Mental Health Specialist & Program Manager

Job Title: Mental Health Specialist & Program Manager

Department: Mental Health and Wellness Services

Reports to: Clinical Director

FLSA Classification: Exempt/Full-Time (40 hrs/week)/Monday-Friday, Onsite

Updated: October 1, 2026

Job Summary

The Mental Health Specialist (MHS) supports Hanna Center’s Mental Health & Wellness Day Treatment Rehabilitation Program, a structured, trauma-responsive program designed to help youth and transitional-age participants reduce mental health symptoms, strengthen daily functioning, build practical coping and interpersonal skills, and remain successful in their homes, schools, and communities.

The MHS plans, facilitates, and documents rehabilitative group and individual interventions within their scope of practice and under the direction of a licensed mental health professional. Working as part of an interdisciplinary team, the MHS helps maintain a safe and welcoming therapeutic milieu, supports individualized rehabilitation goals, coordinates with participants, families, clinicians, schools, and community partners. This role requires availability during the program’s operating hours of 3:00–7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Essential Skills & Qualities

• Plan and facilitate structured, developmentally appropriate rehabilitation groups focused on coping, emotional regulation, communication, social skills, problem-solving, daily functioning, and community success.
• Lead program development, implementation, and compliance including but not limited to updating procedures, forms, and monitoring date and outcomes
• Provide individual skills coaching and behavioral support aligned with each participant’s assessed needs, problem list, and plan of care.
• Maintain a structured, trauma-responsive, culturally respectful, and emotionally and physically safe therapeutic milieu during the program.
• Follow all safety, mandated reporting, confidentiality, and emergency procedures.
• Complete timely and accurate individual, group, attendance, and service documentation in an electronic health record system in accordance with Hanna Center, Sonoma County Behavioral Health, and Medi-Cal requirements.
• Collaborate with clinicians, supervisors, participants, families, schools, County partners, and other providers to support coordinated care and progress toward rehabilitation goals.
• Participate with intake and orientation activities, case consultation, 30-day reviews, treatment and discharge planning, and step-up or step-down discussions within the scope of the role.
• Prepare group curricula, materials, and program spaces, track attendance and follow-up needs, and participate in supervision, team meetings, training, and quality-improvement activities.
• Perform other related duties consistent with the purpose and scope of the position.

Core Competencies

• Participant-centered and strengths-based engagement
• Group facilitation and rehabilitation skill-building
• Trauma-responsive practice
• Clear boundaries and ethical conduct
• Collaborative problem-solving
• Accurate and timely documentation
• Flexibility in a dynamic program environment
• Knowledge of crisis intervention and risk management

Experience & Qualifications

• Experience working with youth, transitional-age youth, families, or individuals with significant behavioral health needs, specifically in a group setting
• Ability to facilitate structured groups and engage participants with differing needs, backgrounds, and levels of readiness.
• Knowledge of psychosocial rehabilitation, trauma-informed care, recovery and resiliency principles, skill development, behavioral support, and community-based mental health services.
• Ability to recognize and respond appropriately to safety concerns, behavioral escalation, and changes in mental status.
• Strong verbal, written, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to complete timely electronic documentation and use an electronic health record.
• Ability to work collaboratively within an interdisciplinary team and receive clinical direction and supervision.
• Consistent availability Monday through Friday during the program window.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in day treatment, intensive outpatient, school-based, residential, community mental health, or other structured behavioral health programming.
• Experience delivering mental health rehabilitation, skills training, targeted case management, or Medi-Cal specialty mental health services.
• Training in motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral approaches, dialectical behavior therapy skills, trauma-responsive practices, de-escalation, and group facilitation.
• Experience serving foster youth, justice-involved youth, transitional-age youth, and culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
• Bilingual and bicultural Spanish/English skills strongly preferred.

Requirements

The successful candidate must meet California’s qualification standards for a Mental Health Rehabilitation Specialist. This includes:

• A baccalaureate degree and four years of experience in a mental health setting as a specialist in physical restoration, social adjustment, or vocational adjustment; or
  • Up to two years of graduate professional education may be substituted for the experience requirements on a year-for-year basis
  • Up to two years of post-associate degree clinical experience may be substituted for the required educational experience in addition to the requirement for four years’ experience in a mental health setting
• Has a Master’s Degree and two years of full time equivalent experience ina mental health setting
• Has an Associate’s Degree and six years of full time equivalent experience in a mental health setting. At least two of the six years must be post-degree experience.
• Valid California driver’s license with the ability to become insured under company policy
• Ability to complete and clear required background clearances including the California Department of Justice, and FBI fingerprinting, and other clearances as required by Hanna Center policy.

Physical Requirements

The position requires the ability to participate actively in a group-based program environment, move throughout program spaces, remain seated or standing for periods of time, use a computer, and communicate effectively in person and by telephone or video. The employee may occasionally need to lift or move program supplies. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

Work Environment

Typical office and clinical environment. Responsibilities may include offsite meetings, trainings, or other activities as required by business needs.

Affirmative Action/EEO Statement

Hanna is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.

Other Duties

This job description is not exhaustive and may be subject to change at any time. Other duties may be assigned as needed to support organizational goals.