Mental Health Therapy Technician - Oregon State Hospital Salem Campus

Initial Posting Date:

07/30/2026

Application Deadline:

08/05/2026

Agency:

Oregon Health Authority

Salary Range:

4,113 - 5,183

Position Type:

Employee

Position Title:

Mental Health Therapy Technician - Oregon State Hospital Salem Campus

Job Description:

Opportunity Awaits, Apply Today! – Mental Health Therapy Technician (MHTT)

As a Mental Health Therapy Technician (MHTT), you will play a vital role in caring for individuals with behavioral health conditions. Working under the clinical supervision of a Registered Nurse (RN) and in accordance with the Oregon Nurse Practice Act, you will provide direct patient care, deliver behavioral interventions, and help maintain a safe, therapeutic environment.

Core Responsibilities

• Direct Patient Care: Assist with activities of daily living, treatment activities, and safe patient transportation. This may include taking vital signs, patient transfers, bathing and grooming, and reporting patient observations.

• Therapeutic Interventions: Deliver targeted behavioral and medical interventions, de-escalation of patients in behavioral health emergencies and actively foster a positive, healing atmosphere on the unit. 

• Clinical Compliance: Ensure all support care is performed safely and strictly adheres to Oregon State Board of Nursing (OSBN) standards.

Working Conditions - This position provides care for patients who may present a danger to themselves or others. Work may involve exposure to infectious disease, noise, bodily fluids, hazardous medications, behavioral interventions, and manual or mechanical restraints. Employees must be able to frequently move up to 20 pounds, occasionally move up to 60 pounds vertically, and perform prolonged standing, bending, twisting, and squatting. Schedules may change with little notice and may include overtime or double shifts. Occasional driving or accompanying patients in vehicles may also be required.

For a full review of the position description, please click here.

If this opportunity aligns with your strengths, background, and commitment to fostering inclusivity, we encourage you to apply! At the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), we value diversity and encourage applicants from all backgrounds and experiences to help us build a stronger, more equitable future for all.

What We Are Looking For

Minimum Qualifications: These qualifications must be reflected in your application for consideration.

• Eighteen months of customer service experience in crisis management, safety or mental health settings, assisting individuals in behavioral or mental health crises; OR

• A two-year associate’s degree in a related field; OR

• Any combination of education and experience that commensurate with the above requirements

Note: A Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certificate may take the place of six months of experience

Desired Attributes: The following are desired attributes that we have identified as key to success for this role at OHA. These are the attributes we are looking for in our top candidate. If you have any of these, please let us know in your application.

Clinical & Psychiatric Experience 

• Mental Health Background: Experience working in the mental health field, specifically with adult or geriatric populations in a psychiatric hospital setting. 

• Patient Mobility & Care: Experience performing medical interventions under nursing supervision, including safely lifting, turning, and ambulating patients using proper body mechanics. 

Crisis & Behavior Management 

• Crisis Response: Experience managing or participating in responses to behavioral crises, escalating agitation, aggression, and psychiatric emergencies. 

• Observation & Intervention: Ability to observe and document patient behaviors (including potential for violence) and safely intervene using redirection or other behavioral strategies. 

Patient Engagement 

• Therapeutic Rapport: Experience interacting with patients to build trust and facilitate the treatment process. 

• Activity Facilitation: Participation in client activities (e.g., games, outings, late-night activities) to promote and model healthy coping skills. 

Workplace Culture & Technology 

• Commitment to Diversity: Demonstrated ability to create and maintain a respectful, inclusive work environment for all team members and patients. 

• Technical Adaptability: Proficiency with basic computer applications and ability to adopt new technologies and tools to enhance the quality of care

Additional Requirements of the MHTT position:

• Must be able to work more than 8 hours in a day and/or 40 hours in a week as required.

• May require working on-call and/or rotating schedules.

• If you are offered employment, the offer will be contingent upon the outcome of an abuse check, criminal records check and driving records check, and the information shall be shared with the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), Office of Human Resources (OHR). Any criminal or founded abuse history will be reviewed and could result in the withdrawal of the offer or termination of employment.

• Candidates who are offered employment at the Oregon State Hospital must satisfactorily pass a pre-employment drug test.

Application Guidance

Your candidate profile and application are your opportunity to showcase your skills and interest in this role. Submissions will be reviewed for clarity, consistency, and communication skills, and for alignment with the guidance provided in the below:

Submission Requirements:

• At the time of application, ensure the work history in your applicant profile is up to date and/or attach your current resume that clearly outlines your education and work experience relevant to this position.

• Supplemental Questions – Answer all supplemental questions completely and accurately.

• Final Check! – Before submitting, confirm that all required materials are included, and your Workday Job History is current. The information in your application will be used to complete an Equal Pay Analysis to determine salary placement upon hire. Visit the Equal Pay Analysis Webpage for more information.

How to Apply:

• External Candidates:  Visit the State of Oregon job opportunities webpage or click the “Apply” tab above to submit your application, following all submission requirements.

• Internal Candidates: Current State of Oregon employees must apply through their employee Workday login, following all submission requirements.

After You Apply:

• Complete any pending tasks in Workday under “My Applications” prior to the application deadline.

• Check your email (including junk folder) and Workday inbox regularly for updates on your application.

Reminders:

• Eligible veterans and Oregon National Guard servicemembers (current and former) who meet the qualifications of the position will be awarded candidate preference. To protect your information and ensure correct processing, please follow the instructions for submitting your Veterans’ Preference documentation.

• Please download and save a copy of this job announcement and linked position description, as it is not available after the application deadline.

About the Team & Benefits of Joining

We offer a workplace that balances productivity with enjoyment; promotes an atmosphere of mutual respect, dedication, and enthusiasm. You will collaborate with a team of bright individuals to work with and learn from.  If you're driven by the passion to do something meaningful that changes lives, the Oregon Health Authority is the place for you.

We also offer a competitive benefits package including:

• Excellent, low-cost medical, vision, and dental coverage for you and your family.

• Optional benefits like life insurance, disability coverage, deferred compensation, and FSA options for health and childcare.

• Generous paid time off: 11 holidays, 3 personal days, monthly sick leave, and vacation accrual starting at 8 hours/month.

• Potential eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

• Retirement security through Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)/Oregon Public Service Retirement Plan (OPSRP).

• Training and development opportunities to grow your career with the State of Oregon.

Additional Details

• This announcement is for permanent, full-time, Mental Health Therapy Technician (MHTT) positions located in Salem, Oregon (2600 Center St NE) and may be used to establish a list of qualified candidates to fill future vacancies as they occur. These positions are represented by Service Employees International Union (SEIU). The Oregon State Hospital is a 24/7 facility that is open on holidays.

• This position is 100% onsite. “Review Section 4: Working Conditions” in the position description (linked above) for more information.

• The salary listed is the non-PERS qualifying range. If the successful candidate qualifies for PERS, the salary range will increase by 6.95%. For more information, see the Classification and Compensation page.

• The State of Oregon does not request or require your age, date of birth, attendance or graduation dates from an education institution during the application process.

• This position does not provide visa sponsorship. Within three days of hire, you will be required to complete I-9 documentation and confirm authorization to work in the United States. OHA will use E-Verify to verify work authorization. If your employment eligibility depends on sponsorship now or in the future, you will not meet the requirements for this position.

• We evaluate candidates based on their own skills and experience. Unless explicitly approved, outside resources – including Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools – are not permitted during assessments or interviews. Use of unauthorized resources will disqualify a candidate from further consideration.

Contact Information
Recruiter: Jenny Templin
Email: [email protected]
Phone (text friendly): 971-372-8147

Accommodation Requests (ADA): OHA provides reasonable accommodations under the ADA, which may include alternative formats of materials or language support. If you need an accommodation to apply for this position or participate in the selection process, please contact the recruiter listed above.

Helpful Links & Resources

How to Set Job Alerts | Workday Applicant FAQ | Oregon Health Authority | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Veterans Resources | What You Need to Know to Get the Job

The Oregon Health Authority is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer, committed to fair employment practices and pay equity for all employees. We do not discriminate based on protected class – including race, sex, veteran status, disability, age, color, religion, national origin, marital status, or sexual orientation – and does not screen applicants based on current or past compensation. Salary is determined through a fair review of your education, experience, and training as it relates to the position.

OHA is an anti-racist organization working to eliminate health inequities and dismantle structural barriers that impact underserved communities. Join us in advancing our Strategic Plan and building a more equitable Oregon.