ABOUT US:

BJK Peoples Health Centers grew out of a 30-year history of service. In 1988, Yeatman Union-Sarah transferred its assets to BJK Centers under the leadership of its founder, Dr. Amanda L. Murphy. In the fall of 2009, the board of directors of BJK elected to change the name of the organization to Amanda Luckett Murphy Hopewell Center to honor its founder and CEO. Incorporated as a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) since 1979, BJK Centers provides comprehensive mental health services to children and adults in the northern and central parts of the City of St. Louis and North St. Louis City. A professional mental health staff serves a growing caseload of 2,800 patients, of which greater than ninety-five percent are chronically mentally ill and suffering from major psychiatric disorders. Hopewell Center operates a Psychosocial Rehabilitation Center and a Comprehensive Psychiatric Rehabilitation Center for adults and youth. Many services are provided at schools. Emergency services, including a crisis bed and mobile outreach, are available twenty-four hours per day. A multi-disciplinary team of psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, counselors, social workers, educators, and support staff work diligently to carry out the mission of providing comprehensive care to patients and their families.

BJK Peoples Health Centers is implementing a new service called the Transition-Age Youth Assertive Community Action Team (TAY-ACT). The team will service consumers ages 16-25.

The TAY-ACT team uses an array of techniques to engage difficult-to-treat consumers. All team members function as a unit to wrap around the individual. Most services are billed as a per diem (daily rate). These techniques include: collaborative, motivational interventions to engage consumers and build intrinsic motivation for receiving services from the team, and, where necessary, therapeutic limit-setting interventions to create extrinsic motivation for receiving services deemed necessary to prevent harm to consumer or others. The team has a thoughtful process for identifying the need for assertive engagement, measuring the effectiveness of chosen techniques, and modifying approach when indicated. TAY-ACT consumers are not discharged from the program due to failure to keep appointments or not participating in treatment, even if present. Retention of consumers is a high priority for ACT teams. Persistent, caring attempts to engage consumers in treatment helps foster a trusting relationship between the consumer and the ACT team.

DESCRIPTION:

TAY-ACT Team nurse) manage the medication system, administer and document medication treatment; screen and monitor consumers for medical problems/side effects; communicate and coordinate services with the other medical providers; engage in health promotion, prevention, and education activities (i.e., assess for risky behaviors and attempt behavior change); educate other team members to help them monitor psychiatric symptoms and medication side effects; and when consumers are in agreement, develop strategies to maximize the taking of medications as prescribed (e.g., behavioral tailoring, development of individual cues and reminders).

QUALIFICATIONS:

A full-time RN on the team has a minimum of one year experience working with adults with severe mental illness. Will be expected to complete home visits and provide outreach support services.