Youth Behavioral Health Liaison (YBHL)

A. DEFINITION

The Youth Behavioral Health Liaison (YBHL) is a mental health professional who forms local community partnerships with various youth-serving organizations to address specific behavioral health needs of vulnerable children and youth.

B. DUTIES

1. Serve as a connector for youth with co-occurring mental illness, substance use and/or developmental disability to link youth to services available through community partners.

2. Establish/Form better community partnerships between Community mental health centers and other behavioral health treatment providers, Division of Developmental Disability providers and regional offices, Juvenile Offices and family courts, Children’s Division, schools, and hospitals to help improve outcomes for youth with behavioral health issues.

3. Work to divert youth from inpatient hospitalization, and out-of-home placements such as residential treatment centers, juvenile detention, and jail, while supporting youth in natural family and/or community-based setting.

4. Working with youth and families with behavioral health issues and developmental disabilities who have frequent interaction with Children’s Division, Juvenile and family courts, law enforcement, and inpatient hospitals to improve access to behavior health treatment.

5. Help facilitate access and navigation of behavioral health services for youth and families during a behavioral health crisis (including availability of in-patient and out-patient services)

6. Answer general questions about youth mental health/diagnosis, issues, and treatment

7. Link youth with age-appropriate services/resources

8. Connect youth requiring a greater intensity of services than currently being provided with appropriate care

9. Provide and/or coordinate training on behavioral health issues specific to youth for youth-serving organizations.

10. Facilitate new referrals for mental health/substance use services and resolve issues with obtaining treatment (e.g., explain paperwork, explain eligibility requirements, identify availability of different services, address lack of health insurance, etc.)

11. Follow-Up with both new and existing youth and families to monitor treatment

12. If a child/youth/family is not attending treatment, continue to encourage treatment and, where possible, resolve potential barriers

13. Work to resolve communication and structural issues regarding children and youth services between school, juvenile office, courts, law enforcement, and community behavioral health centers

14. Assist law enforcement in residency and wellness checks as needed/requested

15. Discuss individual cases and general follow-up with referral source

16. Coordinate with Access to Crisis Intervention (ACI)

17. Assist law enforcement in assessing children and youth with behavioral health needs to assess and coordinate services

18. Participate on local Crisis Intervention Teams (CIT)

19. Attend monthly conference calls, webinars, and face-to-face meetings/trainings, and conferences such as the annual MBHC and MO CIT, if possible

20. Attend all quarterly YBHL meetings coordinated by MBHC and DMH

21. Work closely with all agencies which have CBHL and co-responders to prevent duplication of efforts, duplication of data, and to prevent confusion with community stakeholders and partners

22. Work closely with MBHC’s Youth Services Manager and the DMH Children’s Director

23. Complete reporting requirements: enter all referral data through CareManager to track communication with referral sources and make sure all referral data is entered in a timely manner

C. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

1. Knowledge about local system of care, including but not limited to the operation of the community providers, the ACI system, and inpatient psychiatric/residential resources, civil commitment and guardianship processes (for transitional age youth);

2. Knowledge of trauma-informed principles to support youth and families recovering from trauma, violence, and/or adverse life experiences

3. Knowledgeable about behavioral health disorders, especially within child and youth population

4. Proficient in public speaking and experienced in delivering professional training

5. Maintain current CPR and First Aid certification

D. QUALIFICATIONS

1. A qualified addiction professional (QAP)

2. A qualified mental health professional (QMHP)

3. Individual with a bachelor’s degree in human services field including, but not limited to, social work, psychology, nursing, education, criminal justice, recreational therapy, human development and family sciences, counseling, child development, gerontology, sociology, human services, behavioral science, and rehabilitation counseling;

4. An individual with any four (4) year combination of higher education and qualifying experience;

5. An individual with any (4) year degree with two (2) years of qualifying experience;

6. An individual with an Associate of Applied Science in Behavioral Health Support degree from an approved institution; or

7. An individual with four (4) years of qualifying experience

Qualifying experience must include delivery of services to individuals with mental illness, substance use disorders, or developmental disabilities. Experience must include one of the following:

1. Providing one-on-one or group services with a rehabilitation/habilitation and recovery/resiliency focus;

2. Teaching and modeling for individuals how to cope and manage psychiatric, developmental, or substance use issues while encouraging the use of natural resources;

3. Supporting individuals in their efforts to find and maintain housing, employment, and/or to function appropriately in family, school, and community settings; and

4. Assisting individuals to achieve the goals and objectives in their individual treatment plans.

E. SUPERVISION

Directly responsible to the Liaison Team Lead

F. CLASSIFICATION

Exempt or non-exempt, depending on credentials and salary

F. POSITIONS SUPERVISED

None

G. COMPONENT

Clinical

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $20.73 - $23.40 per hour

Benefits:

• 403(b)
• 403(b) matching
• Dental insurance
• Flexible schedule
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Evenings as needed
• Monday to Friday
• On call
• Weekends as needed

People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply

Work Location: In person

Salary : $21 - $23