Mental Health Consultant, KSA - Black/African American

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

Pay Range:

$39.11 - $48.12 Hourly

Department:

Department of Community Justice (DCJ)

Job Type:

Regular Represented

Exemption Status:

United States of America (Non-Exempt)

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

October 15, 2025

The Opportunity:

THIS WORK MATTERS!

• Are you a Qualified Mental Health Professional with affiliation/membership and demonstrated work experience serving the Black/African American community?

• Are you an experienced mental health counselor who is passionate about helping troubled youth turn their lives around and create a better future?

• Are you optimistic about Black/African American youth, parents, and family potential to make positive changes?

The Department of Community Justice Juvenile Services Division (JSD) is seeking a Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP) with specialized knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA) working with the Black/African-American community as a Mental Health Consultant in the Cultural Responsivity Team. This role must have the ability to identify with specific experiences of the Black/African American community ensuring culturally relevant mental health services, prevention support and care coordination.

The juvenile justice system in Multnomah County is a national leader in developing programs and services that contribute to countywide reductions in recidivism and racial and ethnic disparities in the justice system. Juvenile Services staff screen juvenile cases, prepare reports for courts, supervise youth on probation and collaborate with community organizations to maximize effective services and positive outcomes.

This vital Mental Health Consultant directly supports youth and families primarily from the Black/African-American community. This position delivers crucial short-term treatment interventions aimed at stabilizing family dynamics and provides comprehensive case management, including connecting families to community based organizations for longer term care. Key activities encompass facilitating family meetings, conducting individual sessions, performing thorough mental health assessments, and developing informed treatment recommendations, leading parent skill building and skill groups to foster positive outcomes. This role conducts work both in the office and through field engagements such as home visits, and other safe, family preferred locations.

Primary responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

• Engagement, Assessment and Treatment:This includes completing comprehensive mental health assessments using Global Appraisal of Individual Needs (GAIN), developing safety and service plans, providing direct treatment services (individual, family, group therapy, psychological-education, case management), applying knowledge, skills and training (certification) of substance use disorders, performing managed care assessments, developing detailed clinical notes and documentation, and understanding cultural/racial/ethnic factors, specifically within the African American community to engage, assess, and treat.
• Community Outreach and Support:This involves assisting with outreach to various community entities to share referral information and education, supervising and managing contracted services as a mandatory reporter under Oregon Administrative Rules (OARS) and Oregon Revised Statutes(ORS), mediating conflicts within the community to support and build positive outcomes, researching and advocating for funding and grants to empower community’s voice to resolution, challenging systemic racism and connecting clients to behavioral health services and resources while collaborating on outreach and engagement to African American clients and families facing barriers.
• Documentation: This encompasses documenting all clinical assessments, service plans, service notes, outcome measures, fidelity measures, local/state/federal measures, and required forms in accordance with HIPAA, legal, medical, mental health (OAR compliance) and other programmatic standards, completing administrative data collection, participating in supervision and meetings, and attending professional trainings and seminars for development, credentialing and to maintain awareness of professional standards.

Come Find Your Why? (video)

The Department of Community Justice is looking for a Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP) who can demonstrate expertise in the following areas:

• Communication, Emotional Intelligence, and Integrity: You will exercise good judgment, diplomacy, and tact in dealing with sensitive, complex, confidential information and situations, in addition to acting professionally, and empathically, with individuals, internal/external partners and communities. You will demonstrate the ability to flex communication style when faced with myriad dimensions of culture in order to be effective across cultural context.
• Strategic Planning / Leadership: You will develop goals and direction based on the overall county/department mission and vision to increase community safety through positive change.
• Results Through People: You will help achieve results through the contribution of others by motivating and inspiring growth and productivity.
• Relationships and Community: You will build positive and sustainable relationships with a range of key internal and external stakeholders.
• Leading Cross-Culturally: You will foster an inclusive workplace where diversity and individual differences are valued and leveraged to achieve the vision, mission, and goals of the organization.
• Team Building:You will develop, inspire, and foster employees to work collaboratively.
• Organizational Savviness:You will demonstrate understanding and good judgment of organizational culture and interpersonal relationships, with both internal and external groups, to identify opportunities of mutual interest and benefit. Has a 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.
• Delivery:You will ensure services are provided by quality processes through monitoring and understanding.
• Outcomes:You achieve quality outcomes for the individual, the organization, and the county.
• Personal Development: You will strive for an honest and accurate assessment of oneself and demonstrate willingness for continuous improvement.
• Functional/Technical:You possess specific knowledge about laws, regulations, certifications, licensure and skills for specific assignments.

WORKFORCE EQUITY

At Multnomah County we are committed to maintaining an effective, respectful and inclusive workplace. We value collaborative problem solving and strive for continuous improvement. We strongly believe in workforce equity, diversity and inclusion. Visit our Workforce Equity Strategies Plan (WESP) to see where Multnomah County is headed with these values.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY JUSTICE

Vision ~ Community Safety through Positive Change

The Department of Community Justice (DCJ) is recognized as a national leader in both adult and juvenile community justice. DCJ routinely consults and makes use of evidence-based practices in our program and policy development. The Department's commitment to data-informed decision-making has led DCJ to make smart investments of taxpayer dollars in supervision, sanctions, and services for the county's highest risk and highest need justice-involved individuals. DCJ makes long-term investments in its employees through the provision of education and training. The Department believes that in order to enhance public safety we must work collaboratively with the judiciary, law enforcement, schools, treatment agencies, and the community.

The Department shares information with community members, partners, and staff to keep communities safe by preventing and reducing crime and routinely evaluating which local policies support best practices. DCJ operates 24 hours a day, with nearly 650 regular, on-call, and temporary employees. The Department supervises justice-involved individuals and those defendants requiring pretrial services. DCJ's Juvenile Services Division operates the Donald E. Long Juvenile Detention Facility and is responsible for youth on formal and informal community supervision.

More general information about the Department of Community Justice including our mission, vision, and strategies can be found at:www.multco.us/dcj.

Serving the Public, Even During Disasters

Everyday, Multnomah County staff work together to serve as a safety net for our communities. During a disaster, this safety net becomes even more critical. All County employees have a role in serving the public during inclement weather, natural disaster, or other types of community emergency response. During these emergency responses, while typically there begins with a call for volunteers, county employees may ultimately be reassigned from their current position to a role in the emergency response in order to support the critical needs presented by our communities. For more information, please visit the Disaster Service Worker Information page.

Internal Candidates:After you have applied, you will receive an acknowledgement task and the Oregon Veteran Preference Questionnaire in your Workday inbox. Your application as an internal candidate is not complete until you complete and submit these tasks in Workday.

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: Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in the mental health field with major coursework in social science, or related field demonstrating the capacity to meet the provider Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP-I or II) credentialing requirements as required by Oregon Administrative Rules (OARs) 309-019-0125 (10) and described within Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR) 291-124-1030 (2). AND see qualified degrees listed below:
  • graduate degree in psychology
  • graduate degree in social work
  • graduate degree in a behavioral science field
• Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA): Black/African American Cultural Competency
  • Knowledge of the traditions, values and customs of the community being served and the ability to identify specific examples of experience working directly with individuals and families who identify with the Black/African American Community.

• Required Certification and License
• Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP - I/II) Certification
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), or Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) before hire or within the probationary period after being hired (six (6) months for current regular status employees or one (1) year for new hires) as a Mental Health Consultant
• Global Appraisal of Individual Needs (GAIN) Administration Certification before hire or within the probationary period
• A valid driver’s license

• Must pass a thorough background investigation which includes, but is not limited to fingerprinting, a review of applicant’s criminal, civil, driving, military, educational and employment history prior to employment.

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.

• Two (2) years or more of mental health case management experience within the Black/African American Community.
• Attained the Administration Certification of Global Appraisal of Individual Needs (GAIN).
• Experience administering the GAIN assessment.
• Experience providing family therapy, as well as mental health treatment and addictions treatment to adolescents.
• Thorough knowledge of crisis intervention techniques and interventions for individuals with chronic mental health and addiction disorders, risk and diagnostic assessment and clinical triage, crisis interface with community emergency management systems, providers and crisis centers.
• Knowledge of the culturally responsive community mental health providers and ability to provide information/referrals to those providers.
• Experience with Crisis intervention, including risk assessment of clients who may be involved in potentially life threatening situations.
• Working knowledge of childhood and adolescent development, the juvenile justice system, juvenile probation, strength-based clinical interventions for delinquency, and/or principles of restorative justice.

*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 AND EVALUATION

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

• Online application (REQUIRED): Explain all related experience (paid or unpaid) – training in the education and work experience sections of the application. These demonstrate you meeting minimum qualifications including the required KSA and any relevant preferred qualifications.
• Attach a resume (Optional): Please indicate how you meet the required minimum qualifications including the KSA and any relevant preferred qualifications. Attach the document to the on-line application. Be sure to explain in detail, including dates of all related work experience, paid or unpaid.
• Cover Letter (REQUIRED): Please address the following:
• Demonstrate your case management experience working with diverse vulnerable population specifically Black/African American youth, families and community; and
• How you meet the qualifications for this position, including your current certification(s); and
• Why you are interested in the position.
• Certification and License (REQUIRED):Attach a copy of your QMHP Certification and if applicable, Oregon licensure (CSW, LPC, MFT) and GAIN Administration Certification. Please indicate the status of your certification(s).

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
• An evaluation of application materials, and/or oral exam to identify the most qualified candidates
• Consideration of top candidates/Interviews
• Must pass a thorough background investigation which includes, but is not limited to a review of applicant’s criminal, civil, driving, military, educational and employment history prior to employment

Equal Pay: Please be advised that the pay range listed for this position is intended to provide general guidance on the earning potential for the role. However, actual compensation will be determined in accordance with the Oregon Equal Pay Law and will take into account factors such as the candidate's relevant experience and education. Candidates should expect that initial offers will be made within the listed pay range and may not be at or near the top of the range.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Type of Position: This hourly position is eligible for overtime.

Type: Represented

FLSA: Non-Exempt

Schedule: Monday – Friday, 40 hours per week

Location*: Juvenile Justice Complex, 1401 NE 68th Ave., Portland Oregon 97213.

*Work location includes field work such as home visits and other locations as preferred by the families.

Telework: This position is NOT eligible for hybrid or routine on-site/telework subject to the Multnomah County Telework Policy and based on the Department’s business needs. This position is considered Ad-hoc. The exact amount of on-site/telework and schedule will be discussed with the hiring manager during time of offer. Telework locations cannot be located outside of Oregon or Washington.

Multnomah County offers a comprehensive benefit package to all eligible employees. A few highlights include:

• Health insurance (medical, dental, vision)
• Defined benefit retirement plan (pension); Multnomah County pays for the employee's share of the state retirement contribution (6% of wages)
• Generous paid leave (vacation, holidays, sick, parental, military, etc...)
• Life insurance, short-term and long-term disability insurance
• Optional deferred compensation and flexible spending accounts
• Free annual Trimet bus pass
• Alternative wellness resources
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill future full-time, part-time, regular, temporary, limited duration, and on-call positions. Application information may be used throughout the entire selection process. This process is subject to change without notice.

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:

Yulee Kim-Whetstone

Email:

yulee.kimwhetstone@multco.us

Phone:

+1 (971) 3490804

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