Mental Health Outreach Specialist (Community Recovery and Safety Services)

ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION

Founded in 1965, the Chinese-American Planning Council, Inc. (CPC) aims to promote the social and economic empowerment of Chinese American, immigrant, and low-income communities. Today, CPC is the nation's largest Asian American social services agency and offers more than 50 programs at over 35 sites throughout New York City, including early childhood education, school-age care, youth services, workforce development, community services, and senior services. CPC strives to be the premier social service and leadership development organization. In 2017, CPC launched Advancing Our CommUNITY, its organization-wide strategy to expand services to address persistent needs and emerging trends and to improve leadership skills among staff and community members. In 2022, our core programs and emergency services reached 200,000 people living in all five boroughs and all 51 city council districts. In the summer of 2022, CPC was recognized as the number one Chinese American organization in New York City to recommend to a Chinese immigrant looking for in-language and culturally competent resources according to a recent survey. This accomplishment is a testament to the incredible work and dedication of our staff. (For more information, please visit: https://www.cpc-nyc.org/)

PROGRAM SUMMARY

The CRSS (Community Recovery and Safety Services) Project has three primary goals:

1. raise AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) community awareness of health and mental health care needs and available services/resources, including those established to offer relief for pandemic-/economic-related issues
2. reduce cultural stigma surrounding mental health care and/or reduce/remove barriers to accessing services
3. advance efforts to combat anti-Asian racism and violence, and reduce the impact of growing insecurity and anxiety among vulnerable Asian Americans.

CRSS offers case management, mental health screenings, health and wellness-related trainings, psycho-educational workshops, individual counseling, group support services, and more. This program is geared toward serving the broad community of youth, families, and seniors who have been impacted by the traumatic nature of the pandemic and the anti-Asian violence that has more than doubled in recent years in NYC, and to ensure that those in need of additional support are able to access it in a culturally and linguistically accessible setting that meets their needs.

JOB SUMMARY

CPC is currently seeking dedicated professionals to support the project on a temporary and part-time basis until March 31, 2026. Reporting to the CRSS Project Manager, the Mental Health Outreach Specialist will work with community members individually and in groups and conduct initial community member screenings and refer community members to partner agencies for higher levels of care as needed. They will also plan and conduct community outreach and community awareness events, such as fairs, workshops and trainings.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assist in planning and conducting community education and outreach awareness events on mental health and anti-Asian violence to community members.
• Develop events and work with partners to bring offerings to CPC/host events.
• Post events, project activities, and workshops via social media channels.
• Assist in recruiting community members for mental health screenings.
• Ensure all contractual and regulatory obligations of the SAMHSA are met.
• Complete all required documentation timely and accurately.
• Maintain confidentiality of all community members-protected health information and adhere to all HIPAA-related policies and procedures.
• Attend meetings and visibility events as requested to promote the project.
• Perform other duties as determined by the CRSS Project Manager.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience:

• Must have a minimum of a high school degree or equivalent; some college is required; bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, or related field preferred.
• Experience with a nonprofit agency or equivalent background supporting community-based services.
• Experience working among AAPI communities preferred.

      Skills and Competencies:

• Cultural competence and sensitivity, including the ability to understand, communicate with, and effectively interact with people across cultures.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently within a flexible schedule and demonstrate effective time management.
• Flexibility and ability to adapt to a fast-paced work environment.
• Fluency in Chinese (Mandarin and/or Cantonese) or Spanish preferred.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and related software.

Additional Requirements:

• Ability to work on some evenings or Saturdays.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS OVERVIEW

• $22.00 - $25.00 per hour; 18-25 hours a week from August 25, 2025, until March 31, 2026.
• CPC offers eligible temporary staff members mandatory benefits, including paid New York State sick time

HOW TO APPLY

Interested individuals should submit their resume, along with a cover letter addressed to Judy Ah-Yune and Sumon Chin, when applying online via CPC’s website: https://www.cpc-nyc.org/jobs or selected online job boards. All documents should be submitted as one single file. Applicants may reach out to careers@cpc-nyc.org with any questions or further inquiries.

CPC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. CPC values a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace and strongly encourages women, BIPOC, immigrants, LGBTQ+, individuals with disabilities, and veterans to apply.