Suicide Prevention and Postvention Response Specialist

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

Pay Range:

$42.71 - $52.58 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):

January 27, 2025

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 promote health and wellness for everyone and we uphold the values: Compassion and Care, Empowerment, Racial Equity, Creativity and Integrity. We create a culture of respect, trust and understanding for the highly diverse population we serve in our communities.

This position helps to coordinate culturally informed suicide prevention and behavioral health education within the organization, across divisions, and to the public. The focus of this position is on suicide prevention that enhances the Health Department's ability to perform data collection, postvention activities, and community training in suicide prevention. Most notably, this position is responsible for the activation and continuous improvement of, postvention responses that happen within our County after a youth suicide occurs. As a part of that work, this position will write and update processes and procedures for working with internal and external partners to include community and government agencies; analyze and report on program goals, trends, budget and contracts; evaluate program goals and quality improvement steps to be placed into presentations and reports to demonstrate program progress and outcomes to lead to suicide prevention and support resources for families and those affected.

As the Suicide Prevention and Postvention Response Specialist, duties will include:

Program Development

• Develop, monitor, and lead Multnomah County’s Postvention Response Plan. Create and deploy crisis system tools and protocols for the postvention family, individual, and community support.

• Develop and establish a well-coordinated and timely community-wide response as an effective strategy to support healing and reduce the risk for further suicide and suicidal behaviors.

• Responsible for tracking, building and maintaining relationships with community partners and other county Postvention Response Leads to share information, tools and strategies on postvention models, plans and activities.

• Provide technical assistance to community partners, schools, and other providers on postvention planning, development, including grant applications, and implementation of evidence-informed practices and strategies. 

• Track and report on budget and funding resources and expenditures specific to postvention and response program management.

• Research, develop and have available resources locally and nationally of proven professional, culturally and linguistically appropriate contacts to aid the grieving process for surviving family and friends

• Develop and establish a well-coordinated and timely community–wide response as an effective strategy to support healing and reduce risk for further suicide and suicidal behaviors.

Training/ Partnership

• Work with Multnomah County Contracts and Procurement teams to develop, and monitor suicide prevention subcontracts that align with Multnomah County’s comprehensive approach to suicide prevention, including fiscal and budget management of subcontracts.

• Act as a county trainer for one or more of the following trainings: ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training), QPR (Question, Persuade and Refer), CALM (Counseling on Access to Lethal Means), safeTALK, Adult Mental Health First Aid and its’ various iterations, and Youth Mental Health First Aid.

• Develop and administer additional quality assurance and sophisticated survey instruments as needed and/or required by funding and/or to evaluate effectiveness of the training or program.

Community Outreach and Education

• Act as the leader and subject matter expert to create, manage and conduct outreach, public education and community engagement activities to further enhance the community's understanding of strategies and available resources for suicide prevention through postvention.

• Prepare presentations for leadership, including presenting to the County Board, Health Department leadership, community partners, etc. to message prevention actions within various communities in the county.

Data Collection and Analysis

• Collect and analyze data on deaths by suicide occurring within Multnomah County. Draft procedural and data collection documentation; train and review with the team, and finalize and monitor operational details of the program to report on data trends and results of trend analysis.

• Perform quality improvement to monitor and address any need for flexibility and modification in County processes, policies and procedures, to include drafting new processes to best support prevention programs.

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.

Required Minimum Qualifications/Transferable Skills:

Education/Certification:

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in the behavioral or public health field(s) with major coursework in social science, or a related field demonstrating the capacity for the required knowledge and skills to meet qualifications. Qualified Mental Health Associate QMHA-R credentialing requirements as required by Oregon Administrative Rules (OARs) and the Mental Health & Addiction Certification Board of Oregon (MHACBO) - more information can be found at MHACBO website. QMHA within 30 days of hire, current QMHA. See qualified degrees listed below:

• Bachelor's degree in psychology.

• Bachelor's degree in social work.

• Bachelor's degree in a behavioral science field.

Experience/Certification: Three (3) to six (6) years of experience that demonstrates the ability to perform the duties of the position. (Equivalency 7-10 years of qualifying training and/or experience).

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. 

•  Certification- QMHA-R from MHACBO. 

• Leads with race through actions and advocacy with Community partners and across departments throughout the county.

• Knowledge of cultures, customs and social experiences of communities experiencing marginalization and barriers to services and opportunities.

• Ability to promote a culture of respect, inclusiveness, and appreciation of diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and values.

• Experience in Community outreach.

• Knowledge and experience in evidence based Suicide Prevention and Postvention strategies. 

• Possess communications skills that ensure inclusivity and effectiveness of suicide prevention efforts.

• Knowledge and experience in government procurement and contract negotiation processes. 

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

 

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. Attach a Resume demonstrating you meeting minimum qualifications; AND

2. Attach a Cover Letter addressing the following: 

• What parts of the position are you most excited about, and any relative work or educational experience that support your unique qualifications. 

• Your experience in leading suicide prevention strategies and postvention efforts, adding in your knowledge of local community resources and trauma support. 

• Share your knowledge and experience applying an equity lens to this work, and how this will support you in serving diverse and vulnerable populations. 

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

• An evaluation of application materials to identify the most qualified candidates

• Consideration of top candidates/interviews

• Background, reference, and education checks

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.

Teleworking/Hybrid: At this time, this position is designated to “routine telework/hybrid,” meaning you will be working remotely (from home) most of the time and you will be required to attend meetings in the community. As with all 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. The onsite work location for this position is Five Oak. 209 SW 4th Ave, Portland, OR 97204.

Multnomah County offers an exceptional benefits package, including employer-funded retirement savings; health and dental insurance at very low cost to full-time employees and their dependents; paid parental leave; wellness programs; a focus on work-life balance; and much more. Find more details on our  benefits website. 

Our Commitment to Safety, Trust and Belonging: Multnomah County is committed to developing, nurturing and continually improving workforce equity by identifying and addressing the structural and policy barriers to equal employment opportunity faced by our employees and communities. County employees across the organization have stepped forward to develop a strategic plan and help create a workplace where everyone can reach their full potential. Learn more by reading our  Workforce Equity Strategic Plan and exploring our Core Competencies for all County employees.

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. 

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:

Jahaira Ramos

Email:

jahaira.ramos@multco.us

Phone:

+1 (971) 6105392

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:

6088 - Program Specialist Senior Apply