Job Description

About MHA

MHA – Mental Health Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people live their best life. We provide a wide range of services across Western Massachusetts, including outpatient therapy, substance use recovery, supports for individuals with developmental disabilities or brain injuries, and residential and housing programs. MHA serves individuals impacted by mental illness, substance use, developmental disabilities, brain injuries, and homelessness. Our mission is rooted in inclusion, dignity, and empowering people to lead fulfilling, independent lives.

About BestLife - Emotional Health & Wellness

The BestLife Emotional Health & Wellness Center offers compassionate, person-centered mental health and substance use treatment for individuals, families, and couples. Whether challenges are short-term or ongoing, BestLife provides evidence-based care to support emotional well-being and recovery.

Services include assessments, therapy (individual, group, family, couples), substance use treatment, co-occurring disorder care, medication management, case coordination, and recovery support. Care is delivered by licensed clinicians and overseen by a board-certified psychiatrist.

Position Summary

The Mental Health Association is hiring a Bilingual (English/Spanish-speaking) Massachusetts Impaired Driver (MID) Instructor to join BestLife’s 16-week educational program for individuals with a first-time DUI conviction. This court- or RMV-mandated program requires participants to attend sixteen 2-hour group sessions, a mid-point interview, and an exit interview. The MID Instructor will provide documented group and/or individual clinical services, conduct comprehensive assessments for program admission, complete mid-point evaluations and exit interviews, and participate in ongoing curriculum development. The role also includes maintaining accurate documentation, writing reports, and consulting with referring probation officers, courts, and the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Schedule: Fully Remote

Key Responsibilities

• Have a basic knowledge of substance use and the negative impact that use can have on one’s social, physical, emotional, occupational, legal, and familial functioning.
• Helps develop individual’s confidence in order to articulate their goals for recovery and to decrease their risk of recidivism
• Works with individuals to develop and implement personal goals and objectives around treatment and recovery from addiction and/or co-occurring disorders.
• Participates as part of the overall care team when appropriate.
• Interacts with individuals in order to assess needs, provide information, discuss problems, identify patterns and stressors and encourage growth and development.
• Shares information about community resources, including self-help groups
• Informs, trains, supports and empowers individuals utilizing substance use services.
• Remains up to date on current resources and knowledge of the recovery movement by attend trainings, participating in webinars, and reading relevant articles and/or books
• Notifies supervisor immediately in the event of an individual’s crisis, suspected illegal activity, or any behavior constituting an incident.
• Completes administrative tasks required including required documentation and timesheets and responds to requests for information and phone calls in a timely fashion.
• Promotes understanding of each individual’s cultural identity to be able to enhance support and respect of the individual’s choices.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The Mental Health Association is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Requirements

• Demonstrated ability to work independently, manage time, prioritize tasks, take initiative, follow through, and work cooperatively as a member of a team.
• Have a familiarization and comfortability conducting telehealth visits on Zoom format
• Demonstrated ability to adapt to the changing needs of the program participants.
• Cheerful, outward-going personality
• Demonstrates ability to engage and build respectful and collaborative relationships
• Performs well under stress and in the event of a crisis
• Familiarity with local community resources
• Bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology or a related field
• Must be bilingual in English/Spanish.
• Experience and proficiency in understanding about treatment and recovery from substance use disorders, including, but not limited to, an understanding of addiction services and resources available in the geographic area where they will serve.