Mental Health Program Specialist 1/Trainee, Central Office;

Mental Health Program Specialist 1, Grade 18

The Office of Mental Health (OMH) is recruiting to fill a Mental Health Program Specialist 1, Grade 18, position within the Bureau of Residential, Inpatient, and Critical Time Transition Program within the Division of Integrated Community Services for Children and Families. The Division directs, supports, and oversees all community based mental health services funded, designated and/or licensed by OMH that serve children and their families, to ensure they are providing quality, strengths-based, trauma-informed, family-driven, youth-guided, and culturally and linguistically informed.

The incumbents of these positions will coordinate efforts with other OMH divisions, such as licensing and managed care, to interpret data, create and implement work plans, and assist on specific projects as assigned. This position will be focused on data oversight and provider technical assistance to support program guidance and policies.

The Bureau includes Residential Treatment Facilities (RTF), Children's Community Residence (CCR), CREDIT, and the Critical Time Transition Program for Children, Youth and Families (CTTP) and considerable internal and external cross department and agency collaboration related to systems improvements for children's mental health and other services, including for the lifespan programs. This position will be primarily supporting the implementation and oversight of CTTP.

This position will work with the CTTP program lead to implement and oversee the development and implementation of the CTTP program.

Specific duties to be performed may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Review and monitor all required reports, including: data collection, incident reports, expenditure reports, site visit summaries and corrective action plans; to identify statewide programmatic trends.
• Prepare reports based on program findings, trends, and reviews, in addition to updating and maintaining all policy guidance documents.
• Provide guidance to children's mental health providers on services and programs, responding to provider inquiries and requests for assistance.
• Assist in managing contracts and deliverables of funded activities and programs to support children's mental health services statewide.
• Provide technical assistance and support to licensed or designated providers statewide, as well as Field Office staff, regarding program policies and guidance, in accordance with State regulations.
• Develop written guidance materials, forms and documents as needed.
• Work in collaboration with the lead of CTTP and the field office staff on the monitoring and oversight of CTTP programs to assure adherence to regulations and program model requirements.
• Work with providers and other stakeholders, as well as coordinate efforts with other OMH divisions and relevant State agencies, to address issues related to program implementation and other identified issues.
• Assist and support on specific special projects as assigned.

Non-Competitive Minimum Qualifications Under the NY HELPS Program:

• A bachelor's degree in child and family studies, counseling and community psychology, creative arts therapy, criminal justice, health administration, hospital administration, marriage and family therapy, mental health counseling, nursing, psychoanalysis, psychology, public administration, public health, public policy, recreation therapy, rehabilitation counseling, social work, sociology, or special education AND two years of professional clinical or administrative experience in a federal or state operated, licensed, certified, or funded mental health program.
• A master's degree in child and family studies, counseling and community psychology, creative arts therapy, criminal justice, health administration, hospital administration, marriage and family therapy, mental health counseling, nursing, psychoanalysis, psychology, public administration, public health, public policy, recreation therapy, rehabilitation counseling, social work, sociology, or special education can substitute for one year of specialized experience.
• Mental Health Program Specialist Trainee 1: Candidate's must possess a bachelor's or higher degree in child and family studies, counseling and community psychology, creative arts therapy, criminal justice, health administration, hospital administration, marriage and family therapy, mental health counseling, nursing, psychoanalysis, psychology, public administration, public health, public policy, recreation therapy, rehabilitation counseling, social work, sociology, or special education.
• Advanced placement to the Trainee 2 or Journey level may be possible depending on education and experience.
• Transfer Opportunity:
• Candidates must be employed by New York State to be eligible. In order to be eligible for transfer, candidates must have one year of permanent competitive or 55-b/c service as a Mental Health Program Specialist Trainee 1, Mental Health Program Specialist Trainee 2, or Mental Health Program Specialist 1 and be eligible for lateral transfer; OR be eligible to transfer under Section 70.1 of the Civil Service Law.

The starting salary for this position will vary based on the selected candidate's education and/or experience. Candidates appointed at a trainee level will be required to successfully complete the traineeship to advance to the full performance level title and salary:

• $53,764 (Mental Health Program Specialist Trainee 1)
• $59,994 (Mental Health Program Specialist Trainee 2)
• $66,951 (Mental Health Program Specialist 1, full performance level)

For current New York State employees, the starting salary is based on the candidate's salary at the time of hire. Employment with New York State offers unmatched benefits, individual support, and career mobility for motivated individuals including: NYS pension and retirement programs; annual cost of living and performance advance increases; comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans; flexible spending accounts for health and dependent care; paid time off, including thirteen paid holidays per year, and paid personal leave, vacation leave, and sick leave.

The Mission of the New York State Office of Mental Health is to promote the mental health of all New Yorkers, with a focus on providing hope and supporting recovery for adults with serious mental illness and children with serious emotional disturbances. Applicants with lived mental health experience are encouraged to apply. OMH is deeply committed to supporting underserved individuals, organizations, and communities. To this end, OMH is focused on implementing activities and initiatives to reduce disparities in access, quality, and treatment outcomes for underserved populations. A critical component of these efforts is ensuring OMH is a diverse and inclusive workplace where all employees' unique attributes and skills are valued and utilized to support the mission of the Agency. OMH is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.

Specific scheduled hours and telecommuting availability for this position will be discussed during the interview process. Please note, employees are required to apply and obtain approval through management to telecommute according to operational needs and Agency Telecommuting Program Guidelines.

This position may be designated 55 b/c and is subject to verification of applicant eligibility. This title is part of the New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide Program (NY HELPS). For the duration of NY HELPS, this title maybe filled via a non-competitive appointment, which means no examination is required but all candidates must meet the minimum qualifications of the title for which they apply. At a future date, it is expected that employees hired under NY HELPS will have their non-competitive employment status converted to competitive status, without having to compete in an examination. Employees will then be afforded with all of the same rights and privileges of competitive class employees of New York State. While serving permanently in a NY HELPS title, employees may take part in any promotion examination for which they are qualified.

Some positions may require additional credentials or a background check to verify your identity.