Crisis Responder- Professional
at Canopy Roots
As a Crisis Responder (CR) you will provide timely and compassionate mental health support to individuals experiencing crises. This role is in partnership with the City of Brooklyn Center to provide culturally responsive crisis services to community members. This role involves rapid response, crisis assessment, and collaboration with emergency services to ensure the safety and well-being of individuals in distress. This is a pilot unit with a current contract end date of May 2026; employment is not guaranteed beyond that date. This unit will be comprised of two mental health practitioners, at least one of which will be a licensed mental health professional.
Job Details
Start date: Anticipated start date of June 30th, 2025
Location: Brooklyn Center, MN; primarily community-based, may occasionally be required to attend meetings in NE Minneapolis
Hourly pay range: $37.98 - $41.82
Starting pay will depend on your skills and demonstrated readiness for the role.
Job Type: Full Time, Non-Exempt, Hourly
Shift: Monday, Thursday, Friday/3:30 pm - 12:00 am; Saturday, Sunday/4:00 pm - 12:30am
Openings: 1 position (one of these positions will be a licensed mental health professional)
Essential Job Functions
Emergency Response & Situational Assessment
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Respond to 911 dispatched calls to assist in crises, often first emergency services on scene. Assess service recipient needs to determine appropriate and culturally informed interventions:
- Trauma-informed emotional support
- Crisis de-escalation, both emotionally focused intervention and addressing practical needs
- Psychoeducation, for recipient & their support systems
- Risk assessments and safety planning
- Service connection, including voluntary transport to community providers for further stabilization as needed
- Community resource connections
- Skills training to cope with current stressors or mental health symptoms
- Additional brief interventions as needed
- Enter residences and buildings during crises to provide assistance and support
- Utilize sprinter vans labeled with Canopy Roots and City of Brooklyn Center logos to respond to calls. Vehicles do not use bright lights or sirens. Responders are identified by a uniform with an identifying label.
- Collect and document call information to measure program effectiveness, in accordance with privacy laws.
Collaboration & Coordination
- Work with a crisis responder partner to provide culturally responsive crisis response services to members of the community
- Collaboratively work with first response agencies (police, fire, emergency medical services, 911/dispatch) and other community stakeholders/partners.
- Provide consultation, support, and resources to police officers when responding to behavioral health-related calls.
- Participate in community engagement events.
- Participate in weekly collective meetings to discuss calls and gain expertise/feedback from colleagues
Resource Connection
- Connect individuals experiencing crisis to mental health resources, natural supports, or community members
- Make appropriate referrals to mental health services, community resources, and other support service providers
- Provide available supplies to individuals in need such as water, snacks, bus tokens, gloves, hand warmers, hats, etc.
The above statements are not intended to encompass all functions and qualifications of the position. Rather, they are intended to provide a general framework of the requirements of the position. Employees may be required to perform other functions not specifically addressed in this job description.
Minimum job qualifications:
- Meet the criteria for Mental Health Professional as defined by Minnesota state statute through equivalent education and experience. (https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/245I.04)
- OR Provisionally licensed by the MN Board of Social Work and working towards independent licensure as an LPCC or LICSW.
- Must have and maintain a valid Minnesota driver's license
Preferred Experience:
- Providing community-based mental health services
- Experience working with diverse populations and a commitment to culturally responsive care
- Knowledge of community resources for mental health, social services, and basic needs.
- Experience in effectively using harm reduction principles, trauma-informed care, and person-centered approaches
- Understanding of race-based disparities and the impact of these disparities on the development of a community, social justice, corrective justice, socio-economic statuses, and the effects on the overall health and wellness of populations.
- Ability to effectively perform in high-pressure situations that need sensitivity, flexibility, resourcefulness, and independent judgment.
Physical Requirements
- Lift and carry objects weighing up to 50 pounds
- Stand for at least 30 minutes at a time
- Walk for at least 15 minutes at a time
- Run for at least 10 seconds
- Climb stairs independently
- Reach forward and overhead
- Squat or kneel
- Twist and bend from the trunk
- Use a keyboard
- Engage in repetitive motion
- Be able to hear and process verbal communication in person and via radio
Canopy Roots is an equal-opportunity employer. Canopy Roots does not discriminate in employment with regard to race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship status, ancestry, age, sex (including sexual harassment), sexual orientation, marital status, physical or mental disability, military status, or unfavorable discharge from military service or any other characteristic protected by law.
About Canopy Roots
Canopy Roots is an innovative mental health organization offering culturally affirming, unarmed first responder services to people in crisis via 911 in the city of Minneapolis. Canopy is committed to centering BIPOC and other historically marginalized and underrepresented communities. Canopy provides high-quality services with purpose and integrity by collaborating with and supporting individuals, groups, families, and communities in meeting their mental health goals. Canopy aspires to provide a supportive and educational work atmosphere where collaboration and egalitarian decision-making foster respect and trust among diverse providers.
We care deeply about our employees and know holistic support is essential for our staff to carry out their work. Our generous employment package includes:
- Canopy-sponsored health, dental, and vision insurance options through Blue Cross Blue Shield MN and Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
- Employer-paid short-term disability insurance, AD&D, and life insurance
- Employer-paid Employee Assistance Program
- 56 hours of Wellness leave annually (prorated amount available on your first day of employment)
- 128 hours of Paid Time Off accrued annually
- 10 Paid Holidays (time and a half for holidays worked)
- 401k retirement plan with employer match
- Continuing education units (CEU) for mental health professionals
- Supervision towards licensure
Workplace Culture
Canopy Roots is a values-based, inclusive workplace that strives to create a space where our 45+ employees' unique talents, learning styles, and lived experiences are valued. Creating an engaging work environment is an essential part of our culture. We uphold this commitment through staff surveys, professional development, and reflection and processing space in
weekly "collective" meetings.
Our Hiring Process
Our human resources team is committed to a person-first-centered approach to our hiring process. Candidates can view currently open positions and apply online via canopyrootsmn.com/about/careers. For all positions, our hiring process includes a virtual screening interview, an in-person panel interview, and reference checks and background checks for final candidates. Offers are contingent on a BCA and FBI background check that includes fingerprinting.
Persons of color, women, members of the LGBTQ community, veterans, and individuals with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to the People Operations team at [email protected]. At this time, we are unable to provide company-sponsored visas and are only considering candidates who are eligible to work in the United States.
P.S. Please take the necessary steps to allow emails from the Canopy (@canopyrootsmn.com) and Applicant Pro ([email protected]) domains so that you receive all emails related to your application process. Also, please make sure to check your spam folder as emails from Canopy and/or Paycor can be marked as spam.
