Patients' Rights Family Caregiver Advocate

The Family Caregiver Advocate assists family members and caregivers of individuals experiencing mental illness, by providing information about mental health diagnoses, available treatments, and tools and resources for coping with the challenges of caring for a loved one living with a mental illness. The Family Caregiver Advocate advocates on behalf of family/caregivers who experience challenges interfacing with the mental health system and with treatment providers. The Family Caregiver Advocate offers primarily individual support but will provide support to groups on an as needed basis.

The Mental Health Association of Alameda County (MHAAC) is a well-established non-profit organization with long term staff that assists and advocates for people with mental illness and their family members through programs including the Family Education Resource Center, the Family Partnership Program, the African American Family Outreach Program, and the Patients' Rights Advocacy Program. Together, these programs assist thousands of people with serious mental illness and their family members every year. We envision a world without stigma where people with mental health challenges and their family members are free to live their best lives. MHAAC's current budget is around $5 million.

We offer:

• Competitive salary
• Eligible for first pay increase after successful completion of 3-month introductory period
• Some positions eligible for Bilingual Pay Differential for fluency in an Alameda County threshold language
• 100% paid medical and dental coverage for the employee
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) that includes free unlimited Tele-Doc and Psychotherapy services
• Generous time-off benefits: 14 paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Years Day
• Vacation leave 2 weeks per year, increases to 4 weeks by year 4 of employment
• Mileage reimbursement for work related travel
• Paid volunteer time-off
• Tuition reimbursement
• On-the-job training

The Patients' Rights Advocacy Program of Alameda County (PRA) works to ensure that individuals with serious mental illness receive quality treatment from facilities and providers of mental health services.

The Family Caregiver Advocate:

• Assists clients in navigating the complex behavioral health care system and criminal justice system in Alameda County
• Supports clients by phone or via in-person consultation at John George Psychiatric Hospital
• Provides a full range of information, support, encouragement, advocacy, and referrals to appropriate community resources, and related services to assist clients in coping effectively with immediate and/or long-term situations
• Serves as an information resource on mental health law

Typical Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide education on Family and Patients' Rights regarding mental health treatment options and laws
• Actively participate in liaison role with key partners such as NAMI affiliates and the Alameda County Behavioral Health Department by attending meetings, co-facilitating trainings, etc.
• Provide assistance with completion of AB 1424 mental health history forms
• Attend and/or facilitate family caregiver support groups
• Provide information and referral to callers for whom an official grievance is not needed or desired

Required Qualifications:

• 6 months experience working with people with serious mental illness and/or substance abuse issues
• Experience providing information and referrals
• Associates Degree
• Must successfully pass a fingerprint background check by CADOJ and FBI
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office - Outlook (email) and Word (documents)
• Have a valid CA Drivers License, daily access to a working motor vehicle, maintain legally required vehicle liability insurance and have an acceptable motor vehicle report as determined by MHAAC's insurance broker

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelors Degree
• Knowledge of Alameda County mental health care system
• Experience facilitating support groups
• Experience delivering services using video-based platforms such as Zoom and/or Microsoft Teams
• Bilingual in one of Alameda County's threshold languages: Cantonese, Farsi, Korean, Mandarin, Spanish, Tagalog, or Vietnamese

Days/Hours of Work: 36 hours per week, Days/Time to be determined

Work Location: 2855 Telegraph Ave. Berkeley, CA and John George Psychiatric Hospital 2060 Fairmont Dr. San Leandro, CA

Pay: $27.51 per hour (plus eligible for 4.5% Bilingual Pay Differential for fluency in an Alameda County threshold language)