Military Behavioral Health Specialist

332098 Cumberland River Behavioral Health•Pittsburg, KY

13h

About The Position

The Military Behavioral Health Specialist provides community outreach throughout an eight-county region to connect service members, Veterans, and their families (SMVF) with services, and builds relationships with Veteran groups and community partners. The role provides peer support, mentoring, advocacy, and recovery-oriented assistance, collaborating with a multidisciplinary team to respect clients’ experiences, rights, choices, and self-determination. It also helps the team recognize and address stigma and supports client involvement in peer-led programs and advocacy organizations. The position provides practical, individualized support with employment and daily living, including housing, household tasks, hygiene, nutrition, finances, transportation, and access to medical and dental care. It also supports social connection and leisure activities, including activities during evenings, weekends, and holidays. Local, regional, and state travel is regularly required. The schedule is 37.5 hours per week; other work times may be required or adjusted by a supervisor.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Form DD 214 showing Honorable or General Under Honorable Conditions status.
Meet the requirements of 201 KRS 309.0831 and/or 908 KAR 2:220 to provide Peer Support Services.
Submit to and pass a criminal background check and drug screening test.
Possess a valid Kentucky driver's license and maintain a safe driving record if required for job performance; an active in-force driver's license is required.
Strong oral and written communication skills.
Ability to exercise good judgment, tact, diplomacy, and compassion when problem solving, handling conflict, or responding to a crisis.
Ability to work well with people of all races, backgrounds, and needs.
Ability to perform physical activities including reaching, pushing, pulling, stooping, standing, walking, and lifting up to 20 pounds.
Ability to perform duties that may involve routine or reasonably anticipated exposure to blood or other infectious materials.

Responsibilities

Conduct community outreach to connect the military population with services throughout the eight-county region and reach 5% of the Veteran population annually.
Identify training needs of Cumberland River staff to improve services for the SMVF population.
Identify Veteran groups in the region, build relationships with them, and provide outreach to identified community partners.
Provide SMVF peer support services as needed, when applicable, and attend DBHDID trainings related to the behavioral health needs of the SMVF population.
Provide peer support, mentoring, encouragement, and guidance to help clients participate actively in their recovery and develop hope and empowerment.
Help non-clinical team members understand clients’ individual experiences and perspectives.
Collaborate with the team to respect clients’ viewpoints, experiences, preferences, rights, and self-determination in treatment planning; support understanding of grievance and complaint procedures.
Help the team identify and address stigma and discrimination against people with substance use disorders.
Promote participation in consumer self-help programs and advocacy organizations, and act as liaison to consumer-run programs such as self-help groups, veterans centers, and drop-in centers.
Provide mentoring, problem solving, encouragement, and support on and off the job site, including work-related assistance such as clothing, grooming supplies, wake-up calls, and transportation.
Assess and support activities of daily living through problem solving, side-by-side assistance, skill teaching, prompts, encouragement, and environmental adaptations.
Help clients find and maintain safe, affordable housing, including apartment hunting, roommate searches, landlord negotiations, cleaning, furnishings, and utility setup.
Support clients with household activities, personal hygiene, grooming, nutrition education, meal planning, grocery shopping, and food preparation.
Help clients obtain adequate financial support, pursue employment and entitlements, develop money-management skills, and access financial services.
Help clients access reliable transportation, including assistance with driving credentials, vehicle needs, insurance, cabs, public transit, or rides.
Support clients in finding and effectively using primary care physicians, dentists, and other medical specialists.
Coach and encourage clients in socializing and participating in community and leisure activities; organize and lead individual or group social and recreational activities.
Provide practical assistance, advocacy, coordination, problem solving, and supervision to help clients obtain daily necessities and access health care, legal and advocacy services, benefits, housing subsidies, money-management services, and transportation.
Work effectively with team members, as part of a multidisciplinary team and independently when needed.
Complete regular local, regional, and state travel and maintain an active driver's license.
Attend required infection-control training and new-staff training on handling threats, violence, and potentially dangerous situations.
Meet the required performance evaluation standard of 3 or above.