Behavioral Health Specialist (Closes 11/30/26)
About The Position
The Behavioral Health Specialist supports Allegheny County Department of Human Services’ Children, Youth and Families division in partnership with the Office of Behavioral Health. The role provides consultation, case review, and specialized behavioral health guidance to inform case planning and support children and families. The specialist works with CYF staff, OBH leadership, contracted providers, and community partners to promote healthy behaviors, improve access to services, and build family resiliency. Work includes office-based and field-based activities such as team meetings, case reviews, and home visits when needed. The position is employed by partner agency Community Family Advocates and works onsite at Allegheny County DHS, at the CYF Permanency office in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in a hybrid arrangement. The role also includes psychoeducation and training for families, caregivers, foster and kinship providers, and CYF staff. The specialist is expected to respond flexibly to urgent or emerging case needs and perform responsibilities in a culturally competent and sensitive manner.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Psychology, or a related Human Services field.
- At least 3 years of experience in a CASSP environment (Child and Adolescent Service System Program).
- Extensive knowledge of the child and adult behavioral health continuum within Allegheny County.
- Act 33, Act 34, and FBI clearances.
- Strong understanding of child and adolescent psychosocial development.
- Advanced knowledge of child- and family-centered mental health needs and family systems.
- Understanding of trauma and its effects on behavior and development.
- Familiarity with evidence-based and evidence-informed child and adolescent treatment practices.
- Working knowledge of substance use and co-occurring disorders.
- Ability to navigate behavioral health systems and community resources.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams.
- Commitment to DHS values and a family-centered service philosophy.
- Openness to continuous learning and professional development.
- Strong understanding of practice standards and systems-level approaches.
Nice To Haves
- Master’s degree in Social Work, Psychology, or a related Human Services field.
Responsibilities
- Serve as a subject-matter expert on complex CYF cases, providing a multi-system behavioral health perspective.
- Consult with staff about referrals, service options, and treatment recommendations.
- Review and interpret mental health records, evaluations, and treatment plans to support caseworkers.
- Identify and help resolve service barriers in coordination with OBH and other DHS program offices.
- Participate in conferencing, teaming, ISP meetings, and case reviews.
- Provide case-specific guidance with support from medical units, clinical managers, and OBH leadership.
- Recommend community-based resources and behavioral health services.
- Advocate for child and family needs within service systems.
- Provide provider-level details for recommended levels of care and support warm handoffs.
- Coordinate cases among CYF, behavioral health providers, and Community Care.
- Conduct psychoeducational groups for families, caregivers, and foster or kinship providers.
- Train CYF staff on child development, mental health symptoms, diagnoses, and the service continuum.
- Conduct home visits alongside caseworkers to support behavioral health engagement and education.
- Respond flexibly to urgent or emerging case needs.
- Perform responsibilities in a culturally competent and sensitive manner.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
