Mental Health Policy Fellow

Description

Healthy Minds Policy Initiative, LLC is a nonpartisan team of policy and mental health experts who work to end untreated mental illness and addiction in Oklahoma through large-scale policy and practice transformation. The organization was founded by The Anne and Henry Zarrow Foundation in 2019. 

Since its inception, Healthy Minds has published dozens of pieces of original research and analysis, helped secure tens of millions of dollars in competitive funding for Oklahoma’s behavioral health care system, and initiated more than a dozen community-based partnerships committed to ending untreated mental illness and substance use. Healthy Minds provides data, consultation, and education on best practices to Oklahoma legislators and other leaders committed to improving the mental health of all Oklahomans.

Job Purpose

Healthy Minds Policy Initiative’s fellows are at the forefront of advancing collaborative, data-driven solutions to transforming Oklahoma’s approach to mental health. Over the course of a two-year, full-time fellowship, fellows conduct extensive policy research, work with external partners and explore the next generation of solutions that could be implemented by Healthy Minds and its partners. The fellowship experience is diverse and professionally enriching, exposing fellows to the most pressing issues facing behavioral health and offering training and support for fellows’ own personal and career goals. However, each fellow also retains a special focus on finding solutions in a particular area of work.

Job Duties

• Research and analyze policy issues related to mental health prevention and treatment 
• Facilitate outcome-oriented working groups
• Compile relevant research findings in written reports
• Synthesize data and compelling talking points in meaningful, usable documents tailored to specific audiences
• Maintain positive relationships and regular meetings with community members
• Understand the status of the mental health landscape in Oklahoma, including gaps and opportunities at the policy and systems levels
• Develop and provide public education, presentations, and outreach regarding mental health issues as needed
• Informed by research and engagement with the community, identify and propose creative solutions for addressing gaps and opportunities in mental health services, including national best practices
• Other duties as assigned

Requirements

Requirements And Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree is required, graduate degree is preferred. Degrees in any field or discipline are welcomed, and training in a health or policy-related discipline is not required. The fellowship is not a clinical internship or supervised practice program of any sort, and fellows may not engage in any form of clinical service during their fellowship.

Desired Strengths and Abilities

• Effective communication — Comfortable working with diverse populations and knowledge of a wide subject matter; ability to present complex policy and public health issues in a way that is accessible to a variety of audiences with diverse backgrounds and experiences
• Strategic thinking and innovation — Ability to reason and solve problems in high pressure situations; recognize strategic opportunities for systems change; introduce new tactics or approaches that significantly improve or revise existing systems; ability to coordinate and prioritize work on multiple projects
• Self-motivation — Results oriented, takes action, committed to continuous learning and growth (personal and professional), able to take in and incorporate feedback into efforts at continuous improvement
• Collaboration — Understands the importance of inclusion and buy-in from partners and policymakers

Other Skills and Requirements

• Detail oriented and organized
• Proficient in Microsoft Office 
• Willingness to travel outside of Tulsa County, especially between Oklahoma City and Tulsa. Overnight trips are possible on rare occasions
• Regular and routine presence at established office in midtown Tulsa

Benefits And Compensation:

As part of our overall compensation package, we offer work/life flexibility, comprehensive health benefits, paid time off, and generous retirement contributions designed to support you and your family. 

Details:

• 100% employer paid medical, dental, and long-term disability for full-time employees only. Option to add vision and dependents
• 401K employee and employer contributions
• Paid time off to support you while you are out of the office
• Paid holidays so our employees can spend time with those they care about
• Employer paid AD&D life insurance, with employee option to add supplemental life insurance