Crisis Intervention Specialist Volunteer

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Crisis Center Intervention specialists use the field’s most effective techniques to listen, perform risk assessments, and help create temporary safety plans. For those facing a mental health crisis, as a trained Crisis Intervention Specialist, you can be the difference between life and death for someone experiencing a crisis.

As a Crisis Center Intervention Specialist at Mental Health America of Greater Dallas, you can help save lives by providing information and support to people in crisis who are considering ending their lives as they struggle through life’s most severe challenges. Crisis Center Intervention Specialists are caring individuals like you who help others by taking calls at the MHA - Greater Dallas Crisis Center from people experiencing mental health emergencies.

Our training program will equip you with the field’s most effective techniques before you ever have to take a call on your own. From suicide risk assessment to creating a temporary safety plan, we’ll provide you with constant support while you save lives. Yes, it is challenging, but with proper training, you have the opportunity to succeed.

REQUIREMENTS

• Supportive of Mental Health America’s mission, values, and goals.
• Valid Texas Driver’s License or Texas ID.
• Ability to pass a national background test.
• Provide crisis intervention to a diverse population of callers.

• Establish rapport with the caller in a timely manner and accurately assess the crisis by determining the severity and immediacy of the situation.
• Help the caller to develop an immediate plan to address the crisis.
• Complete appropriate assessment tools based off client presentation.
• Meet Crisis Intervention Service levels:

• Respond to all emergent calls within 1 hour to assure the safety of the individual and others who may be placed at risk by the individual’s behaviors.

• Respond to all urgent calls within 8 hours and provide necessary interventions to stabilize the crisis.

SKILLS

• Ability to react quickly and calmly during times of crisis.
• Ability to effectively manage high levels of stress.

• Ability to negotiate under stress.
• Ability to leave work at the office with a good understanding of boundaries.
• High level of customer service.
• High level of problem-solving.
• Mediation experience a plus.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a volunteer to perform the essential functions of the job successfully.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• This position regularly requires using hands to fingers, handle, talk, and hear. The incumbent must frequently sit for long periods.
• Specific vision abilities required for this position include mobility and close vision, distant vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to focus.