IHART Connector

Summary: The IHART Connector supports unhoused residents of Santa Cruz County who are experiencing serious mental illness or co-occurring mental illness, and substance use disorders.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: Other duties may be assigned. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

A. Direct Service and Case Management

1. Conduct outreach and engagement in streets, shelters, and encampments to enroll participants in the IHART program.
2. Complete Housing Needs Assessments, identify areas of concentration, and create Housing Action Plans.
3. Assist clients in accessing medical, educational, social, prevocational, and rehabilitative services.
4. Provide or arrange for counseling, training, and support to help clients manage daily living skills and psychiatric symptoms.
5. Offer crisis support services as needed.
6. Inform clients of their rights, agency confidentiality, and grievance procedures, ensuring services align with clients’ freedom of choice.
7. Help clients attend appointments and access community resources based on their needs and goals.
8. Monitor clients’ progress to enhance stability.
9. Meet with clients at least once a month and maintain weekly contact to monitor their situations.
10. Connect clients with housing services, including voucher programs and other housing navigation programs as available.
11. Perform other duties as assigned by the department manager.

B. Teamwork and Collaboration

1. Maintain professional relationships with clients, colleagues, coordinators, doctors, and community partners to meet treatment goals.
2. Engage clients, families, and support networks in developing cohesive treatment plans.
3. Provide feedback to management on program quality and assist in monitoring effectiveness and conducting satisfaction surveys.
4. Participate in program activities as part of the team.
5. Consult and collaborate with supervisors and case coordinators as needed.

C. Documentation and Communication

1. Report any suspected abuse of dependent adults and elders to the appropriate authorities and comply with reporting policies.
2. Monitor clients’ progress toward treatment goals and collect/report outcome data.
3. Maintain clear, accurate, and professional records in client files and staff logs.
4. Communicate procedures and provide support for clients in crisis.
5. Collaborate with multi-agency IHART teams to meet program outcome expectations.
6. Assist management with data compilation for required reports and compliance with reporting procedures.
7. Handle all communication professionally and address any dangerous behaviors or conditions appropriately.
8. Document services in the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) platform and make referrals using the Unite Us platform.

D. Professional Development

1. Attend training sessions, meetings, or workshops provided by the agency, County, or other mental health providers.
2. Complete training in HMIS and ongoing HMIS and Housing for Health (H4H) trainings.
3. Attend monthly H4H Connector Collaborative.

E. Information and Resources

1. Assist clients with identifying and accessing community resources, such as medical or dental appointments, substance use treatment services, behavioral health services, or housing resources specific to clients’ personal needs, goals, and service plans.
2. Maintain familiarity with and knowledge of Santa Cruz County Behavioral Health services and community resources.
3. Provide information to clients, families, other agencies, and the community regarding health care issues, including prevention, early detection, and remedial care. Conduct enrollments as necessary.
4. Use equipment and materials in a safe and acceptable manner, following established safety procedures and all CAL-OSHA standards. Use appropriate safeguards and observe safety rules in all on-the-job activities.
5. Take preventative measures and create intervention methods for clients or conditions that seem to pose a threat of danger or crisis.