BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONSULTANT OPS - 60932169

State of Florida•Jacksonville Beach, FL

7d•$29 - $34•Onsite

About The Position

The Behavioral Health Consultant OPS is a professional position within the Florida Department of Children and Families’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Program, Northeast Regional Office. The position provides clinical expertise to help identify parents in the child welfare system who have behavioral health conditions, with particular focus on opioid use and other substance use disorders. The consultant collaborates with Child Protective Investigators (CPIs), dependency case managers, community providers, and other partners to improve staff knowledge, family engagement, referrals, and timely access to treatment and recovery supports. The role is based in the regional office and is not a telework position. It includes office consultations and field support during investigations, demonstrations of family engagement techniques, tracking referrals and treatment entry, and participation in relevant legal and multidisciplinary meetings. The consultant also supports investigators in understanding parental functioning, protective capacities, danger threats, safety management, and behavioral health crises. During emergency events, the employee may be required to work irregular or extended hours, including weekends and holidays, work at locations other than the official headquarters, and perform additional duties. The position may deploy to disaster-affected communities within 24–48 hours to support disaster response, assess 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 Florida Class E Driver License.
Knowledge of data collection and analysis and basic management principles and practices.
Ability to collect, evaluate, and analyze data; develop recommendations; solve problems; document workflows; and support improvements to operational and management practices.
Ability to organize data for reports and other written materials and conduct fact-finding research.
Ability to use problem-solving techniques and apply relevant rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
Ability to plan, organize, and coordinate work assignments and manage multiple priorities.
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 identify barriers to treatment access and navigate behavioral health systems to support families.
Ability to collaborate with internal and external partners in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

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 child welfare and behavioral health systems and knowledge of the effects of behavioral health conditions on 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, especially opioid use and other substance use disorders.
Build relationships with Child Protective Investigators (CPIs) and educate CPIs and dependency case managers about behavioral health disorders, opioid use, symptoms, effects on caregiver behavior, and engagement and treatment practices.
Educate staff about 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 knowledge of community mental health and substance use providers.
Work with community providers and the ME to develop contacts, facilitate referrals, and help investigative staff engage clients in recommended services and access treatment promptly.
Track referrals and treatment entry for parents with behavioral health disorders, particularly substance use 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 as required to meet program and departmental goals and objectives.
In emergencies, deploy to disaster-affected communities within 24–48 hours, assess community impacts and needs, help develop and implement response strategies and disaster plans, coordinate psychological and mental health resources, and provide critical information to regional leadership.