Research Associate , Early Detection and Assessment Coordinator

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The Early Detection and Assessment Coordinator (EDAC) will be the STEP Hub’s primary representative across the LMHA catchments. In collaboration with Connecticut’s Department of Mental Health and Addictions Services (DMHAS) and Department of Children and Families (DCF), the Program for Specialized Treatment Early in Psychosis (STEP) now has built a statewide Learning Health System, called the STEP Learning Collaborative. STEP is the Hub for a network of spokes based in 12 Local Mental Health Authorities (LMHA) or agencies.

This network covers all catchments in the state. The mission of the STEP Learning Collaborative is to improve Access and Quality of care for all individuals with first episode psychosis (FEP) or recent-onset schizophrenia spectrum disorders across Connecticut.

This is a hybrid position, will require time onsite at STEP's physical location at 40 Temple St New Haven and also occasional on-site meetings at various agencies and/or hospitals across the state.

• Early detection activities – including outreach to patients & families, and liaison with all referral sources (clinical and non-clinical) including in-person meetings and events.
• Staffing the state’s centralized non-emergency referral line, which invites calls from patients, families, clinicians and a wide variety of referral sources (clergy, educators) screening and triaging calls, familiarity with risk assessment and state’s mobile crisis resources.
• Routine outcomes assessments and entry of data into STEP’s informatics platform – including the use of specific scales with patients, and extraction of data from clinicians and administrative/healthcare databases (prior experience with rating scales (e.g., SIPS, PANSS) is preferred, training is available).
• Presentation of clinically relevant information to LMHA clinicians to assist in their engagement and care of FEP patients and families.
• Coordination with the hub staff to support all LC activities.

• Experience as a trainee or staff member in a behavioral healthcare setting (e.g., outpatient clinic, inpatient unit, mobile crisis team), including exposure to clinical screening, intake, triage, or risk assessment processes.
• Knowledge of common behavioral health diagnoses, clinical presentations, and factors that inform differential diagnosis and referral decisions.
• Ability to navigate in community and clinical settings to ensure communication and collaboration with diverse stakeholders of Step Learning Collaborative mission i.e., improve Access and Quality of care for all individuals with first episode psychosis (FEP) or recent-onset schizophrenia spectrum disorders across Connecticut.
• Ability to conduct outreach to patients & families, and liaison with all referral sources (clinical and non-clinical) including driving to in-person meetings/outreach efforts and events.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to connect with diverse stakeholders;
  Attention to detail, especially in data acquisition and entry.

• Experience and comfort working with individuals experiencing serious mental illnesses (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder).
• Familiarity with commonly used scales in schizophrenia research (e.g. PANSS, SIPS)
• Prior work on teams with mobile outreach, crisis call centers, and work with populations with adverse social determinants
• Applicant must…