Director of Behavioral Health Services

Salary : $83,524.38 Annually
Location : 3800 N Lamesa Rd, Midland, TX
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 2019-00512
Department: Juvenile Probation
Opening Date: 05/01/2025


Summary
The Midland County Juvenile Probation Department Director of Behavioral Health Services will be responsible to lead and oversee behavioral health operations for youth involved in the juvenile justice system.
This position serves as the department's licensed mental health authority and is responsible for implementing and managing a behavioral health screening, assessment, triage, and referral system to ensure youth receive appropriate, timely, and effective services.
The Director of Behavioral Health Services also coordinates services between community health treatment providers and youth who have been referred to the Juvenile Probation Department and/or who are detained in the Juvenile Detention Center.
This is a leadership and coordination role, not a traditional counseling position, and reports to the Chief Juvenile Probation Officer.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Essential duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

Program Development & Oversight

• Implement and oversee a structured behavioral health screening and service coordination model for youth in detention and probation
• Ensure consistent use of:
  1. Universal screening
  2. Targeted assessment
  3. Referral and service coordination
• Develop and maintain clinical policies, procedures, and workflows
• Review mental health screening instrument (MAYSI-2) results for juveniles requiring a secondary screening and make appropriate recommendations and/or referrals for intervention, as needed

Screening & Assessment

• Oversee behavioral health screening processes for all youth entering detention
• Ensure appropriate follow-up for identified needs, including:
• Mental health
• Substance use
• Trauma exposure
• Support staff in identifying when additional assessment is needed

Clinical Decision-Making & Service Coordination

• Determine appropriate level of care and service referrals
• Ensure behavioral health services are:
• Clinically appropriate
• Efficient
• Matched to youth needs
• Coordinate referrals to community providers and monitor follow-through

Court & Probation Collaboration

• Provide individual counseling to youth under supervision with the juvenile probation department
• Provide consultation to:
  1. Juvenile Court
  2. Chief Juvenile Probation Officer
  3. Probation staff
• Support informed decision-making regarding behavioral health needs and services
• Maintain appropriate and lawful information sharing practices

Community Coordination

• Coordinate with external providers, including:
• Local Mental Health Authority (LMHA)
• Psychiatric providers
• Substance use treatment programs
• Promote continuity of care from detention to the community

Risk Management & Psychiatric Coordination

• Coordinate psychiatric referrals and consultations
• Provide recommendations regarding suicide risk and behavioral health needs
• Assist with review of suicide prevention protocols

Supervision & Training

• Supervise interns, contractors, and behavioral health staff
• Provide training to staff on behavioral health topics and referral processes
• Serve as a clinical preceptor for training programs as applicable

Documentation & Compliance

• Ensure behavioral health documentation meets legal, ethical, and licensing requirements
• Maintain appropriate separation of clinical and probation records
• Ensure compliance with:
• Texas Family Code
• Health & Safety Code (Ch. 611 & 614)
• HIPAA

Qualifications, Education, and/or experience

• To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations can be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Experience in program development or system coordination
• Experience working in a juvenile justice setting
• Knowledge of Texas juvenile justice and behavioral health systems

• Current Texas licensure (LPC, LPC Associate, LCSW, LMFT, LMSW or Licensed Psychologist) with Supervisor designation
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience working with adolescents in behavioral health or juvenile justice

Knowledge, Skills and/or ability
Must have knowledge of professional psychological counseling; knowledge of developmental stages of adolescents; knowledge of diagnoses and medications; knowledge of Texas Family Code and Texas Health and Safety Code, and knowledge of basic individual and group counseling techniques; knowledge of the Juvenile Justice systems; knowledge of case management practices; knowledge of mediation and behavior modification techniques; knowledge of social services delivery network; knowledge of evidence based practices.

Operate computers, including work processing and spreadsheet applications; organize and prioritize tasks to be assigned and completed; read and write instructions, legal documents, reports, letters, and other documents using proper format and grammar. Analyze various situations and determine best solutions; supervise work of others, recognizing problems and recommending solutions; physically restrain other individuals; communicate effectively, both orally and in writing; and establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, juveniles and their families, and the public.

Knowledge of adolescent development, trauma, and substance use, understanding of confidentiality laws and information sharing requirements, ability to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary environment and strong organizational and leadership skills

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk and hear. The employee frequently is required to stand and walk. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move objects weighing up to 20 pounds, such as files, stacks of records, or other similar objects. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and ability to adjust focus.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Working conditions are in an office environment or juvenile detention facility. Must be able to react professionally and safely under potential or actual volatile conditions. The employee frequently faces difficult and stressful situations. The employee is required to change tasks frequently and to perform work with sensitive information. The employee frequently is required to work under time pressures to meet deadlines, to perform multiple tasks simultaneously, and to work closely with others as part of a and/or as a leader of a team. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
At Midland County, we believe taking care of our employees is essential to building a strong community. Our comprehensive benefits package is designed to support your health, financial security, and work-life balance. Employees have access to competitive medical, dental, and vision coverage, retirement through TCDRS with employer matching, paid holidays and paid time off, and income protection benefits such as life and disability insurance. Additional resources include telehealth services, an Employee Assistance Program, flexible spending accounts, and optional supplemental coverage for added peace of mind. Our goal is to provide benefits that help employees and their families stay healthy, plan for the future, and thrive both at work and at home.