Behavioral Health Provider (LCSW/LMFT) at Wellness and Equity Alliance LLC – Indio, California

OUR MISSION

Wellness Equity Alliance (WEA) is a novel national public health organization comprised of a multidisciplinary team of population and public health experts with backgrounds in infectious disease, public health, emergency medicine, primary care, cardiology, pediatrics, psychiatry, community health work (CHW), nursing and advanced practice pharmacy. We work nearly exclusively with underrepresented communities, fundamentally addressing healthcare disparities and the social determinants of health (SDoH) that have been amplified during the COVID-19 pandemic, prioritizing the following:

• People experiencing homelessness
• Indigenous communities
• Immigrant communities
• Rural communities
• BIPoC communities
• LGBTQIA+ communities
• Justice-impacted communities

The WEA team is diverse, inclusive, and nimble enough to assemble teams of healthcare professionals within days using our proven local staff recruitment models to address population health crises and communicable disease outbreaks. Our partnership model is collaborative and enables hospitals, health jurisdictions, and state/local government agencies to deliver timely, equity-based care to marginalized populations.

Indio Crisis Walk-in Center

WEA’s Crisis Walk-In (CWI) Center, located on the behavioral health campus of Riverside University Health System in Indio, CA, offers 24/7 walk-in, voluntary crisis services for adults and children ages 5 and older. Designed to provide immediate, accessible care, the center serves up to 20 patients at a time, including both youth and adults.

Position Summary

The Behavioral Health Provider (LCSW/LMFT) serves as a frontline clinician within WEA’s Indio Crisis Walk-In Center (CWI), providing rapid assessment, crisis intervention, and short-term stabilization services for youth, adults, and families experiencing acute behavioral health needs.

This role focuses on helping individuals stabilize quickly, engage natural and community supports, and transition safely to ongoing care. Clinicians work in a fast-paced, high-acuity environment and support individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance use challenges.

The Behavioral Health Provider works closely with an interdisciplinary team—including peer support, nursing, psychiatry, and site operations—and partners with clinical leadership to ensure safe, effective, and compassionate care delivery. This is a high-impact role ideal for clinicians who thrive in crisis settings and are motivated to serve vulnerable populations with empathy, structure, and clinical excellence.

Key Highlights

• Compensation: The compensation range for this role is $90,000–$120,000 annually, with final compensation determined based on experience, qualifications, and role scope.
• Work Location & Expectations: This role requires daily in-person engagement at Indio Crisis Walk-in Center location.
• Benefits: Comprehensive benefits package including healthcare coverage, paid time off, and shareholder/equity options.
• Professional Development: Opportunity to collaborate with cross-functional leaders across Behavioral Health, Medical, Street Medicine, Public Health, Rural Health, and Tribal Health initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

1. Crisis Response & Stabilization

• Conduct timely, comprehensive behavioral health assessments for children, adolescents, adults, and older adults.
• Perform suicide and safety risk assessment and planning to ensure appropriate and safe care and discharge.
• Provide crisis counseling, emotional support, and developmentally appropriate therapeutic interventions.
• Support rapid stabilization through short-term, solution-focused care approaches.
• Monitor client progress during the stabilization period and adjust interventions as needed.
• Engage family members and caregivers to promote safety, stabilization, and continuity of care.
• Support individuals experiencing co-occurring mental health and substance use concerns through early intervention, psychoeducation, and care linkage.

2. Care Coordination & Transitions

• Develop individualized safety plans and transition plans aligned with patient needs.
• Coordinate referrals and warm handoffs to outpatient mental health services, substance use treatment, youth services, and community-based resources.
• Collaborate with internal team members including peer support specialists, nurses, prescribers, and operational staff.
• Build and maintain relationships with external partners such as schools, social services, hospitals, and crisis response teams.

3. Team Collaboration & Interdisciplinary Care

• Participate in daily clinical huddles and team-based care coordination.
• Contribute to a collaborative, team-oriented environment focused on patient safety and quality care.
• Communicate effectively with clinical leadership and team members to escalate risks and support care decisions.
• Partner with clinical and operational leadership to support smooth patient flow and care delivery.

4. Documentation & Compliance

• Complete timely, accurate, and thorough documentation of assessments, interventions, and care plans.
• Maintain compliance with program requirements, documentation standards, and applicable regulations.
• Support continuity of care through clear and professional communication with internal and external stakeholders.

5. Patient & Family Engagement

• Build trust with patients and families through empathetic, culturally responsive care
• Provide education and support to individuals and caregivers during moments of crisis
• Promote patient dignity, autonomy, and engagement in care planning.

6. Continuous Improvement & Clinical Excellence

• Apply critical thinking and clinical judgment in high-pressure situations.
• Participate in quality improvement efforts and feedback loops to strengthen program effectiveness.
• Contribute to a culture of learning, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Key Competencies

• Crisis assessment, de-escalation, and stabilization.
• Trauma-informed and culturally responsive care.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to remain calm and effective under pressure.
• Team-based care and interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Clinical judgment and adaptability in dynamic environments.

Required Qualifications

• Licensed LCSW or LMFT in California OR Associate-level clinician (ASW/AMFT) working toward licensure with supervision.
• 1–3+ years of experience providing behavioral health services, crisis intervention, or counseling.
• Experience supporting individuals experiencing acute distress, including mental health crises and/or substance use challenges.
• Strong crisis de-escalation, assessment, and stabilization skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, high-acuity environment.
• Excellent communication, organization, and teamwork skills.
• Willingness to work 12-hour shifts within minimum expectations for daytime, overnight, weekend, and holiday availability.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in crisis settings such as CWIC, CSU, ED, urgent care, or community crisis programs.
• Experience working with youth and family systems.
• Experience supporting individuals with co-occurring (dual diagnosis) conditions.
• Bilingual (Spanish strongly preferred).
• Familiarity with local community mental health and social service resources.
• Proficiency with electronic health records (EHRs).