Behavioral Health Specialist
The Department of Mental Health is seeking a full-time Behavioral Health Specialist. Under supervision of Principal Investigator, this role will assist in the management and coordination of research activities and provide administrative support and clinical supervision of Healthy Relationship Coaches. Healthy Relationship Coaches provide support to Black or African American women enrolled in a clinical trial(s) to improve access to HIV prevention. This role will be responsible for project/program implementation, logistics planning, supervision of staff and trainees, data management, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance.
Specific Duties & Responsibilities
- Function as a clinical facilitator (independently or as primary clinician in a clinical team) to support study participants through clinical research protocols.
- Provide individual or group counseling to study participants.
- Administer clinical assessments.
- Monitor, guide, and evaluate activities of study participants through research visits.
- Assess clinical condition of study participants during sessions and communicate information.
- Demonstrate effective risk assessment and crisis management.
- Refer participants to outside resources when appropriate.
- Develop, implement, and maintain planning for caseload.
- Practice acceptable ethical and behavioral standards of conduct, and promote and ensure good clinical practices, ensuring adherence to clinical research protocols.
- Provide operational support, including scheduling subject visits, confirming availability of necessary facilities, preparation of session rooms/spaces/equipment, compiling necessary forms, providing professional explanations of such matters as orientation procedures, payment procedures, collecting and entering behavioral data into database, and/or assisting with data management.
- Assure project management tasks are completed.
- Provide weekly updates to PI and other stakeholders regarding clinical updates.
- Supervise one or more members of the clinical research team.
- Serve as back-up for research protocols (other than primary assignment) as needed.
- Be available by phone on evenings after study visits in case of urgent participant concerns.
- Assist with community outreach and recruitment efforts, including building relationships with organizations and the community.
- Assist in developing/maintaining training and educational materials as needed.
- Participate in peer/group or individual supervision as needed.
- Serve as an empathic, trustworthy, knowledgeable, and reliable resource for the client’s HIV prevention care.
- Provide oral and written reports to the study team during regular team meetings. Timely data entry necessary for tracking program goals, outcomes, assessments, referrals, and other information as necessary.
- Assist clients with short-term access to program and community services and access to referrals and other resources available in the target area.
- Build and support clients’ skills in HIV systems navigation, patient-provider communication, and HIV prevention compliance.
- Other research-related tasks to support the study will be required as needed.
*This is a full-time position, offers a five-day work week, generally Monday through Friday work week. The schedule may include some periodic weekend support/planning of program activities but will otherwise consist of a weekday schedule determined in conjunction with the Supervisor.
Minimum Qualifications
- Master's Degree in Counseling, Psychology, Public Health, Social Work, Education or related areas such as Women/Gender Studies is required.
- Eligibility for professional license in Maryland is required.
- Two years of clinical experience in a mental health profession working with clients required; three years preferred.
Preferred Qualifications
- At least 1 year of working with culturally diverse environments including working with racial and ethnic minority women.
- At least 1 year of professional level experience providing technical assistance in-person, by phone, or computer.
- Knowledge of how to deliver educational programs in various settings.
- Experience (volunteer or paid) providing HIV peer navigation or HIV care, or prevention services at a community-based organization, HIV clinic, sexual health clinic, or health department.
- Experience using business software systems in the completion of work assignments (i.e., Word Excel, PowerPoint). Experience with and ability to comfortably use a computer and technology (including the internet applications).
- Experience recruiting high-risk populations and street smarts.
- Good in-person communication skills.
- Prior peer mentoring experience with racial and ethnic minority women experiencing violence, trauma, and related challenges.
- Ability to manage conflict, mitigate/respond to stressful situations and engage traumatic stories.
- Ability to understand and maintain professional boundaries.
- Ability to listen with care, treat clients with respect and dignity, and respond to each individual’s unique needs.
- Willingness to participate in ongoing institutional and other trainings to complement the Peer Navigator’s skills and abilities and provide Peer
- Navigation services in a trauma-informed manner that is consistent across the entire cohort.
Classified Title: Behavioral Health Specialist
Role/Level/Range: ACRP/03/MB
Starting Salary Range: Min $40,900 - Max $71,600 Annually ($60,000 targeted; Commensurate with experience)
Employee group: Full Time
Schedule: Monday to Friday: 9 am – 5 pm
Exempt Status: Exempt
Location: School of Public Health
Department name: Mental Health Research Projects
Personnel area: School of Public Health