The outreach Social Worker (MICA Coordinator) ensures adults with co-occurring psychiatric and substance abuse disorders, disconnected from care, have access to the array of services to meet their needs. Multi system change has contributed to a larger volume of seriously impaired individuals living in the community as opposed to institutions (local hospital psychiatric units, state psychiatric centers, jail/prison etc.) many individuals served are street homeless, couch surfing, or living in substandard/uninhabitable housing situations.
The Social Worker’s role entails outreach in the community to high need/at risk populations with behavioral health concerns at locations such as local homeless shelters, DSS/Public Assistance, the local YWCA, and private residences; in these locales, the Coordinator offers assessment referral/linkage. The Outreach Social Worker routinely interfaces with the Joseph’s House outreach team, Rensselaer Co DSS Adult Protective Services, Rensselaer Co Probation, Rensselaer Co Re-Entry Task Force/Parole, Troy City Court, and local law enforcement including the newly developed MH Team of Troy PD.