Behavioral Health Access Navigator - Hybrid

Community Health Programs Inc; Pittsfield (MA); Hybrid; USD 33,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

Community Health Programs (CHP) Neighborhood Health Center in Pittsfield, MA seeks a Behavioral Health Intake Coordinator to serve as the primary access point for behavioral health services within a PCMH/PCBH framework.

The role manages referrals, conducts initial screenings, coordinates patient placement, and supports population health strategies to improve access for high-risk and underserved populations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Psychology, Social Work, Human Services, Public Health, Counseling, or a related field.
• Minimum of two years of experience in healthcare, behavioral health, care coordination, case management, or community-based services.
• Knowledge of behavioral health conditions, substance use disorders, and community resources.

Responsibilities

• Manage the behavioral health referral and intake queue for all CHP sites.
• Conduct initial telephone screenings using approved assessment tools and standardized intake protocols.
• Evaluate patient needs, symptom severity, urgency, risk factors, and readiness for treatment.
• Determine appropriateness for CHP behavioral health services.
• Prioritize referrals based on clinical acuity, risk status, and population health criteria. Escalate urgent clinical concerns to behavioral health leadership and licensed clinicians as appropriate.
• Identify high-risk patients and collaborate with Care Coordinators, Community Health Workers, and Primary Care teams to address barriers to treatment engagement.
• Provide navigation support and facilitate referrals to community resources and specialty behavioral health providers.
• Match patients with the most appropriate behavioral health clinician based on clinical need, language, availability, and patient preference.
• Coordinate collection of releases of information, collateral information, previous treatment records, and other documentation needed before appointments.
• Maintain referral status documentation and ensure timely communication with referring providers.
• Serve as a liaison between primary care, behavioral health, and population health teams.
• Maintain a comprehensive directory of behavioral health, substance use, psychiatric, crisis, and community resources.
• Educate patients regarding available services, levels of care, and referral options.
• Assist patients in accessing specialty services that are outside CHP's scope of care.
• Monitor referral trends, wait times, service utilization, and access metrics.
• Promote equitable access to behavioral health services for underserved populations.
• Participate in efforts to reduce disparities related to race, ethnicity, language, insurance status, disability, geographic location, and social determinants of health.

Skills

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Triage

Customer service

Bilingual (Spanish)

EHR proficiency

Education

Bachelor's degree (Psychology, Social Work, Human Services, Public Health, Counseling)

Tools

Electronic Health Records (EHR)

Job description

Community Health Programs (CHP) Neighborhood Health Center in Pittsfield, MA seeks a Behavioral Health Intake Coordinator to serve as the primary access point for behavioral health services within a PCMH/PCBH framework.

The role manages referrals, conducts initial screenings, coordinates patient placement, and supports population health strategies to improve access for high-risk and underserved populations.