Community Resources Guide

firsthand supports individuals living with SMI (serious mental illness). Our holistic approach includes a team of peer recovery specialists, benefits specialists and clinicians, which focuses on meeting each individual where they are and walking with them side by side as a trusted guide, partner, and first call on their journey to wellness.

firsthand's team members use their lived experience to build trust with these individuals and support them in obtaining socio-economic assistance and in reconnecting to primary and behavioral care. Support like this creates substantial savings for managed care organizations (Medicaid providers) and taxpayers by decreasing inappropriate healthcare utilization. This enables us to build solutions that scale and, as a result, change the way our society supports those most impacted by SMI.

We are cultivating a team of deeply passionate problem-solvers to tackle significant and complex healthcare challenges with us. This is more than a job—it's a calling. Every day, you will engage in work that resonates with purpose, gain wisdom from motivated colleagues, and thrive in an environment that celebrates continuous learning, creativity, and fun.

The Community Resources Guide (CRG) is responsible for linking newly engaged individuals with serious mental illness to community-based supportive services in order to address social determinants of health and support their overall wellness. The CRG will do this by working with peer recovery specialists (firsthand Guides) to empower individuals to identify and achieve their own recovery goals. Supportive services may include rental/utility assistance, access to food or pantries, Social Security benefits, primary care, or community behavioral health services.  

The CRG must be able to work in the community, meeting individuals where they are, and be comfortable working in non-traditional settings and unstructured environments. Experience assisting individuals with Social Security benefits enrollment, including SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery (SOAR) certification, is highly preferred.

• Perform social and behavioral health assessments to support individuals living with serious mental illness in identifying barriers to wellness. 
• Build personalized initial care plans to address social needs.
• Link individuals to community-based resources and supportive services including SSA benefits, community programs, housing, food, etc.
• Complete interviews with individuals, gather medical records, and other information to complete SSI/SSDI applications.
• Engage in care coordination as part of a multidisciplinary team of peers, social workers, and clinicians to assist individuals in accessing appropriate services and support.
• Assist in outreach and engagement efforts led by firsthand Guides, which may include visiting homes and communities, local homeless shelters and drop-in centers, hospitals, and emergency departments.
• Address transportation barriers by assisting in accessing transportation benefits, navigating public transportation, and providing transportation as needed.
• Provide direct assistance, when appropriate, when individuals are facing challenging situations, and triage to appropriate additional interventions.

• Empathy, compassion, and approachability
• Excellent listening, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Desire to help people in need and support their path to wellness
• Comfortable doing community visit in individual’s homes and neighborhoods
• Clinical knowledge, inclusive of SMI, substance use, and physical health conditions
• Comfort working as part of a multidisciplinary team, and enjoy mixed roles and duties - this is a mix of direct service, teaching, and care management
• Cultural humility, knowledge of trauma informed care, and social determinants of health
• Familiarity with local resources and community programs
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and writing skills
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks and meet deadlines
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries and engagement skills with a population with challenges and in non-traditional work conditions
• Proficiency with Google Suite

• Experience serving those with complex medical conditions, and preferably SMI and/or SUD
• Ability to operate a vehicle (company vehicle may be provided), including a driver’s license that is active and in good standing; must be eligible to drive under Company insurance policy 

• SSI/SSDI Outreach Access Recovery (SOAR) certification
• Bachelors or Masters Degree in social work, psychology, or related human services field
• Lived experience with SMI and/or SUD
• Prior experience performing direct in-person outreach and engaging individuals with SMI
• Trained in motivational interviewing, recovery-oriented services, and trauma-informed care

Benefits 

For full-time employees, our compensation package includes base, equity and a bonus potential.Our benefits include physical and mental health, dental, vision, 401(k) with a match, 16 weeks parental leave for either parent, flexible vacation, and a supportive and inclusive culture.

Unfortunately, we are not able to offer sponsorship at this time.

Vaccination Policy

Employment with firsthand is contingent upon attesting to medical clearance requirements, which include, but may not be limited to: evidence of vaccination for/immunity to COVID-19, Hepatitis B, Influenza, MMR, Chickenpox, Tetanus and Diphtheria. All employees of firsthand are required to receive these vaccinations on a cadence/frequency as advised by the CDC, whereas not otherwise prohibited by state law.

New hires may submit for consideration a request to be exempted from these requirements (based on a valid religious or medical reason) via forms provided by firsthand. Such requests will be subject to review and approval by the Company, and exemptions will be granted only if the Company can provide a reasonable accommodation in relation to the requested exemption. Note that approvals for reasonable accommodations are reviewed and approved on a case-by-case basis and availability of a reasonable accommodation is not guaranteed.