Casa Pacifica’s Safe Alternatives for Treating Youth (SAFTY) program is seeking a Crisis Care Specialist for our Santa Maria office. SAFTY is a mobile crisis response service available to all of Santa Barbara County children and youth age 20 and under who are experiencing a psychiatric emergency. In collaboration with the CARES mobile crisis team, Casa Pacifica’s SAFTY team provides crisis services 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM, 7 days a week with the main focus on crisis planning and relationship building with high-risk youth and their families as the primary means of preventing psychiatric hospitalization. This program is structured to provide quick and accessible specialized crisis intervention, in-home support and linkage to county mental health services. SAFTY staff are authorized to place a hold (involuntary placement in a hospital for up to 72 hours) on a child or youth in crisis, if such a placement is necessary to keep a child/youth safe.

SAFTY staff work collaboratively with law enforcement and when a child/youth is already receiving mental health services, SAFTY staff consult and coordinate services with the child’s existing treatment team. SAFTY’s goal is to prevent psychiatric hospitalization, detention in juvenile detention facilities and to provide linkage to appropriate mental health services. This crisis serves helps preserve families and strengthen communities.

SAFTY staff are available by phone for children and youth throughout Santa Barbara County from 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM, 7 days a week. Many crisis situations can be handled by phone, but staff are able to respond in person within 60 minutes. Services are provided irrespective of insurance availability or ability to pay.

Under the direction of the SAFTY Program Manager, the Crisis Care Specialist is responsible for implementing crisis planning and relationship building with high-risk children and families in Santa Barbara County as the primary means of preventing psychiatric hospitalizations, use of an emergency room or use of public resources such as the police. Expected to carry out the mission of Casa Pacifica as it relates to crisis interventions as needed at a child’s home, school, or other community setting.

Duties include:

• Assist in development and implementation of pre-crisis services to existing clients of Santa Barbara County Children’s System of Care. This will include the development of a reactive crisis plan (dealing with an immediate crisis) as well as a proactive crisis plan (preventing /reducing crisis).li>
• Other duties including, completing assessments regarding need for hospitalization (voluntary or 5150/5585). If hospitalization is required, has the ability to write a 5150/5585 hold, will secure a hospital bed, and arrange for transportation of the client to the hospital when necessary.
• Respond to emergency referrals from members of the public (i.e. schools) and crisis services (i.e. law enforcement) immediately via telephone and respond face-to-face within 60 minutes.
• Meets with supervisory team to review client’s progress, cultural diversity issues as well as discuss program problems and/or progress.
• Crisis Care Specialist I must also serve as liaison with ADMHS, law enforcement and other community agencies when necessary to provide coordinated care.

Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in related field (social work, sociology, child development, psychology, etc.) or licensed eligible ASW, MSW or AMFT (working on hours, registered with the BBS). Minimum of 6 months experience working with SED/high risk youth, doing family assessments and treatment, and behavior management. Must have strong organizational, communication and leadership skills. Must have valid CA driver’s license with clean driving record, proof of insurance and abide by Casa Pacifica travel policy. Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred. Individual will work a flexible 40-hour schedule, 8AM-8PM, 7 days a week.

Includes: Bilingual pay and supervision hours towards MFT, LPCC and LCSW licensure

Along with our competitive compensation, Casa Pacifica offers very competitive benefits at minimal cost to our employees. Employees have access to free trainings related to the field of mental health/social work and get free continuing education units (CEUs) that will go towards annual licensing renewals.