Behavioral Health Care Manager, Child or Adolescent, LTSS

Centene Management Company•Austin, TX

About The Position

Develops, assesses, and coordinates holistic care management activities focused on youth with significant mental and behavioral health needs to support quality, cost-effective healthcare outcomes. Evaluates member service needs; develops or contributes to care plans and service plans; and educates members, families, and caregivers about available services and benefits. The role evaluates complex, high-risk members and recommends plans of care, while serving as a liaison and advocate among members and families, physicians, facilities, and agencies. It supports members with mental and behavioral health needs, including conditions such as major depression, bipolar disorders, schizophrenia, borderline personality disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance use disorder, self-injurious behavior, and psychiatric inpatient admissions. The position includes frequent home or other site visits, typically once a month or more, and local travel for member visits. Mileage is reimbursed. Candidates may work from home to coordinate behavioral healthcare services, with in-person engagement required for child and adolescent assessments. The position provides or facilitates education for long-term care members and their families or caregivers; coordinates medical, behavioral, and social community resources; and supports service authorizations based on assessments and care plans. It ensures appropriate referrals and access to services, maintains accurate documentation in the electronic care management system, and supports compliance with clinical, state, and federal guidelines. The role also provides behavioral health subject matter expertise and operational support for activities such as crisis calls, mental health first aid training, field safety and de-escalation, and medication monitoring. The standard schedule is Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM CST, with flexibility needed to accommodate members’ school schedules when necessary. The service delivery area is in Austin, Texas, including Central, South, Southeast, or Northwest Austin and the listed nearby ZIP codes.

Requirements

Master’s degree in Mental Health or Social Work, or graduation from an accredited school of nursing.
2–4 years of related behavioral health or mental health experience.
Unrestricted behavioral health professional license based on applicable state contract requirements, such as LCSW, LMFT, LMHC, or LPC; an RN with direct behavioral health experience may qualify.
Strong clinical documentation, problem-solving, communication, attention to detail, organizational, and time management skills.
Ability to adapt to changing business needs with openness, flexibility, and professionalism.
Proficient technology skills and direct experience with Microsoft Office Suite and video conferencing applications, including Outlook, Word, M365 Copilot, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Teams, and Zoom.
Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
Local travel for member visits is required.
Availability for the standard Monday–Friday 8:00 AM–5:00 PM CST schedule, with flexibility to accommodate child and adolescent members’ school schedules when needed.

Nice To Haves

5+ years of behavioral health case management experience with child and adolescent members, preferably in inpatient psychiatric hospitals, community-based counseling programs, school or college/university settings, residential treatment centers, or local or state LIDDAs or MHAs.
Direct experience as a field-based case manager or social worker.
Experience collaborating with medical and behavioral health providers and managing community resources for Medicaid recipients.
Experience managing high-volume caseloads.
Experience working with government and state-sponsored programs such as STAR Kids, CHIP, Medicaid, or MDCP.
Bilingual English/Spanish skills.

Responsibilities

Evaluate the needs of complex, high-risk members with mental and behavioral health needs and recommend plans of care.
Act as liaison and member advocate between members and families, physicians, facilities, and agencies.
Support members with mental and behavioral health needs, including serious mental illness, substance use disorders, self-injurious behavior, and psychiatric inpatient admissions.
Conduct frequent home and/or other site visits, once a month or more as required, to assess needs and collaborate with resources.
Provide or facilitate education for long-term care members and their families or caregivers on preventive care, procedures, provider instructions, treatment options, referrals, medication regimens, and healthcare benefits.
Provide subject matter expertise and operational support for behavioral health activities, including crisis calls, mental health first aid training, field safety and de-escalation practices, and medication monitoring.
Educate members about and coordinate medical, behavioral, and social community resources.
Coordinate service authorizations based on service assessments and plans, including services such as meals, employment, housing, foster care, transportation, and activities of daily living.
Make appropriate referrals and support identification of providers, specialists, and community resources; ensure identified services are accessible to members.
Maintain accurate documentation and support the integrity of care management activities in the electronic care management system.
Work to ensure compliance with clinical guidelines and current state and federal guidelines.
Provide leadership with feedback on opportunities to improve quality of care and service delivery for long-term care members in a cost-effective manner.
Perform other duties as assigned and comply with all policies and standards.
Travel locally for member visits and in-person child and adolescent assessments.