BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONSULTANT OPS

Behavioral Health Consultant Ops

The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) is seeking a Behavioral Health Consultant (BHC) to provide clinical expertise within the child welfare system. The BHC will support the identification, engagement, and service resources of parents/caregivers with behavioral health needs, particularly those involving substance use disorders, with a concentrated focus on opioid misuse.

The BHC will work directly with Child Protective Investigators (CPIs) and dependency case managers to enhance recognition of behavioral health concerns, improve family engagement, and ensure timely access to appropriate treatment and support services. Specific duties include:

• Consulting and collaborating with CPI and dependency case managers to help frontline staff identify behavioral health disorders particularly substance use disorders, enhance family engagement, and improve access to appropriate treatment, recovery support, and community resources.
• Building relationships with investigative staff within co-located offices, providing regular education on behavioral health indicators, the effects of behavioral health conditions on parenting behavior, and engagement strategies.
• Educating and training investigative staff and case managers on the use and benefits of Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT).
• Providing both in-field and office-based consultation during the pre- and post-commencement phases of child protection investigations.
• Participating in joint visits with CPIs, modeling effective family engagement techniques, and offering guidance on best practices for working with families affected by behavioral health issues, particularly opioid misuse.
• Assisting CPIs in understanding how a parent's behavioral health condition may impact their ability to safely and effectively care for their child, while identifying and recommending appropriate treatment and referral resources within the community to support the family's specific needs.
• Partnering with behavioral health providers and the Managing Entity (ME) to maintain current knowledge of referral processes and treatment options, helping CPIs connect families to the most appropriate levels of care.
• Tracking and documenting all cases where the BHC provides support to child welfare staff, including staffings, joint visits, consultations, brief assessments, and any additional tracking as directed by the department, especially those impacted by substance use disorders.
• Participating in legal proceedings, multidisciplinary meetings, and family navigation staffings to support case progression and improve outcomes for children and families.
• Offering subject-matter expertise in the identification and care of substance-exposed newborns, including providing consultation on treatment options, supporting care coordination for mothers and infants, and ensuring access to early intervention and family stabilization services.
• Deploying to communities affected by natural disasters within 24-48 hours of impact to represent the organization to promote and implement post-disaster services.
• Coordinating psychological and mental health resources and services for individuals, first responders, and communities impacted by disasters.
• Providing critical information to the Regional Manager and Director of Regional Operations and Initiatives.

Knowledge, skills, and abilities required for the position include:

• Strong working knowledge of the child welfare system, with demonstrated expertise in motivational interviewing and trauma-informed care approaches preferred.
• A minimum of three years of experience in the treatment of substance use disorders.
• Comprehensive understanding of how substance use, and mental health conditions affect parenting capacity and can compromise child safety.
• Proficiency in the identification and care of substance-exposed newborns is essential.
• Ability to respond effectively to emergency events, demonstrating sound clinical judgment under pressure.
• Strong written communication skills are critical, including the ability to produce clear, thorough, and professional reports and presentations.
• Ability to evaluate and identify barriers to treatment access and navigate complex behavioral health systems to support families effectively.
• Excellent verbal communication and interpersonal skills are required, along with the ability to establish and maintain collaborative working relationships with internal and external partners.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to plan, prioritize, and manage multiple assignments in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

Minimum qualifications include:

• Florida license in the areas of psychology, social work, mental health counseling, family and marriage therapy or registered intern, or master's level Certified Addiction Professional.
• A minimum of three years of experience treating substance use disorders.
• Working knowledge of the child welfare and behavioral health systems and knowledge related to the impact of behavioral health conditions on parenting capacity.
• Knowledge/understanding of the impact of substance use disorders and mental health conditions on parenting ability and child safety.
• Valid Driver License

Preference will be given to applicants who have knowledge of the child welfare system and motivational interviewing.