BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONSULTANT OPS

Requisition No : 865942

Agency : Children and Families

Working Title : BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONSULTANT OPS - 60934071

Pay Plan : Temp

Position Number : 60934071

Salary : $60,000 - $70,000 annually

Posting Closing Date : 12 / 08 / 2025

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Job Title : Behavioral Health Consultant - OPS- 60934071

This position is a regional position and can be housed in Lakeland.

The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF or Department) isthe 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.

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 OFFICE.

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.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities include :

• 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 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.
• Participate in legal proceedings, multidisciplinary meetings, and family navigation staffings 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.

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.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities required for the position :

Minimum Qualifications

Preference will be given to applicants who have :

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 Other Personal Services (OPS) employees features a highly competitive set of employee benefits including :

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 :

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.

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.

VETERANS' PREFERENCE. Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans' Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply. Certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements. Candidates claiming Veterans' Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code. Veterans' Preference documentation requirements are available by clicking here. All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.

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

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.

Location :