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Background on MGH Asylum Clinic

The MGH Asylum Clinic provides forensic medical and psychological evaluations to asylum applicants (“clients”) to document evidence of prior trauma or abuse. Evaluations are performed by teams of volunteer clinicians including physicians, psychologists, social workers, and others with specialized training in forensic evaluation. The evaluators write a legal report for use by the client’s legal representatives in the Immigration Office or Immigration Court.

The MGH Asylum Clinic (MGHAC) Program Coordinator is responsible for supporting clients of the MGHAC and collaborating with legal partners and community organizations supporting asylum seekers. The Program Coordinator will work with stakeholders to review clinic referrals and work with clinic volunteers and the clients’ attorneys to schedule evaluations appropriately based on the given timeline and arrange supporting resources such as interpreter services. They will collect medical affidavits, update the clinic’s database, and perform other administrative tasks as required.

The Program Coordinator will also engage clients in resource coordination with a focus on addressing social determinants of mental and physical health and connection to community resources. The job involves responsibility for an intake for clients comprising an assessment of social determinants of health including medical, mental healthcare, and social needs. Social needs include important practical elements for their upcoming evaluation such as transportation, language, and childcare, as well as long-term needs like food, housing, and social support.

The job involves responsibility for facilitating referrals to appropriate clinical providers, social services and community resources. This includes assisting clients with enrollment in insurance depending on eligibility and connecting clients to local community health centers.

The individual will collaborate with clinic volunteers, clinic leadership, administrative staff and research personnel to create a nurturing, welcoming environment, helping to implement clinic policies to reflect trauma-informed care.

The individual will comply with all data collection, data entry and data integrity needs both for facilitation of clinical care and reporting requirements to funders.

Career development opportunities include participation in MGHAC program development, research and training initiatives, and participation in hospital-wide educational opportunities.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Indicate key areas of responsibility, major job duties, special projects and key objectives for this position.  These items should be evaluated throughout the year and included in the written annual evaluation.

Triage referrals and coordinate evaluations:

• Review clinic referrals and work with clinic volunteers and the clients’ attorneys to schedule evaluations appropriately based on the given timeline.
• Coordinate with MGH Interpreter services and/or attorney appointed interpreter to ensure the exam is appropriately resourced.
• Collect medical affidavits and update clinic database.
• Maintain strong working relationships with legal service organizations and referring attorneys.

Conduct MGH Asylum Clinic Intake for clients:

• Comprehensive assessment of client’s medical, mental health and social needs using social determinants of health screening instrument
• Facilitate referrals for medical and mental health care, community resources based on identified needs. Assist with enrollment in insurance programs
• Appropriate documentation of needs assessment data

Conduct a post-evaluation contact for clients seen at the AC

• Perform assessment of emotional acuity/crisis and facilitate appropriate triaging
• Refer and navigate clients within MGH or to local community health centers for ongoing medical and mental healthcare needs
• Continue referral to appropriate care and resources

Support program development in the MGHAC

• Attend weekly multidisciplinary staff meetings and activities, meet regularly with MGHAC leadership and administrative staff
• Build a network of contacts and community resources for asylum seekers to promote partnership for bidirectional referrals to community organizations
• Adapt to changing programmatic needs
• Perform other administrative functions as assigned by Manager/Supervisor

Maintain professional standards and follow protocols

• Maintain HIPAA standards and confidentiality of protected health information
• Engage in learning and growth opportunities including attending hospital-wide educational events such as Grand Rounds, and pursuing training opportunities with the approval of supervisor
• Adhere to departmental/organizational policies and procedures.

Professional Conduct:

Adheres to Departmental and Hospital standards, policies and procedures.

Promotes Departmental and Hospital public relations.

Maintains patient confidentiality always.

Professional Development:

Participates in supervision/consultation as appropriate to level of development/experience.

Attends pertinent educational activities and conferences related to job and career goals.

Patient Population:

Trauma; Victims of community violence; All ages

Funding for position available for 1 year with possibility of renewal

SKILLS/ ABILITIES/ COMPETENCIES REQUIRED:    (MUST be realistic, measurable, objective, and related to the essential functions of the job.)

• Ability to multitask, flexibility, adaptability
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively
• Self-management skills, including ability to prioritize and set client-centered goals
• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries
• Ability to work with diverse, multilingual, vulnerable client population
• Skill with engaging clients who have experienced trauma — building rapport, trust
• Creative problem solver
• Ability to navigate complex healthcare systems at academic and community level
• Extensive knowledge of healthcare systems and community resources
• Ability to leverage systems and resources for improved patient outcomes
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Demonstrated interest in immigrant populations/health strongly preferred
• Cross-cultural communication and language skills appreciated

LICENSES, CERTIFICATIONS, and/or REGISTRATIONS (if applicable):  Specify minimum credentials and clearly indicate if preferred or required

Applicants may be working towards LCSW

EDUCATION:   Specify minimum education and clearly indicate if preferred or required.

Bachelor’s degree required. Master’s degree such as Masters in Social Work (MSW) preferred.

EXPERIENCE:    Specify minimum creditable years of experience and clearly indicate if preferred or required

• Experience with mental health and trauma; demonstrated ability to evaluate and appropriately triage mental health crisis situations
• Experience and comfort with risk assessment and appropriate triaging required
• Experience with diverse immigrant, asylum seeker, and refugee populations preferred
• Comfortable innovating in information technology systems; experience using/documenting in electronic medical record systems

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:  List the number of FTEs supervised.

n/a

FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY:         Indicate financial “scope” information, i.e.: size of budget, volume, revnue, etc.

n/a

WORKING CONDITIONS:            Describe the conditions in which the work is performed.

General office environment or remote work as needed

 EEO Statement

Massachusetts General Hospital is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  By embracing diverse skills, perspectives and ideas, we choose to lead. Applications from protected veterans and individuals with disabilities are strongly encouraged. 

Primary Location

 MA-Boston-MGH Main Campus

Work Locations

MGH Main Campus

55 Fruit Street

Boston 02114

Job

 Social Services/Mental Health – Other

Organization

 Massachusetts General Hospital(MGH)

Schedule

 Full-time

Standard Hours 40

Shift

 Day Job

Employee Status

 Regular

Recruiting Department MGH The Center for Global Health

Press release for Chelsea vigil 12.20.2021