Mental Health School Navigator

Overview

In collaboration with local schools, school districts, Oakland Intermediate School Districts, and other stakeholders, the Mental Health School Navigator provides information, referrals, screening, and assessment of eligibility for public mental health services to students and families with mental health needs. Additionally, the Mental Health School Navigator assists students and families in accessing financial resources to reduce barriers to mental health services.

With the assistance of the School Mental Health Resource and Referral Specialist, the Navigator coordinates services and collaborates with other entities that can support individuals in meeting their immediate needs.

• Facilitates families’ access to funding assistance for copays and deductible payments to reduce barriers to mental health services.
• Receives referrals from school social workers, counselors, psychologists, other faculty, students, families, and other community members to provide information, resources, and referrals.
• Engages referred student and/or student’s natural supports as needed.
• Conducts brief screening.
• Refers to appropriate supports and services.
• Crisis services.
• Community-based supports and services (e.g., outpatient mental health services, support groups).
• Acts as primary liaison between OCHN, mental health service providers, and school.
• Determines eligibility for OCHN Medicaid specialty mental health services and, when applicable, appropriate level of care by utilizing clinical level of care tools (e.g., CAFAS, LOCUS, ASAM).
• Conducts follow-up to ensure successful and timely access to supports, services, and/or resources.
• Participate on the planning work group conducting program design.
• Identify primary agency(ies) for participants to be referred for behavioral health services.
• Develop preferred methods, forms, and timetables for exchanging information between OCHN, agencies providing mental health supports and services, and schools.
• Participate in treatment team meetings when indicated.
• Arrange and coordinate with substance use agencies for substance use disorder treatment services for persons with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders.
• Provide training to team members on how to screen for individuals exhibiting symptoms of mental illness and/or co-occurring disorders.
• Participate in trainings related to mental health issues and schools.
• Evaluates overall efficacy of School Mental Health Program services and engages in continuous quality improvement activities (CQI).
• Other duties as assigned.

• Individual must possess a Master’s degree in a mental health field.

In collaboration with local schools, school districts, Oakland Intermediate School Districts, and other stakeholders, the Mental Health School Navigator provides information, referrals, screening, and assessment of eligibility for public mental health services to students and families with mental health needs. Additionally, the Mental Health School Navigator assists students and families in accessing financial resources to reduce barriers to mental health services.

With the assistance of the School Mental Health Resource and Referral Specialist, the Navigator coordinates services and collaborates with other entities that can support individuals in meeting their immediate needs.

• Facilitates families’ access to funding assistance for copays and deductible payments to reduce barriers to mental health services.
• Receives referrals from school social workers, counselors, psychologists, other faculty, students, families, and other community members to provide information, resources, and referrals.
• Engages referred student and/or student’s natural supports as needed.
• Conducts brief screening.
• Refers to appropriate supports and services.
• Crisis services.
• In-school supports.
• Community-based supports and services (e.g., outpatient mental health services, support groups).
• Acts as primary liaison between OCHN, mental health service providers, and school.
• Determines eligibility for OCHN Medicaid specialty mental health services and, when applicable, appropriate level of care by utilizing clinical level of care tools (e.g., CAFAS,…