Mental Health Assistant 2 (40 Hour) Office/On-Site Recruitment #260819-5723FK-001 Location Hartford, CT Date Opened 8/20/2026 12:00:00 AM Salary $66,656• - $89,108/year (•New state employees start at the minimum) Job Type Open to the Public Close Date 8/27/2026 11:59:00 PM

INTRODUCTION

Are you looking for a rewarding opportunity to adults on their paths to recovery and independence? If you communicate fluently in American Sign Language (ASL), join us as a Mental Health Assistant 2 to make a significant impact today!

THE POSITION

The State of Connecticut, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) is now hiring for a Mental Health Assistant 2 serving the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHOH) Team's clients! The work environment is primarily "in the Community" in combination with "in office" and teleworking time. Due to the nature of the work the selected candidate will be doing, our ideal candidate will be fluent in American Sign Language (ASL). In the Community Support Program, state and federal fidelity measures are utilized to evaluate the services provided to clients which include staffing levels, staff productivity, family involvement, attendance at self-help groups, wellness and recovery groups, and documentation of the response to services. These services increase the likelihood that the clients in the Community Support Program will be successful in living in the community independently, decreasing the likelihood of accessing an institutionalized setting and having a life worth living based upon a foundation of skillful health and wellness. The program's goal and mission are to ultimately decrease hospitalizations and emergency room visits for all clients, while increasing the likelihood of independent community integration. Adhering to, and meeting, the fidelity measures assure this possibility. This position provides all of these services to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing team as well as being available to all adult services clients at the facility. There are no other Community Support Program specific services available to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community clients that meet the American Sign Language communication needs.

HIGHLIGHTS

FACILITY:

 Capitol Region Mental Health Center (CRMHC)

LOCATION

500

Vine Street, Hartford, CT UNIT:

Community Support Program

SCHEDULE

Full-Time, 40 Hours per Week, First Shift, Monday through Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm

POSITION NUMBER

126002 WHAT

WE CAN OFFER YOU

Visit our new State Employee Benefits Overview page! Professional growth and development opportunities A healthy work/life balance to all employees

DISCOVER THE OPPPORTUNITY TO

Be a part of a comprehensive team of caring professionals; Provide support that is passionate about improving the lives of those we serve; Assist our clients so they can achieve success; Make a difference in the public sector; and Work together in a collaborative team environment.

ABOUT US DMHAS

is a health care agency whose mission is to promote the overall health and wellness of persons with behavioral health needs through an integrated network of holistic, comprehensive, effective, and efficient services and supports that foster dignity, respect, and self-sufficiency in those we serve. CRMHC is a community based mental health center serving Hartford, West Hartford, Farmington, Avon, Canton and Simsbury providing individuals with behavioral health services. CRMHC collaborates with the greater Hartford DMHAS-Funded mental health programs comprising 15 non-profit agencies located in Hartford and West Hartford. These agencies work together to provide a comprehensive array of behavioral health services to adults with serious psychiatric disabilities as well as co-occurring psychiatric illness and substance use.

PLEASE NOTE

A comprehensive medical examination, including a drug screening, will be required of all applicants upon a conditional offer of employment. All state employees must adhere to Connecticut's Policy for a Drug Free Workplace.

SELECTION PLAN FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING

Check out our Applicant Tips on How to Apply! Need more resources? Visit our Applicant Toolkit for additional support throughout the recruitment process.

BEFORE YOU APPLY

Meet Minimum Qualifications:

 Ensure you meet the Minimum Qualifications listed on the job opening by the job closing date. You must specify your qualifications on your application. The minimum experience and training requirements listed must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.

Educational Credits:

 List your earned credits and degrees from accredited institutions accurately on your application. To receive educational credits towards qualification, the institution must be accredited. If the institution of higher learning is located outside of the U.S., you are responsible for providing documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service which specializes in determining foreign education equivalencies to the contact listed below by the closing date listed on the job posting.

Resume Policy:

 Per Public Act 21-69, resumes are not accepted during the initial application process. As the recruitment process progresses, candidates may be required to submit additional documentation to support their qualification(s) for this position.

This documentation may include:

a cover letter, resume, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the request and discretion of the hiring agency.

Preferred Shift/Location:

 Select all location(s) and shift(s) you are willing to work on your application. Failure to do so may result in not being considered for vacancies in that specific location or shift.

Timely Submission:

 All application materials must be received by the job posting deadline. You will be unable to make revisions once you officially submit your application to the State. Late submissions are rarely accepted, with exceptions only for documented events that incapacitate individuals during the entire duration of the job posting. Request exceptions by emailing 

DAS.SHRM

@ct.gov.

Salary Calculations:

For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from one of the three branches of state government (i.e., Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other.

Note:

The only way to apply to this posting is via the 'Apply' or 'Apply Online' buttons on the official State of Connecticut Online Employment Center job posting.

AFTER YOU APPLY

Some email providers may experience delays or issues delivering messages. To avoid missing important updates—such as referral questionnaires or interview scheduling links—please check your Personal Status Board regularly. For added convenience, you can also enable text (SMS) notifications. To do this, log in to your Personal Status Board and select "Update My Contact Information."

Referral Questions:

 This posting may require completion of additional Referral Questions (RQs), which must be completed by the questionnaire's expiration date. If requested, RQs can be accessed via an email sent to you after the job close date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section).

Prepare For An Interview:

 Interviews are limited to those whose experience and training are most aligned with the role. To prepare, review this helpful Interview Preparation Guide to make the best impression! Stay connected! Log in daily to your JobAps Personal Status Board to track your status and check email (including spam/junk folders) for updates and tasks. The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.

Note:

This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules. Candidates who are offered and accept a position with the State of Connecticut are bound by the State Code of Ethics for Public Officials and State employees, available at www.ct.gov/ethics. This employer may participate in E‑Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I‑9 information to confirm work authorization.

QUESTIONS?

WE'RE

HERE TO HELP

Due to high volume, we are unable to confirm receipt or provide status updates directly. For recruitment updates, please check your Personal Status Board and review our Frequently Asked Questions. If you have additional questions about the recruitment process, reach out to Jensine Tran at Jensine.

Tran@ct.gov. Join the State of Connecticut and take your next career step with confidence!

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS

(NATURE OF WORK) In a Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services hospital, community behavioral health facility or program this class is accountable for leading Mental Health Assistants in the assessment, planning and implementation of paraprofessional nursing, clinical and/or rehabilitative interventions designed to support client short and/or long-term needs. In outpatient or community programs this class is accountable for independently performing the full range of paraprofessional functions in case management and crisis intervention services.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

Participates in assigned nursing, clinical and/or rehabilitative interventions to meet client short and long-term needs; Advocates for services or resources that meet client needs and preferences; Observes and records client behavior; Prepares incident and accident reports; Monitors client progress; Assists client with decision making and problem solving; Assists client in learning and utilizing daily living skills, budgeting, medication monitoring and/or community adaptation skills; Acts as a role model and instructs staff in crisis intervention techniques; Develops goal-directed relationships with individuals and/or groups; Identifies and facilitates use of appropriate support networks; Investigates alternative placement for client; Participates in education and training activities to further skill development; Participates in admission and discharge planning activities; Protects civil rights of client; Maintains a safe and healthy environment; May coordinate and direct programs and activities for a group of clients; Performs related duties as required. Community and/or

Outpatient Programs:

Functions as a team member of a case management or crisis intervention team; Participates in assessment, crisis intervention and monitoring of clients within facility or community at large (i.e., emergency rooms, jails, homeless shelters, outpatient programs, etc.); Provides individual, group and/or family supportive treatment under appropriate supervision; Identifies and reinforces client skills, strengths, resources and preferences; Applies accepted standards of nursing care to clients; Participates in community outreach programs that include crisis intervention and family contact in home settings; Identifies and accesses a wide range of community resources; Participates as a liaison to community agencies; Makes arrangements for outpatient appointments; Consults with care givers in other facilities regarding crisis intervention techniques; Manages client behaviors through verbal communication when necessary; May problem solve with clients in community.

Inpatient Ward or Unit:

Leads, trains and participates in training and development of Mental Health Assistants and other assigned employees; Participates in developing and maintaining a therapeutic milieu; Coordinates maintenance of a safe and healthy living environment; Participates in meeting psychological and physical needs of client; Identifies client strengths and assists in development of treatment plans; Orients new client to ward or unit; Participates in team nursing activities and development of nursing care and rehabilitation programs; May supervise self-administration of oral medications; May assist with data collection.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

Considerable knowledge of psychiatric rehabilitation and/or case management principles, practices and procedures; acceptable standards of nursing care; Knowledge of dynamics of human behavior; hygiene and sanitation; safety and fire procedures and security measures; community resources and programs; Considerable interpersonal skills; oral and written communication skills; counseling skills; Observation skills; Ability to lead staff; supervise client activity; interpret and implement agency and/or facility policies and procedures; apply principles of therapeutic counseling under supervision; develop curricula and instruct groups; organize; understand, interpret and carry out oral and written instructions.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Three (3) years of experience at the level of a Mental Health Assistant 1.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

College training in mental health technology, a behavioral science, social work, rehabilitation therapy or its equivalent may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equalling one-half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of two (2) years. Completion of a mental health trainee certificate program may be substituted for one-half (1/2) year of the General Experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Experience with American Sign Language Experience providing assistance with activities of daily living Experience observing and recording client/patient behavior Experience providing trauma-informed services and coordinating care for clients in crisis

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Incumbents in this class may be required to be bilingual or fluent in American Sign Language. Incumbents in this class may be required to possess and retain a valid Motor Vehicle Operator's license. Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Incumbents in this class may be required to lift and restrain clients and may have significant exposure to infectious and/or communicable diseases, strongly disagreeable conditions and risk of injury. CONCLUSION