Crisis Associate (QMHA) - Part-time - Temporary/Relief/On-Call

Marion County; Salem (OR); On-site; USD 30,000 - 39,000; Part time

Job summary

Marion County is seeking Mental Health Associates for the Behavioral Health Crisis Center in Salem. The role supports crisis interventions, skills training, and case management under supervision, with potential travel to Woodburn.

Ideal candidates are seeking flexible, part-time work and are prepared to assist in community settings with QMHP oversight. Responsibilities include crisis plan adherence, one-on-one skills coaching, transportation support, and documentation, while maintaining safety

Qualifications

• Three years relevant work experience in a behavioral health services field; OR
• Bachelor's degree in a behavioral science field; OR
• Any satisfactory combination of work, education, training or experience relevant to the position.

Responsibilities

• Assist individuals in BHCC services to follow the crisis treatment plan created by QMHP.
• Provide one-on-one skills training to individuals in crisis as directed by QMHP.
• Drive individuals to appointments, emergency medications, or food boxes as needed.
• Provide medication monitoring and document on medication sheet per orders and policies.
• Daily check-ins with individuals in respite settings and assist with respite operations.
• Attend monthly supervision and mandated trainings; perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Crisis intervention

Active listening

Engagement strategies

Cultural competency

Interdisciplinary teamwork

Education

Bachelor's degree in behavioral science

Job description

This recruitment has been reopened for additional applicants and will remain open until filled. If you have already applied for recruitment #T551-2026-2, you do not need to reapply.

The Behavioral Health Crisis Center is looking for team-oriented individuals that like to work with individuals in the surrounding communities. This position is perfect for someone that is currently in school, has another part-time job, and/or is just getting started in the mental health field. You have the freedom to choose shifts that work for your schedule. We are searching for motivated Mental Health Associates to join our team with Marion County Health and Human Services. This position is primarily based at our Salem location but may be requested to go to our Woodburn office. This position will work with a team of qualified QMHA's, Qualified Mental Health Professionals (QMHPs), and supervisors. You will work closely with individuals from the surrounding counties to provide individual skills training, case management, and activity therapies that are identified by a QMHP.

General Statement of Duties

Provides individual and group recreational, social and skills training services under a professionally developed service plan; keeps records of persons served status; performs service plan directed case management functions under close supervision; performs related duties as required. Primary responsibility of this class is to assist and support other mental health professionals, without primary responsibility for a caseload.

Supervision Received

Works under close supervision of a supervisor who assigns work, establishes goals, and reviews the results obtained for overall effectiveness.

Supervision Exercised

Supervision of others is not a responsibility of positions in this classification.

• Assist individuals in services at the Behavioral Health Crisis Center (BHCC) to follow the crisis treatment plan created by the Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP). Provide one-on-one skills training to individuals experiencing a mental health crisis, as needed per QMHP. This includes teaching relaxation techniques, crisis intervention skills, assisting individuals with phone calls, or other skills the QMHP deems appropriate in the community setting.
• Drive individuals in services for appointments, emergency medications, food boxes, or other locations as directed by the QMHP. Driving is required for this position.
• Provide medication monitoring/support and document on medication sheet in accordance with Physician/PMHNP orders and Marion County Health and Human Services policies and procedures.
• Provide daily check-ins with individuals in the respite apartments or the respite home providers each day the individual is in respite.
• Clean respite apartments and vehicles as needed.
• Take laundry to the cleaners as needed and disperse as necessary once returned clean.
• Provide back up to BHCC staff in answering the phones; greet and initiate beginning paperwork for individuals who present at BHCC.
• Monitor and clean up the lobby as needed.
• Provide services in a variety of settings including the office, hospitals, carceral facilities, and in the community where the individual is located while adhering to the Mobile Crisis Interventions Services training schedule as required for all staff.
• Attend monthly individual supervision meeting with Clinical Supervisor.
• Attend mandated trainings as assigned.
• Perform other job duties as assigned by your supervisor.

Response Level 2

In the event of an emergency, employee makes a reasonable effort to report to work. Employee may be required to perform duties outside of their regularly assigned duties. Employee may be requested to work an extended or flexible schedule. Staff at this response level must complete Incident Command System 100 and 700 on-line or in-person training.

Experience and Training

1. Three years relevant work experience in a behavioral health services field; OR
2. Bachelor's degree in a behavioral science field; OR
3. Any satisfactory combination of work, education, training or experience relevant to the position, as determined by Marion County.

Special Requirements

• Must possess a current Mental Health & Addiction Certification Board of Oregon (MHACBO) Qualified Mental Health Associate certification (QMHA) or register within ninety (90) days of hire, and complete in accordance with MHACBO guidelines. See MHACBO website for requirements.
• This position may be subject to the following: Must not be excluded from participation in the federal health care programs (Medicaid, Medicare and other federally funded programs that provide health benefits); AND must not be excluded from participating in federal procurement (Federal Acquisition Regulation) and non-procurement activities (Executive Order No. 12549).
• Must possess a current driver’s license in the applicant's state of residence and an acceptable driving history. Marion County will obtain a copy of the driving record for all qualified applicants from Driver and Motor Vehicle Services and review the driving record according to the Marion County policy and procedure for Driving on County Business. The policy can be found at: http://apps.co.marion.or.us/APAP/
• The finalist for this position will be required to pass a criminal history background check; however, conviction of a crime may not necessarily disqualify an individual for this position.
• This is a safety sensitive/special needs position. Final candidates selected for this position will be required to pass a pre-employment drug screen, including testing for marijuana. The Marion County Drug and Alcohol Use and Testing Policy can be found at: http://apps.co.marion.or.us/APAP/policy.aspx?p=policy&pid=518
• This assignment is represented by a union.
• This is a part-time position, which is eligible for overtime.
• Work Schedule: Varies with flexibility depending upon the needs of the department and program.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Working knowledge of the general concepts of mental health (including common symptoms for major behavioral health conditions) and chemical dependency as well as community resources; de-escalation, crisis intervention, and engagement strategies; strengths-based resiliency and recovery models; definitions of basic- and community-living skills; measurable goals/outcomes of mental health recovery, substance use disorders recovery, and co-occurring disorders recovery; evidence-based strategies for skills training and improving overall health; daily living activities that promote health and wellness.

Ability to demonstrate active listening skills and interviewing techniques; establish effective working relationships with diverse individuals and foster shared decision-making with behavioral health consumers, family members, and providers; clearly convey information about behavioral and general health; exercise cultural and trauma-informed competency when linking to resources; follow directions and accept feedback in a professional manner; prepare reports and document services provided to persons served in a timely and professional manner with clarity, conciseness, and completeness; work within an interdisciplinary team; practice appropriate boundaries with consumers; recognize unsafe situations.

Physical Requirements

Operates a motor vehicle; sees using depth perception; must be able to drive at night; stands; sits; moves about the work area; climbs 1 floor of stairs; crawls on hand and knees; reaches overhead; lifts up to 15 lbs.; pushes, pulls, carries, and moves carts up to 10 lbs.; operates a keyboard; speaks clearly and audibly; reads a 12 pt. font; hears a whispered level of speech; may work in areas exposed to heat, cold, dust, noise, smoke and household chemicals such as bleach or cleansers while in client homes; works in areas that may be wet or uneven.