Albuquerque Community Safety is the newly made department that responds to mental health calls and is now hiring for first responders.
Their goal is to re-imagine how public safety calls are dealt with when a gun and badge are not required to help the community.
“People require individuals like social workers and community health workers who can assess a situation and connect someone to services that can potentially save their life,” the ACS site explains.
As an ACS responder, people have an opportunity to directly serve the folks in the Albuquerque community in a unique way. ACS is looking for people who have lived experience as well as backgrounds in social work, counseling, community health, peer support and other social services.
Hired responders will enjoy full-time city positions with competitive salaries, full benefits packages and educational incentives.
Walter, on of the current behavioral health responders said, “To help people who are often overlooked or forgotten, who don’t have anyone they can count on or talk to for support; to guide someone through what may be the toughest day of their life. I want to bridge the gaps within a broken system; to support the community in whatever way possible.”
Here is a list of jobs offered by ACS. In addition to the jobs listed below, the department will also require hiring administrators, managers, trainers and a public information officer.
Behavioral Health Responders work in pairs and respond in person or by phone to requests for assistance with individuals experiencing issues with mental and behavioral health, inebriation, homelessness, addiction, chronic mental illness as well as other issues that do not require police, fire or EMS response. These responders have education and experience in fields including social work, counseling, social services, health and peer support, often having extensive familiarity with the resources and services available in our community. They focus on addressing any immediate crisis then connecting individuals to the services they need. Salary: $27.30-$31.50 per hour.
Community Responders provide support to community members in need of assistance related to inebriation, homelessness, addiction and mental health. They respond to minor injuries or incapacitation, abandoned vehicles, non-injury accidents, needle pickups or other calls for service in the community. Salary: $19.48-$20.48 per hour.
Street Outreach and Resource Coordination Team will provide street outreach in coordination with other city departments and community-based organizations to individuals experiencing homelessness in encampments; conduct in-person assessments; and assist with screening, organizing and prioritizing reports regarding homeless encampments. This team will play no role in code enforcement regarding encampments and will focus on connecting individuals to long-term services.
Community-Oriented Response & Assistance (CORA) organizes outreach to communities affected by tragedy and violence in Albuquerque. CORA begins outreach within a 72-hour window after the incident; identifying the area affected, reaching out to community leaders, organizing a meeting or alternative method of outreach and connection.
Mobile Crisis Team (MCT) Clinicians are independently licensed mental health professionals who work in a team with a uniformed law enforcement office. MCTs co-respond to high-acuity mental and behavioral health emergencies. MCT clinicians provide professional behavioral health services to, de-escalate crises involving, and link individuals who are experiencing mental health emergencies to appropriate services in the community.
To see what jobs are available, check out the site here.
For more info about the program, click the video below.
