<p>The Position</p> <p>Job Appointment: Regular, Full-Time, Non-Exempt.</p> <p>Work Schedule:Employees in this position will work four (4) 10-hour days with three (3) days off a week. Shifts include days, afternoons, and nights, including holidays. Ability to work any shift and on any day of the week is essential. During training, your shift may change depending on the availability of the trainers. After completing probation, you will be able to bid on an open shift based on your seniority.</p> <p>Work Locations:330 SW Curry St., Portland OR 97239</p> <p>Benefits:Please check our benefits tab for an overview of the benefits for this position.</p> <p>Language Pay Premium Eligible:This position is or may be eligible forLanguage Pay Differentialfor qualifying employees</p> <p>Union Representation:Professional Technical Employees, Local 17 (PROTEC-17). To view this labor agreement, pleaseclick here.</p> <p>Application Materials: Please click APPLY to submit your application via the City of Portland's online portal. You will need to respond to the supplemental questions and attach a resume.</p> <p>About Portland Street Response (PSR):</p> <p>Portland Street Response is a compassionate, trauma-informed first response agency. PSR is dispatched by the Bureau of Emergency Communications (BOEC) to address mental and behavioral health crises, as well as non-emergency situations involving vulnerable populations.</p> <p>Program Values:</p> <ul> <li> <p>Equity & Social Justice:Strive to uplift the dignity and worth of all Portlanders, particularly those who have been historically marginalized and criminalized, by ensuring timely and professional person-centered first response.</p> </li><li> <p>Collaboration:Ensure the best possible outcomes for our clients by working collaboratively with community partners, and traditional first responders.</p> </li><li> <p>Empathy & Compassion:Operate from a framework of Trauma-Informed Care with the recognition that adverse life experiences (including health systems and carceral trauma) create barriers for clients to connect with the care and supportive services they need to thrive in the community.</p> </li><li> <p>Resource Efficiency & Prioritization:Respond to the complex care needs of individuals experiencing low acuity crises in the community to enable Police and Fire resources to attend to life saving and crime-related calls for service.</p> </li></ul> <p>Position Summary</p> <p>Mental Health Crisis Responders I's will co-respond to non-emergent 911 calls in partnership with a Community Health Medical Responder (EMT). The Mental Health Crisis Responder I responds to sub-acute behavioral health and substance use-related crises that present no criminal intent, fire, or medical emergency. The incumbent provides crisis intervention, de-escalation, risk assessment, and other brief behavioral health interventions to clients who are in emotional distress. The incumbent will consider the psychosocial aspects of the behavioral health crisis and engage in appropriate resource and/or service coordination to address precipitating factors and resolve the presenting crisis.The Mental Health Crisis Responder I is distinguished from the Mental Health Crisis Responder II in that the level II provides case consultation and clinical supervision and support to the Mental Health Crisis Responder I's.</p> <p>As the Mental Health Crisis Responder I, you will be responsible for the following:</p> <ul> <li> <p>Provide immediate mobile crisis response to service calls dispatched through the 911 system in the city of Portland per program policies and procedures.</p> </li><li> <p>Effectively engage with diverse clients across social, cultural, and economic differences in a respectful and collaborative manner.</p> </li><li> <p>Identify and assess risk factors for harm to self or others in the context of the client's current psycho-social state via interview with client and with consideration given to collateral information.</p> </li><li> <p>Consider and articulate potential outcomes of various interventions, discuss their risks and benefits, and formulate why a particular course of action was pursued in lieu of other options. Apply principles of client-centered and trauma-informed, opting for the least intrusive and most supportive intervention.</p> </li><li> <p>Effectively implement behavioral interventions such as collaborative problem-solving, short-term goal setting, and risk reduction/safety planning in a client-centered manner.</p> </li><li> <p>Engage in resource and service coordination to de-escalate and resolve the presenting crisis.</p> </li><li> <p>Coordinate responses to crisis situations with community agencies and service providers. Consult with fellow crewmembers, supervisors, program managers, and bureau leadership as appropriate.</p> </li><li> <p>Escalate difficult or complex issues and/or cases and assignments to Mental Health Crisis Responder II.</p> </li><li> <p>Document and maintain electronic medical records (EMR) and ancillary records in a manner that assures compliance with all agency policies, program procedures, and local, state, and federal regulations.</p> </li><li> <p>Support program continuous quality improvement (CQI) efforts by participating in chart review and maintaining accurate documentation of key goals, outcomes, and indicators to ensure high-quality client care.</p> </li><li> <p>Participate in all scheduled staff meetings, supervision sessions, other departmental or bureau meetings, and relevant local and regional trainings.</p> </li><li> <p>Complete employee training requirements in a timely manner as indicated in the requirements for the bureau and applicable licensing boards.</p> </li><li> <p>Attend seminars, training, and other educational opportunities to develop professional skills and abilities.</p> </li></ul> <p>Physical Demands: May move equipment weighing up to 40 lbs, bend, stoop, kneel, squat, and stand on uneven surfaces for extended periods.</p> <p>The successful candidate must pass a background check.</p> <p>Question?Contact:</p> <p>Jaclyn Snyder, Senior Recruiter</p> <p>Bureau of Human Resources</p> <p>Jaclyn.Snyder@portlandoregon.gov</p> <p>To Qualify</p> <p>The following minimum qualifications are required for this position:</p> <ul> <li>Knowledgeof related privacy rules and laws, including HIPAA, mandatory reporting requirements, legal responsibilities, and abilityto learn organizational policies and procedures. </li><li>Knowledgeof cultural differences and their intersections (e.g., race, sexual orientation, gender equality, socioeconomic status) and their impact on client engagement. </li><li>Experienceassessing clients' risk of harm to self or others (e.g., suicide, homicide, violence) and effectively mitigating identified risks. </li><li>Abilityto recognize and respond to client reactivity, employing strategies to effectively address and de-escalate issues when they arise. </li><li>Knowledgeof medical terminology and experiencenavigating health systems and entering documentation into medical record systems. </li></ul> <p>Although not required, you may have one or more of the following preferred qualifications:</p> <ul> <li>A valid state driver's license andacceptable driving record. </li><li>QMHA certification or ability to obtain QMHA certification within 9 months of hire date. </li><li>Bachelor's Degree in Psychology, Social Work, Alcohol and Drug Counseling, or related field. </li><li>Five (5) years in crisis intervention and/or mental health information and referral services experience. </li><li>Experience working with diverse groups. </li><li>Knowledge of the principles and practices of Trauma Informed Care (TIC). </li><li>Experience as a first responder or frontline community-based crisis responder. </li><li>Experience working effectively in multi/intra-disciplinary settings with other first responders, health and community agencies. </li><li>Trained in behavioral health crisis assessment and intervention. </li><li>Bi-lingual fluency preferred. </li></ul> <p>The Recruitment Process</p> <p>STEP 1: Apply online betweenMonday, May 4, 2026 - Monday, May 25, 2026</p> <p>Required Application Materials:</p> <ul> <li>Resume </li><li>Answer to the Supplemental Questions (click on the Questions tab to preview the questions) </li></ul> <p>Optional Application Materials:</p> <ul> <li>Veteran documents to request for Veteran Preference (ex, DD214-Member 4, VA Benefit Letter, etc.) </li></ul> <p>We have recently updated our veteran preference process. Starting March 3rd, 2025 If you made the eligible list and met the eligibility to receive veteran preference, you will no longer need to submit veteran documents for future recruitments.</p> <p>If you need to update or remove your veteran preference for a specific recruitment or from your master profile, please contact the recruiter listed in the job announcement.</p> <p>Application Tips:</p> <ul> <li> <p>Your responses to the supplemental questions should include details describing your education, training and/or experience, and where obtained, which clearly reflects your qualifications for each of the numbered items in the "To Qualify" section of this announcement.</p> </li><li> <p>Your resume should support the details described in your responses to the supplemental questions.</p> </li><li> <p>How We DeterminePay:The City of Portland is covered by theOregon EqualPayAct. Your salary is determined based on the experience listed in your resume that is directly related and equivalent to the position for which you are applying. It is strongly encouraged to include any transferable experience (paid or unpaid regardless of how recent) to ensure your offer is reflective of all your relevant experience.</p> </li><li> <p>Do not attachmaterials not requested.</p> </li><li> <p>All completed applications for this position must be submitted no later than on the closing date and time of this recruitment.</p> </li><li> <p>All applications must be submitted via the City's online application process. E-mailed and/or faxed applications will not be accepted.</p> </li><li> <p>You can use AI tools to assist with your job application, but please make sure to personalize your responses to supplemental questions. Avoid copying and pasting; instead, use AI to generate ideas and then tailor them to reflect your own experiences and skills.</p> </li></ul> <p>Step 2: Minimum Qualification Evaluation: Week of May 25, 2026</p> <ul> <li>An evaluation of each applicant's training and paid and unpaid experience, as demonstrated in their resume and supplemental questions, weighted 100%. </li><li>Your resume and responses to the supplemental questions will be the basis for our evaluation of your qualifications for this position. Incomplete or inappropriate information may result in disqualification. </li><li>You have 14 days from the notice of the minimum qualification evaluation results to let us know if you like to review and discuss your evaluation result. Please read theCity of Portland Administrative Rule 3.01for complete information. </li><li>Additional evaluation may be required prior to establishment of the eligible list and/or final selection. </li></ul> <p>Step 3: Establishment of Eligible List:Week of June 1, 2026</p> <ul> <li>Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications will be placed on the equally ranked eligible list. </li></ul> <p>Step 4: Selection (Interview): June</p> <ul> <li>Hiring bureau will review and select candidates to interview. </li></ul> <p>Step 5: Offer of Employment: July</p> <p>Step 6: Start Date: August</p> <ul> <li>A start date will be determined after all conditions of employment have been met. </li><li>Timeline is approximate and subject to change. </li></ul> <p>Additional Information</p> <p>Click herefor additional information regarding the following:</p> <ul> <li>City of Portland Core Values </li><li>Recruitment Process - Work Status </li><li>Equal Employment Opportunity </li><li>Veteran Preference </li><li>ADA, Pregnancy, and Religious Accommodations </li></ul> <p>An Equal Opportunity Employer</p>