BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONSULTANT OPS - 60933457

State of Florida•Alachua, FL

24d•Onsite

About The Position

The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) is the state of Florida’s social services agency, overseeing services for child safety, fostering, adoption, domestic violence, adult protective services, refugees, homelessness, mental health, substance abuse, childcare providers, human trafficking, and public assistance. Its mission is to partner with local communities to protect the vulnerable, promote strong and economically self-sufficient families, and advance personal and family recovery and resiliency. Within DCF, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health (SAMH) Program office serves as the single state authority for substance abuse and mental health services, responsible for the planning, evaluation, and implementation of a comprehensive statewide system of care. The Northeast Regional Office staff within SAMH ensure timely access to prevention, treatment, and recovery support services, collaborating with local partners to identify service gaps, enhance resources, and improve outcomes. This highly responsible and professional Behavioral Health Consultant (BHC) OPS position requires a collaborative team player with independent judgment, a proactive approach, and exceptional attention to detail, thriving in a fast-paced environment.

Requirements

Engage cooperatively and professionally with both internal and external stakeholders.
Manage multiple high-priority projects simultaneously with agility and precision.
Demonstrate flexibility and the ability to succeed both independently and with minimal direction.
Understand and align with the vision of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health (SAMH) Program, executing projects, assignments, and policy updates accurately and on time in a fast-paced environment.
Collaborate effectively within a team while also excelling when working independently.
Analyze challenges and propose thoughtful, practical solutions to complex problems.
Conduct thorough research to identify and recommend the most strategic and effective course of action.
Knowledge of the methods of data collection and analysis.
Knowledge of basic management principles and practices.
Ability to collect, evaluate and analyze data to develop alternative recommendations, solve problems, document workflow and other activities relating to the improvement of operational and management practices.
Ability to organize data into logical format for presentation in reports, documents and other written materials.
Ability to conduct fact-finding research.
Ability to utilize problem-solving techniques.
Ability to understand and apply applicable rules, regulations, policies and procedures relating to operational and management analysis activities.
Ability to plan, organize and coordinate work assignments.
Ability to communicate effectively.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
Knowledge of the impact of substance use disorders and mental health conditions on parenting ability and child safety.
Knowledge of the child welfare system, with demonstrated expertise in motivational interviewing and trauma-informed care approaches.
Knowledge and experience in the identification and care of substance-exposed newborns.
Ability to respond effectively to emergency events, demonstrating sound clinical judgment under pressure.
Ability to evaluate and identify barriers to treatment access and navigate complex behavioral health systems to support families effectively.
Ability to plan, prioritize, and manage multiple assignments in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
Ability to effectively communicate verbally, demonstrate strong interpersonal skills, and establish and maintain collaborative working relationships with internal and external partners.
A master’s degree in a health or human services-related field.
Three years of experience treating substance use disorders.
Valid Class E Driver License.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Consult and collaborate with Child Protective Investigators (CPIs) and dependency case managers to help frontline staff identify behavioral health disorders, particularly substance use disorders, enhance family engagement, and improve access to appropriate treatment, recovery support, and community resources.
Actively build relationships with investigative staff within co-located offices, providing regular education on behavioral health indicators, the effects of behavioral health conditions on parenting behavior, and engagement strategies.
Educate and train investigative staff and case managers on the use and benefits of Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT).
Provide both in-field and office-based consultation during the pre- and post-commencement phases of child protection investigations.
Participate in joint visits with CPIs, modeling effective family engagement techniques, and offering guidance on best practices for working with families affected by behavioral health issues, particularly opioid misuse.
Assist CPIs in understanding how a parent’s behavioral health condition may impact their ability to safely and effectively care for their child, while identifying and recommending appropriate treatment and referral resources within the community.
Partner with behavioral health providers and the Managing Entity (ME) to maintain current knowledge of referral processes and treatment options, helping CPIs connect families to appropriate levels of care.
Track and document all cases where the BHC provides support to child welfare staff, including staffings, joint visits, consultations, brief assessments, and any additional tracking as directed by the department, especially those impacted by substance use disorders.
Participate in legal proceedings, multidisciplinary meetings, and family navigation staffing to support case progression and improve outcomes for children and families.
Offer subject-matter expertise in the identification and care of substance-exposed newborns, including providing consultation on treatment options, supporting care coordination for mothers and infants, and ensuring access to early intervention and family stabilization services.
Perform duties beyond those outlined in this description to meet emergent organizational or regional needs.
Work extended or irregular hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays, and potentially operating from outside assigned duty location.
Travel throughout the state, which may include overnight stays.
Assist with disaster recovery efforts and participate in Critical Incident Rapid Response Team (CIRRT) case investigations as needed throughout the state, with an emphasis on expertise in addressing opioid use disorders.
Other duties as assigned.
In response to emergency events, be required to work irregular hours, more than 8 hours per day, extended periods (including weekends and holidays), at locations other than their official headquarters, and perform duties in addition to those outlined in the position description.
Deploy to communities affected by natural disasters within 24-48 hours of impact to represent the organization to promote and implement post-disaster services.
Assess the impact, needs, and assist with the development of a response strategy and goals for the impacted community and implement disaster response plans.
Coordinate psychological and mental health resources and services for individuals, first responders, and communities impacted by disasters.
Provide critical information to the Regional Manager and Director of Regional Operations and Initiatives.