Mental Health Program Specialist 2, Central Office;

Duties The Office of Mental Health (OMH) is recruiting to fill one Mental Health Program Specialist 2, Grade 23, position in the Division of Integrated Community Services for Children and Families, School-Based Mental Health Unit. 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 incumbent of this position 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. Provide guidance to children’s mental health providers on services and programs, responding to provider inquiries and requests for assistance. Manage 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. 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 and reviews, in addition to updating and maintaining all policy guidance documents. Work in collaboration with field office staff on the monitoring and oversight of community‑based 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. Minimum Qualifications 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 three 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 any of the above fields can substitute for one year of specialized experience. Preferred Qualifications The ideal candidate(s) will hold a current New York State Education Department license as a master or clinical social worker (LMSW or LCSW) or a licensed psychologist and have a minimum of three years of experience working with children and/or adolescents with mental illness in a clinical capacity, as well as experience with utilization management and/or utilization review. The ideal candidate(s) will have direct care and utilization management experience, including familiarity with the review of medical evidence, psychiatric evidence, a knowledge base of child-serving systems in New York State, as well as relevant federal and state statutes, regulations and guidelines, and any other pertinent evidence to determine whether it is appropriate and necessary for an individual accessing a psychiatric inpatient level of care. Generally speaking, this role requires strong clinical and administrative skills; excellent interpersonal skills; excellent communication and writing skills with professionals with both clinical and non‑clinical backgrounds; critical and analytical thinking; the ability to work independently; the ability to work in a multidisciplinary team. Benefits 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. About the Mission 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. The Office of Mental Health embraces diversity and promotes a workplace in which individual differences are recognized, appreciated, and respected. The New York State Office of Mental Health is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Telecommuting Information Specific scheduled hours and telecommuting availability for this position will be discussed during the interview process. Employees are required to apply and obtain approval through management to telecommute according to operational needs and Agency Telecommuting Program Guidelines. NY HELPS Program Details This title is part of the New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide Program (NY HELPS). For the duration of the NY HELPS Program, this title may be 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 this time, agencies may recruit and hire employees by making temporary appointments. At a future date (within one year of permanent appointment), it is expected 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 all 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. #J-18808-Ljbffr