Youth Care Manager - Behavioral Health

Centene Corporation•Falfurrias, TX

4d•$27 - $49•Remote

About The Position

Develops, assesses, and coordinates holistic care management activities, with a primary focus on supporting children and adolescents with significant mental and behavioral health needs. The role evaluates member service needs; develops or contributes to care and service plans; and educates members, families, and caregivers about available services and benefits. The position focuses on complex, high-risk members and helps coordinate appropriate, accessible care and community resources to support quality, cost-effective outcomes. The position requires travel for in-person child and adolescent member engagement and assessments in the service area around Nueces County, Texas, including communities such as Corpus Christi, Bishop, Beeville, Alice, Kingsville, and Victoria. Mileage for travel is reimbursed. Candidates may work from home to coordinate behavioral healthcare services, with frequent home or other site visits as required. The standard schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM CST, with flexibility as needed to accommodate members’ school schedules. Applicants must hold an unrestricted behavioral health professional license that meets state contract requirements, such as LCSW, LMFT, LMHC, LPC, or RN with direct behavioral health experience. A master’s degree in mental health or social work, or graduation from an accredited school of nursing, and 2–4 years of related behavioral or mental health experience are required.

Requirements

Master’s degree in mental health or social work, or graduation from an accredited school of nursing.
2–4 years of related behavioral health or mental health experience.
Unrestricted behavioral health professional license meeting applicable state contract requirements, such as LPC, LCSW, LMFT, LMHC, or RN with direct behavioral health experience; required upon application submission.
Ability to travel for in-person member engagement and child and adolescent assessments, including frequent home or other site visits as required.
Strong clinical documentation, problem-solving, communication, attention to detail, organizational, and time-management skills.
Ability to adapt to changing business needs with openness, flexibility, and professionalism.
Proficient technology skills, including experience with Microsoft Office Suite and video conferencing applications.
Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.

Nice To Haves

Five or more years of behavioral health case management experience with child and adolescent members, preferably in inpatient psychiatric hospitals, community-based counseling programs, school or college settings, residential treatment centers, or local or state LIDDAs or MHAs.
Direct experience as a field-based case manager or social worker.
Experience collaborating with medical and behavioral health providers and managing community resources for Medicaid recipients.
Experience managing high-volume caseloads.
Experience with government and state-sponsored programs such as STAR Kids, CHIP, Medicaid, or MDCP.
Bilingual English/Spanish skills.

Responsibilities

Evaluate the needs of complex, high-risk members with mental or behavioral health needs and recommend plans of care.
Act as a liaison and advocate between members and their families, physicians, and facilities or agencies.
Support members with significant mental or behavioral health needs, including members with relevant psychiatric diagnoses, substance use disorders, self-injurious behavior, or psychiatric inpatient admissions.
Conduct frequent home or other site visits, once a month or more as required, to assess member needs and collaborate with resources.
Provide or facilitate education for long-term care members and their families or caregivers on preventive care, procedures, provider instructions, treatment options, referrals, medication regimens, and healthcare benefits.
Provide subject matter expertise and operational support for behavioral health activities, including crisis calls, mental health first aid, field safety and de-escalation, and medication monitoring.
Educate members about and coordinate medical, behavioral, and social community resources.
Coordinate service authorizations based on assessments and service plans, including services such as meals, employment, housing, foster care, transportation, and activities of daily living.
Make appropriate referrals, help identify providers, specialists, and community resources, and ensure identified services are accessible to members.
Maintain accurate documentation in the electronic care management system and support compliance with clinical, state, and federal guidelines.
Provide leadership with feedback on opportunities to improve care quality and service delivery cost-effectively.
Perform other duties as assigned and comply with all policies and standards.