurance authorizations for treatment as needed, obtaining collateral information related to patient care/assessment, and help with completing psychiatric scales/measurement-based tools.

Minimum Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Education & Training: High School Diploma is required. Associates or Bachelors Degree in Human Services related field preferred.

Work Orientation & Experience: Requirements contingent on specific program/ acute care treatment setting. Training to gain specific capabilities to perform essential job functions may be necessary.

Lived experience (mental health and/or substance use treatment) required. Previous experience working with acute mental illness and those impacted by trauma is required. Minimum of two (2) years of experience serving persons with chronic mental illness is preferred. Must be familiar with community resources and referral processes.

• Ability to effectively communicate with patients, family members, medical team members and community stakeholders in a fast-paced setting;
• Engage with patients in a patient-centered, trauma-informed manner;
• Thorough understanding of HIPAA requirements and confidentiality as it relates to care provided.

Reporting Relationships

Supervised by: Program Manager/Director

Supervision provided to: None

Physical Environment / Working Conditions

X

Sitting

X

Standing

X

Bending

Climbing

X

Reaching

X

Pushing

X

Pulling

Stooping

Walking

X

Lifting 0-25 lbs.

26-50 lbs.

More than 50 lbs.

X

Working at a computer terminal

X

Exposure to substantial temperature changes

X

Work in confined spaces

X

Work around high noise levels

X

Contact with bodily fluids (bloodborne pathogens)

Contact with ionizing radiation

X

Exposure to infection, biochemical, hazardous waste

X

Requires use of protective equipment, including latex gloves

X

Requires travel between system locations

X

Job Task List

• Work in collaboration with multi-disciplinary team in order to identify and link patient with appropriate community-based resources for aftercare with the goal of continued progress towards recovery. Work will be performed both on-site and off-site, as dictated by client needs.
• Prior to patient discharge, schedule outpatient appointments, access to home medications, and develop plan to overcome identified barriers to support treatment engagement.
• Identify and address barriers to recovery including, but not limited to, ineffective support system, finances, housing, and lack of transportation to increase likelihood of outpatient treatment engagement.
• When Behavioral Health Clinician is unavailable, review discharge plan with patient, patient’s family and/or significant other and community providers to ensure effective continuity and transfer of care at discharge as needed.
• Co-facilitate group sessions, in coordination with Behavioral Health Clinician, when appropriate.
• Attend and participate in daily rounds and individual treatment plan meetings to better understand and effectively communicate the goals, strengthens and barriers of patients in treatment.
• Effectively prioritize and manage guests’ care needs to ensure timely discharges.
• Assist with milieu management within the program. This may include assisting with transitioning from inside to outside activities, guest visiting times, or other guest activities.
• Uses person-centered, recovery oriented language. Communicates using language that is trauma-informed and compassionate. Maintains professional boundaries with guests/families to ensure optimal therapeutic benefit for guests/families served.
• Responds quickly, appropriately, and remains calm when intervening in crisis situations and/or if guest/family members become agitated or aggressive.
• Assist in maintaining up-to-date resource manual for relevant community supports, organizations, and providers.
• Serve as liaison between BH programs, community agencies, and community providers to ensure continuity of care and discharge processes for program clients.
• Performs guest safety and check-ins throughout the shift as indicated by treatment protocol.
• May be required to obtain insurance authorizations/concurrent review authorizations for guests.
• Document all interventions in the EMR timely and accurately.
• Demonstrates self-directed learning behaviors to maintain and improve clinical competence.
• Performs additional duties as assigned.

Benefits

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Compensation

Pay Range: $23.00

Other Compensation (if Applicable)

Review the 2025-2026 UMMS Benefits Guide