Care Coordinator - Community Health Center of Buffalo Inc

**Job Summary:**

The Care Coordinator at the Community Health Center of Buffalo (CHCB) plays a crucial role in coordinating care and services for high-risk patients diagnosed with depression. This position aims to enhance quality outcomes, minimize high-risk events, and reduce inappropriate service utilization. The Care Coordinator educates patients about depression, provides behavioral activation, monitors depressive symptoms, collaborates with healthcare providers to establish treatment plans, and offers counseling for depression.

**Responsibilities:**

- Consult with patients and primary care providers to discuss treatment options and preferences, develop person-centered treatment plans, and mobilize resources to reduce risks.
- Provide information and referral assistance to connect patients with community services, facilitate access to necessary supports, and assist with scheduling appointments.
- Conduct assessments of patients, including administering the PHQ-9 depression scale and gathering detailed depression histories.
- Coordinate depression treatment plans with primary care providers and behavioral health professionals.
- Arrange urgent care evaluations and ensure access to necessary care.
- Monitor patients' psychosocial needs, facilitate services, and provide problem-solving assistance.
- Offer ongoing reassessment, symptom education, relapse prevention guidance, stress reduction tips, and encouragement for treatment adherence.
- Facilitate communication among patients, primary care providers, behavioral health professionals, and community resources to adjust treatment plans as needed.
- Engage in regular caseload supervision with behavioral health providers to focus on patients not adequately improving within specified timeframes.
- Document all encounters according to organizational policies, monitor outcome measures, and facilitate treatment referrals as required.
- Perform any other relevant duties as assigned.

**Qualifications:**

- Master's Degree in Social Work, Registered Nursing with behavioral health experience, or a related human service field (e.g., mental health counseling, marriage and family therapy, psychology).
- Minimum of 2 years of experience in a behavioral health setting.
- Proficiency in community resources, including behavioral health care resources and inpatient/outpatient services.
- Ability to establish therapeutic relationships with patients, collaborate with diverse disciplines, and form partnerships across various service settings.
- Strong communication skills, motivational interviewing abilities, and computer literacy, including MS Word, Excel, and Outlook proficiency.

**Preferred Qualifications:**

- 5 years of experience in a behavioral health setting.
- Background in the public mental health field, experience in treating depression, or exposure to brief, structured counseling techniques.

**Physical Demands:**

This position requires periods of sitting, standing, walking, bending, stooping, and may involve weekend and evening work.

**Compensation:**

Pay range: $22 - $26.50 per hour.