BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SPECIALIST I

Position Description

The Behavioral Health Specialist I provides behavioral health services to district students referred for mental health assessment and assistance and/or IEP placement with the goal of facilitating and promoting appropriate behavioral health and personal growth. The Behavioral Health Specialist I, with guidance from their clinical supervisor and SEEC Program Administrators, identifies the behavioral health needs of students and develops therapy goals and objectives for implementation through an individual therapy treatment plan. The Behavioral Health Specialist I provides direct crisis intervention and/or milieu support through behavioral intervention to assist students with success in the academic and social environments. The Behavioral Health Specialist I will participate in weekly individual and/or group clinical supervision to meet requirements for internship hours. The Behavioral Health Specialist I has the ability to be flexible under pressure and adapts to interruptions and changes efficiently.

Directly Responsible to 

Chief, Pupil Services and Special Educcation and/or to the administrator of the Special program(s) to which they are assigned

Duties and Responsibilities (Essential Duties are noted with an E)

• Provides individual, group and family/collateral, case management therapy services.- E

• Provides crisis and/or milieu support through behavioral interventions, assisting students to maintain/obtain/regain success in their academic and social environments. - E

• Conducts emergency student risk assessments (i.e. 5150) in conjunction with a licensed Behavioral Health Specialist II or SEEC Program Administrator and follows-up with family and appropriate agency and school staff. - E

• Participates in the crisis support team to respond to behavioral incident emergencies and assists with the physical restraint of assaultive students. - E

• Provides recommendations for strategies to teach age-appropriate and functional replacement behaviors to students 

• Maintains accurate Communicates effectively in verbal and written form.

• Supports the development and maintenance of behavioral health programs to meet student needs, including positive reinforcement and limit setting systems.

• Completes ongoing Medi-Cal and/or ERMHS billing/documentation according to county mental health guidelines, maintaining daily billing requirements, and completes mental health assessments in a timely manner. –E

• Participates in individual student IEP meetings and prepares and presents appropriate IEP paperwork and Mental Health Update. -E

• Works effectively, establishes, and maintains professional relationships with all segments of the education community (students, families, and staff), the general public, outside agencies, and diverse cultural populations and individuals in a manner that achieves district goals.

• Works collaboratively as a team member with instructional teaching and support staff and administration.

• Consults with the clinical supervisor to identify additional resources and services to support student needs.

• Consults with clinical supervisor to provide feedback to District personnel regarding mental health services and placements

• Participates in student centered team meetings.

• Maintains confidentiality in all matters pertaining to students, families, and others.

• Consults with school psychologists, school site administrator and staff, district administrators, teachers, paraprofessionals, and parents/guardians regarding student mental health needs.

• Maintains regular contact with parents/guardians

• Performs all duties in adherence with all federal and state laws and regulations, and all district policies, rules, procedures and guidelines, and all bargaining unit agreements

• Attends job-related meetings, group consultation/supervision and performs related duties as assigned

Knowledge and Skills

• Ability to manage workload and complete duties with the support from clinical supervisor and SEEC Program Administrator.

• Ability to meet Medi-Cal billing requirements and needs of the program.

• Ability to engage diverse students and their families in partnership.

• Ability to blend clinical knowledge with school site behavioral and academic expectations. 

• Willingness to work closely with and under the guidance of clinical supervisor and SEEC Program Administrator.

• Strong capacity to think critically, assess shifting priorities, and manage time for meeting complex site and student needs.

• Ability to facilitate clinical interventions between students and the school community, such as restorative meetings, skill building coaching, and de-escalation of students in crisis.

• Ability to engage cultural knowledge of families and increase their access and voice within the school systems.

• Ability to hold professional demeanor and professional boundaries with all staff and students adhering to professional code of ethics (NASW, CAMFT, BBS).

Minimum Qualifications

• Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) credential in school psychology, school counseling or social work or enrolled and concurrently working on Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) credential with expectation to complete credential to maintain position.

• Master's Degree

• Valid California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) Registration: Associate Marriage Family Therapist (AMFT), Associate Clinical Social Worker (ACSW), or Professional Clinical Counselor (PCC).

Desired Qualifications

• Experience working with a Special Education Local Plan Area or school district operations

• Experience providing mental health therapy services to school- age populations.

• Experience in Medi-Cal charting

• Experience in the behavioral health plan process

Experience working with behavioral health programs 

Work Year/Salary

190 days, plus optional extended year service at hourly rate, as assigned by Chief, Student Services and Special Education

Mt. Diablo School Psychologist Association (MDSPA) salary schedule. 

Board approved 9/14/15. Revisions approved 10/25/16.

Board Approval: June 14, 2023