Behavioral Health Consultant (BHC)/Infant Mental Health (IMH) Therapist

STARFISH FAMILY SERVICES INC•Livonia, MI

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Behavioral Health Consultant (BHC)/Infant Mental Health Therapist is an integrated member of the OB/GYN health care team, providing behavioral health and Infant Mental Health expertise to patients, families, and medical providers throughout the perinatal period. The position promotes maternal, infant, and family wellness through early identification and intervention for behavioral health concerns, including perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs); brief evidence-informed interventions; support for healthy parent-infant attachment and bonding; care coordination and referral; and consultation with medical providers. Working collaboratively within a medical setting, the therapist strengthens the integration of behavioral and physical health care, reduces barriers to behavioral health services, promotes healthy early relationships, and supports improved outcomes for parents, infants, and families. Services may include screening, assessment, brief interventions, psychoeducation, crisis response, referrals, follow-up, and individual, parent-infant, family, or group services when clinically appropriate. The role also includes documentation, interdisciplinary collaboration, outreach and education, supervision, and ongoing professional development.

Requirements

Master’s degree from an accredited institution in social work, counseling, psychology, marriage and family therapy, or another related behavioral health or human services field.
Current registration, licensure, or eligibility for appropriate professional licensure in Michigan as a social worker, professional counselor, psychologist, marriage and family therapist, or other qualified behavioral health professional, as applicable.
Infant Mental Health endorsement, certification, or other agency-approved Infant Mental Health credential required upon hire or within the timeframe established by Starfish Family Services.
Knowledge of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders and other behavioral health concerns during pregnancy and the postpartum period.
Ability to administer and interpret standardized behavioral health and perinatal mental health screening tools and respond appropriately within professional scope and agency protocols.
Knowledge of Infant Mental Health principles, infant and early childhood development, attachment, bonding, early relational health, and parent-infant relationships.
Ability to assess and support parent-infant attachment and bonding, responsive caregiving, parental reflective capacity, and the social-emotional needs of infants and families.
Knowledge of adult behavioral health concerns, including depression, anxiety, trauma-related symptoms, and substance use, and their potential effects on pregnancy, parenting, relationships, and family functioning.
Knowledge of trauma, toxic stress, adverse childhood experiences, interpersonal violence, social determinants of health, and their potential effects on families.
Competence in behavioral health and psychosocial assessment, identifying strengths and needs, evaluating risk and protective factors, and developing intervention and referral plans.
Skill in providing brief behavioral health interventions appropriate to an integrated medical setting, including psychoeducation, anticipatory guidance, motivational support, behavioral strategies, and emotional regulation interventions.
Ability to identify when additional assessment, specialty treatment, crisis intervention, or a higher level of care is needed and facilitate appropriate referrals.
Knowledge of crisis assessment and intervention and appropriate responses to patient safety concerns.
Ability to consult with medical providers and interdisciplinary health care team members and communicate behavioral health information clearly and concisely to support coordinated care.
Ability to work collaboratively with physicians, nurses, medical assistants, behavioral health professionals, community providers, and other care team members.
Knowledge of community mental health, Infant Mental Health, social service, parenting, substance use, domestic violence, basic-needs, and other family-support resources.
Ability to connect patients and families with appropriate resources, follow up on linkage, and identify and address barriers to services.
Ability to provide culturally responsive, trauma-responsive, relationship-based, family-centered, respectful care to diverse individuals and families.
Ability to provide individual, parent-infant, family, and group interventions when clinically appropriate and within program scope.
Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced medical environment and provide timely consultation and intervention during or in coordination with medical visits.
Ability to make sound clinical decisions independently and recognize when consultation, supervision, or additional clinical support is indicated.
Strong verbal and written communication skills with patients, families, providers, community partners, supervisors, and colleagues.
Ability to maintain timely, accurate, clinically appropriate documentation in accordance with agency, payer, regulatory, and integrated-care requirements.
Knowledge of confidentiality, informed consent, professional ethics, and applicable requirements for sharing and coordinating behavioral health information in an integrated health care setting.
Ability to meet established productivity, documentation, training, and program expectations.
Commitment to ongoing professional development in areas relevant to the position.
Valid driver’s license and/or reliable transportation.
Accountability for assignments and high standards of accuracy, attention to detail, and timely completion of work; pleasant, empathetic, sensitive, professional demeanor; positive attitude and willingness to engage in professional development.

Nice To Haves

Clinical experience providing behavioral health, Infant Mental Health, perinatal mental health, family-centered, or related services.
Experience working with pregnant and postpartum individuals, parents, infants, and families.
Experience working in integrated health care, primary care, OB/GYN, pediatric, or other interdisciplinary medical settings.
Experience providing brief, focused, evidence-informed behavioral health interventions.
Experience conducting behavioral health screening, assessment, treatment planning, care coordination, and referral services.

Responsibilities

Screen for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) and other behavioral health concerns using standardized tools and clinical assessment, as appropriate.
Conduct behavioral health and psychosocial assessments to identify strengths, needs, risk and protective factors, and barriers to care.
Consult with patients and medical providers about screening and assessment results, behavioral health concerns, and recommended next steps.
Provide brief, evidence-informed behavioral health interventions suited to an integrated medical setting.
Provide psychoeducation, anticipatory guidance, and support related to perinatal mental health, stress, trauma, emotional regulation, parenting, infant development, and family well-being.
Support parent-infant attachment and bonding, responsive caregiving, parental reflective capacity, understanding of infant cues, and healthy early relational development.
Identify parent-infant relationship concerns and provide Infant Mental Health-informed interventions, consultation, or referrals as appropriate.
Address concerns related to pregnancy, postpartum adjustment, parenting, family relationships, behavioral health, and psychosocial factors affecting health and well-being.
Consult and collaborate with OB/GYN physicians, nurses, medical assistants, and other health care team members about behavioral health and family needs, treatment planning, safety, and appropriate levels of care.
Participate in interdisciplinary care planning and coordinate communication among behavioral health, medical, Infant Mental Health, and community-based providers.
Connect patients and families with mental health and community resources, coordinate referrals, follow up on successful linkage, and address barriers to engagement.
Assess and respond to behavioral health and safety concerns, including those requiring crisis intervention or referral to a higher level of care, in accordance with policies and protocols.
Promote trauma-responsive care by recognizing the effects of trauma, toxic stress, adverse childhood experiences, interpersonal violence, and other psychosocial stressors.
Provide outpatient Infant Mental Health and behavioral health services, including parent-infant, individual, family, and group interventions, when clinically appropriate and within program scope.
Facilitate groups, educational activities, and other interventions supporting perinatal mental health, parenting, infant development, and family wellness as needed.
Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with community providers and referral partners.
Participate in outreach, education, and training for medical providers, community partners, and other professionals on perinatal behavioral health and Infant Mental Health.
Maintain timely, accurate, clinically appropriate documentation of screenings, assessments, interventions, referrals, follow-up, billing, and other required records.
Participate in individual, clinical, reflective, and/or group supervision as required.
Participate in ongoing professional development relevant to integrated behavioral health, perinatal mental health, Infant Mental Health, trauma-responsive care, and brief intervention.
Maintain professional and ethical standards and comply with agency requirements for confidentiality, documentation, productivity, training, clinical practice, and integrated care.
Perform other related duties as assigned by a supervisor or organizational leadership.