SOCIAL WORKER

Job Title

Job Description

Supports the psychological health team in developing and executing an annual behavioral health program strategy. Determines program priorities, gaps, and means to meet annual goals. Supports the development and annual review of written standard operating procedures governing the behavioral health system of care. Responsible for behavioral health promotion, implementation of behavioral health programs, and evaluation activities. Formulates strategies to generate interest, acceptance, and participation by organizational partners, community partners, and NG Soldiers and family members. Serves as primary advisor on methods to successfully reduce stigma and market psychological health programs.

Develops relationships with military and community groups to enhance prevention efforts and expand available behavioral health resources. Builds networking processes. Builds a community provider directory. Develops an extensive array of behavioral health resources, associations, and community partnerships available to support NG soldiers and families. Participates in community activities to: (1) build prevention efforts, (2) learn/influence community problem-solving, and (3) forge community connections that promote psychologically healthy lifestyles within the NG. Participates in relevant committee meetings in an effort to provide input and obtain information related to psychological health issues. Collaborates with other disciplines and programs concerning family support, resiliency, suicide prevention, sexual assault, and substance abuse. Participates in community outreach and prevention initiatives professionally and appropriately.

Coordinates and implements prevention and education programs. Conducts comprehensive needs assessments and Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunity, and Threat (SWOT) analyses that form the basis for program development activities. Creates action plans to: (1) meet the needs of service members and (2) address trending behavioral health concerns. Develops and provides access to primary prevention services to inform and educate leadership and the NG community at large about the dynamics, treatments, and behaviors associated with psychological illness. Briefs and seeks support from commanders, senior leadership, and key personnel on prevention issues and prevention activities. Educates stakeholders on methods to improve life-skills, coping, and overall wellness. Builds capacity and provides access to secondary preventive support services and psycho-educational skills-development activities. Identifies common skill-building referrals sources including parenting skills, stress management, change management, anger management, financial/money management, support groups for single parents, couples communication, etc. Develops a formal evaluation process to monitor prevention and outreach programs and access to resources.

Conducts clinical screening, evaluation, and consultation services. Applies professional knowledge of the principles, theories, procedures, and practices of social work to clinical duties in accordance with applicable DoD guidelines. Screens records/personnel and makes administrative recommendations for security clearances and Positions of Significant Trust and Authority (POSTA). Conducts annual behavioral health screenings to determine medical readiness. Conducts pre-mobilization and post-mobilization screenings. Provides behavioral health guidance and consultation to soldiers, leaders, and military/community partners. Completes comprehensive assessments under guidelines of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) of the American Psychiatric Association. As appropriate, facilitates comprehensive needs assessment including biopsychosocial history. Uses and interprets various psychological assessment measures. Prepares written evaluation reports with clinical impressions. Determines readiness and completes profiles in accordance with Army Regulation 40-501. Provides timely and succinct feedback to other medical providers and service member's commander regarding assessment findings and recommendations. Advises command how to best support the soldier's behavioral health treatment plan to optimize treatment outcomes.

Builds efficient processes to manage behavioral health referrals and case management services. Builds evaluation process concerning timely and appropriate: (1) contact with soldiers, (2) collection of required documents and release of information, (3) follow-up communications, (4) timely connection with behavioral health and support services, (5) case documentation, and (6) quality assurance feedback from clients. Uses current and future ARNG systems of record such as Behavioral Health Data Portal (BHDP), MEDCHART/eCase, Behavioral Health Reporting Tool, E-profile, and DoDSER, as appropriate. Continually seeks way to improve case management processes. Supports the surgeon's office as the subject matter expert concerning behavioral health readiness and return to duty determinations.

Performs other duties as assigned.