Director of Behavioral Health

The Director of Behavioral Health provides strategic, clinical, and operational leadership for the Health Center’s behavioral health (mental health and substance use disorder) services. The Director is responsible for developing and maintaining an integrated, patient-centered behavioral health program that advances the Health Center’s mission and meets the needs of the communities it serves.

Working collaboratively with medical, nursing, dental, care management, substance use disorder, pharmacy, and other clinical and support teams, the Director promotes an integrated model of care in which behavioral health is an essential component of comprehensive primary care.

POSTION RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for the Health Center’s behavioral health program.
• Develop and implement behavioral health goals, priorities, policies, workflows, and performance standards consistent with the Health Center’s strategic plan.
• Identify opportunities to expand access to behavioral health services based on patient and community needs.
• Develop sustainable models for integrated behavioral health within primary care. Support effective screening, assessment, treatment planning, referral, follow-up, and care coordination.
• Collaborate with executive and clinical leadership on organizational planning, resource allocation, staffing, and service development.
• Evaluate emerging behavioral health needs and recommend new programs, partnerships, and models of care.
• Promote innovation in behavioral health delivery, including same-day access, brief interventions, tele- behavioral health, group services, collaborative care, and other evidence-based approaches where appropriate.
• Promote integration of behavioral health screening and treatment into primary care workflows.
• Develop systems to appropriately identify and respond to patients with urgent behavioral health needs.
• Participate in the development and review of policies related to behavioral health emergencies, suicide risk, crisis intervention, mandated reporting, and continuity of care.
• Monitor clinical outcomes and use data to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Develop workflows that facilitate warm handoffs, timely consultations, shared treatment planning, and coordinated care.
• Develop strategies to improve timely access and reduce barriers to behavioral health treatment.
• Monitor program budgets and assist with annual budget development.
• Perform other leadership responsibilities consistent with the position and the Health Center’s mission.

Qualifications

Master’s or doctoral degree in psychology, social work, counseling, behavioral health, or another related clinical discipline.Minimum of5–7 years of progressive behavioral health leadership experience