BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONSULTANT OPS - 60934130

State of Florida•Alachua, FL

9d•$29 - $34•Onsite

About The Position

The Behavioral Health Consultant OPS serves within the Florida Department of Children and Families’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Program, Regional Operations. The role provides clinical expertise to help identify parents in the child welfare system who have behavioral health conditions, particularly opioid use and other substance use disorders. The consultant works with Child Protective Investigators (CPIs), dependency case managers, families, and community partners to strengthen frontline staff expertise, improve family engagement, and support timely access to treatment, recovery services, and other resources. The position is based in a regional office and is not a telework position. The consultant provides education and consultation on behavioral health conditions, opioid use, medication-assisted treatment, engagement practices, and how behavioral health issues can affect caregiver behavior. The role may include accompanying investigative staff in the field, demonstrating family engagement techniques, and supporting assessment of danger threats, adult functioning, parental protective capacities, and safety management services. The consultant maintains knowledge of community providers, facilitates referrals, tracks treatment access, helps address behavioral health crises, and participates in legal and multidisciplinary meetings. During emergency events, the incumbent may be required to work irregular or extended hours, including weekends and holidays, work outside the official headquarters, and perform additional duties. The position may deploy to disaster-affected communities within 24–48 hours to support post-disaster services, assess community needs, coordinate psychological and mental health resources, and provide information to regional leadership.

Requirements

Master’s degree in a health- or human services-related field.
Three years of experience treating substance use disorders.
Valid Class E driver license.
Knowledge of data collection and analysis methods and basic management principles and practices.
Ability to collect, evaluate, and analyze data; develop alternative recommendations; solve problems; and document workflow and operational or management activities.
Ability to organize data into logical formats for reports, documents, and other written materials.
Ability to conduct fact-finding research and use problem-solving techniques.
Ability to understand and apply applicable rules, regulations, policies, and procedures related to operational and management analysis.
Ability to plan, organize, and coordinate work assignments.
Ability to communicate effectively and establish and maintain effective working relationships.
Knowledge of how substance use disorders and mental health conditions affect parenting ability and child safety.
Knowledge of the child welfare system and demonstrated expertise in motivational interviewing and trauma-informed care approaches.
Knowledge and experience identifying and caring for substance-exposed newborns.
Ability to respond effectively to emergencies and demonstrate sound clinical judgment under pressure.
Ability to evaluate barriers to treatment access and navigate behavioral health systems to support families.
Ability to prioritize and manage multiple assignments in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
Ability to communicate verbally, demonstrate strong interpersonal skills, and collaborate with internal and external partners.
Ability to work independently, with minimal direction, and collaboratively across program office sections.
Application must be complete and include verifiable work history, education, volunteer experience, and responses to qualifying questions. Employment gaps of three months or more must be explained.

Nice To Haves

Florida license in psychology, social work, mental health counseling, or marriage and family therapy, or status as a registered intern.
Experience with the child welfare and behavioral health systems and knowledge of how behavioral health conditions affect parenting capacity.
Experience in substance abuse prevention, treatment, or recovery support services.
Experience coordinating community-based services for individuals or families.
Certification as a Master’s-Level Addiction Professional.
Experience with motivational interviewing.

Responsibilities

Provide clinical expertise to help identify parents with behavioral health conditions in the child welfare system, with a focus on opioid use and other substance misuse disorders.
Establish relationships with Child Protective Investigators (CPIs) in co-located office space and educate CPIs and dependency case managers about identifying behavioral health disorders, especially opioid use.
Help investigative staff and dependency case managers understand how behavioral health issues affect parent or caregiver behavior, and explain signs, symptoms, engagement practices, and treatment approaches for opioid disorders.
Educate staff about medication-assisted treatment (MAT).
Provide field assistance and office consultation during pre- or post-commencement when an open investigation involves a suspected or identified behavioral health need.
Demonstrate family engagement techniques while working in the field with investigative staff.
Consult with investigative staff to identify danger threats, adult functioning, parental protective capacities, and safety management services.
Maintain working knowledge of community mental health and substance use providers.
Collaborate with community providers and the ME to develop contacts, facilitate referrals, and support staff in engaging clients in recommended services and accessing treatment promptly.
Track referrals and treatment entry for parents with behavioral health disorders, particularly substance misuse disorders.
Support investigators in mitigating behavioral health issues and crises.
Participate in legal, multidisciplinary, and other meetings that support investigative staff and families.
Perform other duties required to meet program and departmental goals and objectives.
During emergencies, deploy to disaster-affected communities within 24–48 hours, assess impacts and needs, help develop and implement response strategies, coordinate psychological and mental health resources, and report critical information to regional leadership.