African American/Black Culture Mental Health Consultant, Choice Exceptional Needs Care Coordinator

Current employees: Please apply through the employee portal to be considered for this opportunity.

Pay Range:

$41.45 - $50.97 Hourly

Department:

Health Department

Job Type:

Regular Represented

Exemption Status:

United States of America (Non-Exempt)

Closing Date (Open Until Filled if No Date Specified):

July 16, 2026

The Opportunity:

Overview:

THIS WORK MATTERS!

We seek leaders, achievers and doers who bring skill and passion to a challenging and evolving environment.  At the Multnomah County Health Department we are all  inspired by the mission: We work with communities to advance health equity, protect the most vulnerable, and prompt health and wellness for everyone and we uphold the values: Compassion and Care, Empowerment, Racial Equity, Creativity and Integrity. And create a culture of respect, trust and understanding for the highly diverse populations we serve in our communities. 

We’re seeking social workers and mental health professionals who represent the communities we serve and are dedicated to removing barriers to youth and families who experience intersectionality to join our team as the African American/Black Culture Mental Health Consultant, Choice Exceptional Needs Care Coordinator. In the role of Choice Exceptional Needs Care Coordinator (ENCC), your work will focus on assessing extended care coordination requirements to enhance the quality and accessibility of tailored community-based supports, with a primary emphasis on housing. You will be a key player in managing service coordination for individuals facing significant mental health challenges, aiming to reduce institutional stays and support their transition to the least restrictive living environments.

This Position requires advanced knowledge of and experience working with the African-American/Black community, providing care coordination and/or case management services. This would be demonstrated by knowledge of the traditions, values, and customs of the community being served as well as the ability to identify specific examples of experience (professional and lived) working directly with individuals and families who identify with the African American/Black community.

Teleworking: At this time, this position is designated to “routine telework,” meaning you will be working remotely (from home) most of the time; a hybrid schedule also is available. As with all routine telework positions, employees may be required to come into the office on occasion. The designation of Routine Telework may be subject to change at a future time. Currently, all employees must reside in Oregon or Washington; the county cannot support ongoing telework from other locations.

As the African American/Black Culture - Mental Health Consultant, Choice Exceptional Needs Care Coordinator, other duties will include:

Care Coordination

• Provide care coordination and follow-up for Multnomah County residents with severe and persistent mental illness 

• Collaborate with diverse service providers, such as Oregon State Hospital interdisciplinary teams, acute care hospitals, residential and outpatient treatment providers, and community corrections.

• Present various placement and service options tailored to client treatment and housing requirements.

• Conduct follow-up contacts and reviews to ensure the appropriateness of services and placements.

• Facilitate client transitions to the least restrictive treatment settings.

• Coordinate necessary support for clients during crisis situations.

• Manage the processing of screenings and referrals for state and residential services.

Choice Service Requests

• Process Choice service requests, including referral packets.

• Document eligibility, level of need/placement, and planning meetings (IDT).

• Communicate with service and placement providers in a timely manner.

• Enter service authorizations into Evolv.

• Record all member/provider contacts and meeting attendance in Evolv.

Specialty Services

• Locate, arrange, and authorize specialty mental health services as appropriate.

• Respond to requests from members, physicians, or providers.

• Ensure client needs are addressed adequately and appropriately.

Team Events

• Attend all required staff meetings

• Provide community education and technical assistance as needed

• Participate in consumer staffings as needed

• Participate in training new Choice Mental Health Care Coordinators

TO QUALIFY:

We will consider any combination of relevant work experience, volunteering, education, and transferable skills as qualifying unless an item or section is labeled required. Please be clear and specific about how your background is relevant. For details about how we typically screen applications, review our overview of the selection process page.

Minimum Qualifications/Transferable Skills*:

Education/Certification: Must meet the standards of Qualified Mental Health Professional - C (QMHP-C) with the Mental Health & Addiction Certification Board of Oregon (MHACBO) - more information can be found at MHACBO website, QMHP-C and/or licensed Board of Oregon (LPC, LCSW, PhD, etc.) (Required) AND

• Graduate degree in psychology or

• Graduate degree in social work or counseling or

• Graduate degree in a behavioral science field

Other: 

• This position requires a background investigation, which may include being fingerprinted.

Preferred Qualifications/ Transferable Skills*: You do not need to have the following preferred qualifications/ transferable skills to qualify. However, keep in mind we may consider some or all of the following when identifying the most qualified candidates. Please clearly explain on your application how you meet any of the following preferred qualifications/transferable skills.

• Appropriate Oregon Licensing Board LCSW, LCP, Clinical Psychologist 

• Leadership experience in the crisis field

• Leads with race through actions and advocacy with internal programs, with community partners and across departments throughout the county.

• Demonstrate the ability to flex style when faced with myriad dimensions of culture in order to be effective across cultural context.  

• Respect and appreciation for ethnic and cultural diversity.

• Knowledge of challenges and barriers faced by those with Severe and Persistent Mental Illness (SPMI) and the systems they encounter in Residential Services, Adult Protective Services and Crisis Services.  

• Ability to collaborate and build relationships to achieve positive work outcomes.

• Ability to maintain a safe and healthful workplace.

• High degree of resilience, is outcome driven and can thrive in an environment of rapid change while effectively managing pressure in an effective and professional manner.

*Transferable skills: Your transferable skills are any skills you have gained through education, work experience (including the military) or life experience that are relevant for this position. Be sure to describe any transferable skills on your application and clearly explain how they apply to this position.

SCREENING & EVALUATION:

REQUIRED: 

The Application Packet: You must submit all requested items below. Failure to do so will be deemed as an incomplete application.

1. Submit an Online Application and attach a Resume demonstrating you meeting minimum qualifications; AND

2. Attach a Cover Letter addressing the following: 

• Demonstrate your experience (lived and professional), affiliation and membership working directly with diverse African American/Black communities who suffer from severe and persistent mental illness; and

• How you meet the qualifications for this position, including your current certifications; and 

• Why you are interested in the position; AND

3. Attach a copy of your QMHP-C Certification and/or Oregon Licensure (Required)

Note: The application, resume and cover letter should demonstrate your work experience/skills and how it is related to those shown in the Overview and To Qualify sections of the job announcement. Please be thorough, as these materials will be scored and determine your eligibility to advance in this recruitment process. 

The Selection Process: For details about how we typically screen applications, review our overview of the selection process page. We expect to evaluate candidates for this recruitment as follows:

• Initial review of minimum qualifications

• Resume and Cover Letter Review 

• Phone screen

• Consideration of top candidates

• Language assessment

• Background, reference

Note: Application information may be used throughout the entire selection process. This process is subject to change without notice.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Type of Position: This hourly union-represented position is eligible for overtime

Type: Represented

FLSA: Non-Exempt 

Teleworking: At this time, this position is designated to “routine telework,” meaning you will be working remotely (from home) most of the time; a hybrid schedule also is available. As with all routine telework positions, employees may be required to come into the office on occasion. The designation of Routine Telework may be subject to change at a future time. Currently, all employees must reside in Oregon or Washington; the county cannot support ongoing telework from other locations.

Note: The eligible list created from this recruitment may be used to fill regular, full or part time, temporary, and limited duration assignments.

Questions? Please contact the recruiter. 

Application information may be used throughout the entire selection process. This process is subject to change without notice.

Disclaimer: This announcement is intended as a general descriptive recruitment guide and is subject to change. It does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract.

In accordance with Oregon Law, Multnomah County is not collecting school attendance dates in the initial application process; please do not include these dates in your resume, cover letter and other application materials.

Diversity and Inclusion: At Multnomah County, we don't just accept difference; we value it and support it to create a culture of dignity and respect for our employees.

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran or protected veteran status, genetic information and other legally protected characteristics. The EEO Know Your Rights poster is available for your reference. Multnomah County is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor. We request priority protected veteran referrals.

Veterans’ Preference: Under Oregon Law, qualifying veterans may apply for veterans’ preference. Review our veterans’ preference page for details about eligibility and how to apply.

Accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act: We gladly provide reasonable accommodation to anyone whose specific disability prevents them from completing an application or participating in this recruitment process. Please contact the recruiter below in advance to request assistance. Individuals with hearing or speech impairments may contact the recruiter through the Telecommunications Relay Service by dialing 711.

Questions?

Recruiter:

Andrea Archuleta

Email:

andrea.j.archuleta@multco.us

Phone:

+1 (503) 9887472 x87472

Application information may be used throughout the entire selection process. This process is subject to change without notice.

Disclaimer: This announcement is intended as a general descriptive recruitment guide and is subject to change. It does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract.

Job Profile:

6365 - Mental Health Consultant