BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONSULTANT OPS - 60934071

Requisition No: 870677 

Agency: Children and Families

Working Title: BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONSULTANT OPS - 60934071

 Pay Plan: Temp

Position Number: 60934071 

Salary:  $28.85 - 33.65 per hour 

Posting Closing Date: 03/05/2026 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) is the state of Florida’s social services agency. The agency oversees services for child safety, fostering, adoption, domestic violence, adult protective services, refugees, homelessness, mental health, substance abuse, childcare providers, human trafficking and public assistance. The agency’s mission is to work in partnership with local communities to protect the vulnerable, promote strong and economically self-sufficient families, and advance personal and family recovery and resiliency.

Within DCF, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health (SAMH) Program office is recognized as the single state authority for substance abuse and mental health services. The Office of SAMH is statutorily responsible for the planning, evaluation, and implementation of a comprehensive statewide system of care for the prevention, treatment, and recovery of children and adults with serious mental illnesses or substance use disorders.

Within SAMH, the Central Regional Office staff ensure that individuals and families have timely access to prevention, treatment, and recovery support services across the region. They collaborate with local providers, community partners, and key stakeholders to identify service gaps, enhance resource availability, and promote continuity of care. The Central Regional Office monitors program performance, addresses barriers to service delivery, and fosters cross-system collaboration to strengthen the regional behavioral health network and improve overall outcomes for the communities served.

TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION RESPONSES TO THE QUALIFYING QUESTIONS ARE REQUIRED AND MUST BE VERIFIABLE BASED ON YOUR SUBMITTED APPLICATION.

THIS IS NOT A TELEWORK POSITION.  CANDIDATE WILL BE REQUIRED TO WORK IN THE CENTRAL REGIONAL OFFICE.

This is a highly responsible and professional position serving as the Behavioral Health Consultant (BHC) OPS. The ideal candidate will be a collaborative team player who works seamlessly across all sections within the program office. This role requires the use of independent judgment, a proactive approach to responsibilities, and exceptional attention to detail. If you are driven, organized, and thrive in a fast-paced environment, we encourage you to apply.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities include:

The Behavioral Health Consultant (BHC) provides clinical expertise within the child welfare system, supporting 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 works 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.

• Consult 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. BHC actively builds 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. BHCs play a key role in educating and training investigative staff and case managers on the use and benefits of Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT).

• Provides both in-field and office-based consultation during the pre- and post-commencement phases of child protection investigations. This includes 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. In addition, BHCs assist 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.
• Community collaboration and care coordination. Partner 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 provide support to child welfare staff, including staffing’s, joint visits, consultations, brief assessments, and any additional tracking as directed by the department, especially those impacted by substance use disorders.
• Participate in legal proceedings, multidisciplinary meetings, and family navigation staffing to support case progression and improve outcomes for children and families.
• Offer 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.
• May be called upon to perform duties beyond those outlined in this description to meet emergent organizational or regional needs.
• Work extended or irregular hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays, and potentially operating from outside assigned duty location.

• Travel is required throughout the state and may include overnight stays. May also be called upon to assist with disaster recovery efforts and participate in Critical Incident Rapid Response Team (CIRRT) case investigations as needed throughout the state. Emphasis is placed on expertise in addressing opioid use disorders. 
• Other duties as assigned.

Emergency Response

• In response to emergency events, the incumbent may be required to work irregular hours, to work more than 8 hours per day, to work extended periods (including weekends and holidays), to work at locations other than their official headquarters, and to perform duties in addition to those outlined in the position description.  Deploy to communities affected by natural disasters within 24-48 hours of impact to represent the organization to promote and implement post-disaster services.
• Assess the impact, needs and assist with the development of a response strategy and goals for the impacted community and implement disaster response plans.
• Coordinate psychological and mental health resources and services for individuals, first responders, and communities impacted by disasters.
• Provide critical information to the Regional Manager and Director of Regional Operations and Initiatives.

The Ideal Candidate Will Possess the Ability To:

• Engage cooperatively and professionally with both internal and external stakeholders.
• Manage multiple high-priority projects simultaneously with agility and precision.
• Demonstrate flexibility and the ability to succeed both independently and with minimal direction.
• Understand and align with the vision of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health (SAMH) Program, executing projects, assignments, and policy updates accurately and on time in a fast-paced environment.
• Collaborate effectively within a team while also excelling when working independently.
• Analyze challenges and propose thoughtful, practical solutions to complex problems.
• Conduct thorough research to identify and recommend the most strategic and effective course of action—the best “yes.”

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities required for the position:

• Knowledge of the methods of data collection and analysis. 
• Knowledge of basic management principles and practices. 
• Ability to collect, evaluate and analyze data to develop alternative recommendations, solve problems, document work flow and other activities relating to the improvement of operational and management practices. 
• Ability to organize data into logical format for presentation in reports, documents and other written materials. 
• Ability to conduct fact-finding research. 
• Ability to utilize problem-solving techniques. 
• Ability to understand and apply applicable rules, regulations, policies and procedures relating to operational and management analysis activities. 
• Ability to plan, organize and coordinate work assignments. 
• Ability to communicate effectively. 
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others. 
• Knowledge of the impact of substance use disorders and mental health conditions on parenting ability and child safety.
• Knowledge of the child welfare system, with demonstrated expertise in motivational interviewing and trauma-informed care approaches.

• Knowledge and experience in the identification and care of substance-exposed newborns
• Ability to respond effectively to emergency events, demonstrating sound clinical judgment under pressure.
• Ability to evaluate and identify barriers to treatment access and navigate complex behavioral health systems to support families effectively.

• Ability to plan, prioritize, and manage multiple assignments in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
• Ability to effectively communicate verbally, demonstrate strong interpersonal skills, and establish and maintain collaborative working relationships with internal and external partners. 

Minimum Qualifications:

• A master’s degree in a health or human services-related field.
• Three years of experience treating substance use disorders.
• Valid Class E Driver License.

Preference will be given to applicants who have:

• Florida license in psychology, social work, mental health counseling, marriage, and family therapy, or a registered intern.
• Experience of the child welfare and behavioral health systems and knowledge related to the impact of behavioral health conditions on parenting capacity.
• Experience in substance abuse prevention, treatment, or recovery support service.
• Experience coordinating community-based services for individuals or families.
• Certification as a Master’s-Level Addiction Professional.
• Experience with motivational interviewing.

Candidate Profile (application) Requirements:

Candidate Profile (application) must be complete in its entirety.

• Work History - entered with the most recent/current listed first:
• Any and all State of Florida jobs
• Any and all Florida University jobs
• All periods of employment
• Periods of unemployment
• Gaps 3 months or more*
• Education
• Volunteer Experience
• Include supervisor names and phone numbers including current place of employment.
• *Gaps 3 months or more must be addressed – you will need to account for and explain any gaps in employment including unemployment. You can either list these in your application under Period of Employment or attach a word document listing your gaps.
• Experience, education, training, knowledge, skills and/or abilities as well as responses to pre-qualifying questions must be verifiable to meet the minimum qualifications.
• If claiming Right to First Interview, candidate MUST attach a copy of your official layoff letter when applying. This only applies to employees laid off from Career Service positions.

If you experience problems applying online, please call the People First Service Center at (877) 562-7287.

Benefits of Working for the State of Florida:

• Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck. The State’s total compensation package for employees features a highly competitive set of employee benefits.
• For a more complete list of benefits, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com.

DCF EMPLOYMENT DISCLOSURES

US CITIZEN REQUIREMENT Only US citizens and lawfully authorized alien workers will be hired.

SELECTIVE SERVICE SYSTEM REGISTRATION All selected male candidates born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion into an authorized position unless they are registered with the Selective Service System (SSS).  Verification of Selective Service registration will be conducted prior to hire.  For more information, please visit the SSS website: http://www.sss.gov.

RETIREE NOTICE If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), please check with the FRS on how your current benefits will be affected if you are re-employed with the State of Florida. Your current retirement benefits may be suspended or voided, and you required to repay all benefits received depending upon the date of your retirement.

BACKGROUND SCREENING It is the policy of the Florida Department of Children and Families that any applicant being considered for employment must successfully complete a State and National criminal history check as a condition of employment before beginning employment, and, if applicable, also be screened in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 435, F.S., and Chapter 408, F.S.  No applicant may begin employment until the background screening results are received, reviewed for any disqualifying offenses, and approved by the Agency.  Background screening shall include, but not be limited to, fingerprinting for State and Federal criminal records checks through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and may include local criminal history checks through local law enforcement agencies.

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The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.