BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONSULTANT (CAPTA) OPS - 60933444

State of Florida•BRADENTON, FL

9d•$29 - $34•Onsite

About The Position

The Behavioral Health Consultant OPS serves within Regional Operations at the Florida Department of Children and Families’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Program office. The role provides clinical expertise and helps identify parents in the child welfare system with behavioral health conditions, with particular emphasis on opioid use and other substance misuse disorders. The consultant works with Child Protective Investigators (CPIs), dependency case managers, families, community providers, and other partners to improve identification and understanding of behavioral health conditions, family engagement, and timely access to treatment, recovery supports, and other resources. The position is based in the regional office and is not telework. The consultant may provide office consultation and field support during investigations, demonstrate family engagement techniques, advise on safety and parental protective capacities, track referrals and treatment entry, and participate in legal and multidisciplinary meetings. During emergencies, the incumbent may be deployed to disaster-affected communities within 24–48 hours and may work irregular or extended hours, weekends, and holidays, at locations other than the official headquarters. The role may include coordinating psychological and mental health resources and services and informing regional leadership about community needs and response efforts.

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 recommendations; solve problems; document workflows; and support improvement of operational and management practices.
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; prioritize and manage multiple assignments in a fast-paced environment.
Ability to communicate effectively, demonstrate strong interpersonal skills, and establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external partners.
Knowledge of how substance use disorders and mental health conditions affect 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 identifying and caring for substance-exposed newborns.
Ability to respond effectively to emergency events and demonstrate sound clinical judgment under pressure.
Ability to evaluate and identify barriers to treatment access and navigate complex behavioral health systems to support families.
Responses to qualifying questions must be verifiable based on the submitted application; the candidate profile must be complete, including work history, education, volunteer experience, supervisors’ names and phone numbers, and explanations for employment gaps of three months or more.

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

Establish relationships with Child Protective Investigators in co-located office space.
Educate CPIs and dependency case managers on identifying behavioral health disorders, especially opioid use disorders, and on the effects of these conditions on parent or caregiver behavior.
Explain signs and symptoms of opioid disorders and effective engagement and treatment practices, including the use of medication-assisted treatment (MAT).
Provide field assistance and office consultation during investigations involving suspected or identified behavioral health needs, and demonstrate family engagement techniques in the field.
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 service providers and the ME to develop contacts, facilitate referrals, and help investigative staff engage clients in recommended services and obtain timely treatment access.
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.
Deploy to disaster-affected communities within 24–48 hours of impact to represent the organization and promote and implement post-disaster services.
Assess community impact and needs, help develop response strategies and goals, and implement disaster response plans.
Coordinate psychological and mental health resources and services for individuals, first responders, and communities affected by disasters.
Provide critical information to the Regional Manager and Director of Regional Operations and Initiatives.
Perform other duties as required to meet program and departmental goals and objectives.