System Navigator Plus (SN+) Clinician

Title: System Navigator Plus (SN ) Clinician

Position’s Role Summary:

Do you want to make a difference? Do you have a passion for helping others and want a career where you can make a difference? Then join our NTBHA team where we have proved to be a strong, self-sufficient and enduring foundation within our community that is committed to connecting and serving our clients where they live. Please apply if you want to build a career here!

North Texas Behavioral Health Authority (NTBHA), based in Dallas, is responsible for developing a collaborative system of care for children, adolescents and adults with severe mental illness and other serious emotional disturbances, as well as those experiencing a substance use disorder.

We are responsible for developing a collaborative system of care for individuals in crisis in the NTBHA service area. We are focused on trauma-informed, resilience-oriented care in all services provided.

This position’s actions and duties must align with NTBHA values and goals, regulations, policies and procedures, and meet all documentation standards and regulatory requirements.

Overview:

The purpose of the North Texas Behavioral Health Authority’s– System Navigator Plus (SN ) Pilot Program is to support the provision of services and treatment for children with a single diagnosis of serious emotional disturbance (SED) or a primary SED diagnosis and co-occurring diagnosis, including a substance use disorder (SUD) or intellectual development disability (IDD) by: providing services and support to children who are in state conservatorship lacking placement or who are at risk of entering state conservatorship lacking placement status, or at risk of parental relinquishment; fostering enhanced partnerships with child-serving systems as it relates to the needs of children and families; promoting collaboration between partners in the child-serving system; and developing resources that support the provision of services and treatment for children in state conservatorship lacking placement.

Job Responsibilities:

• CMH SN position will implement a project that creates a collaborative and supportive relationship with child-placing agencies (CPAs) by being flexible, fostering open communication, and ensuring a service array that complements the child-placing agency’s services.
• CMH SN position will participate in technical assistance calls scheduled by HHSC and by external technical assistance providers.
• CMH SN position will participate in a community learning collaborative with other SN providers to share best practices and lessons learned.
• CMH SN position will attend program activities and services for children in state conservatorship lacking placement should include:
• Provision of behavioral health services as identified through the Child and

Adolescent Needs and Strength (CANs) assessment and in consultation with Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) staff.

• Participation in regular check-ins with children.
• Participation in regular consultation/technical assistance calls (e.g., with HHSC, CPAs, other System Navigator grantees, technical assistance providers).
• CMH SN position will facilitate or provide access to intake services that rapidly connect children to Texas Resiliency and Recovery (TRR) authorized services depending on the catchment area.
• CMH SN position will facilitate or provide daily services for children placed in COVID isolation facilities.
• CMH SN position will conduct regular meetings with other Local Mental Health Authorities/Local Behavioral Health Authorities (LMHA/LBHA) to ensure coordinated intake of children is occurring.
• CMH SN position will attend all CRCGs in the NTBHA Catchment Area and Region 13. CMH-SN position will report to CMH Service Director/Chief Clinical Officer.
• CMH SN position will conduct ongoing monitoring to ensure that ongoing service provision is conducted for children exiting the program.
• CMH SN position will support and service provision to children who are in hospitals, intensive and outpatient programs.
• CMH SN position will support and service provision to children as they transition across different service locations and providers.
• CMH SN position will utilize the NTBHA Crisis Services and/or Mobile Crisis Outreach Team (MCOT) to provide crisis prevention or intervention and coordinate de-escalation training for local DFPS staff.
• Other Duties:
• In addition to services and activities for children in state conservatorship lacking placement, this program should support efforts towards diverting children from entering Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) conservatorship or foster care.
• Other allowable services and activities include:
• Enhance provision of services for high-acuity needs children including those enrolled in, or needing access to LMHA/LBHA services (e.g., children waiting to access inpatient care, children waiting to access residential treatment services, children with co-occurring mental health and intellectual or developmental disabilities, children in DFPS conservatorship, or children in foster care) by participating in meetings with other child-serving agencies to support navigating various local resources and interventions including Community Resource Coordination Groups (CRCG), Independent School Districts (ISD), local community schools, and local DFPS resources.
• Develop collaborative partnerships with other child-serving systems, including but not limited to DFPS, Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD), and Independent School Districts (ISD), and coordinating resources to help facilitate access to appropriate community services by:
• Developing or enhancing Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with other child-serving agencies.
• Developing or enhancing referral procedures with other child-serving agencies.
• Developing or updating a local contact list of child-serving agencies and community resources.
• Developing or updating system-specific job-aids for child-serving system’s direct care staff outlining LMHA/LBHA services and referral process.
• Building capacity in the LMHA/LBHA through training and education efforts to direct care staff, including case managers, peers, certified family partners, counselors, therapists, agency liaisons, supervisors and agency leadership.
• Building capacity of the child-serving system through training and education efforts to collaborative partners. Training should include but is not limited to information on LMHA/LBHA intake, assessment tools, engagement, working in schools, Levels of Care, System of Care values, crisis services, and special programming, as applicable.
• Educating the local community on the LMHA/LBHA’s role in providing behavioral health services to children.
• Develop or enhance referral procedures within the agency to ensure the connection of services between LMHA/LBHA programs.
• Conducting outreach to DFPS, TJJD, and community partners, such as those agencies serving children with juvenile justice involvement (e.g. crisis facilities, local hospitals, school districts) to ensure effective partnerships.
• Receiving internal or external referrals to facilitate or participate in child-specific continuity of care case reviews for high acuity needs children that involve multiple systems and are at-risk of relinquishment, out-of-home placement, or juvenile justice involvement.
• Other activities approved by HHSC.
• Duties and projects may be assigned or changed to meet business needs.

Qualifications:

• A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a major in Social or Behavioral Health which is defined as psychology, social work, medicine, nursing, rehabilitation, counseling, sociology, human growth and development, physician assistant, gerontology, special education, educational psychology, early childhood education, early childhood intervention. Any combination of education and experience equivalent to a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major in social, behavioral, or human services, plus 4 years of experience in human services case management.
• Credentialed as a Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP)

Preferred Experience:

• Master’s degree with professional licensure as LPC-Associate, LMFT-Associate, or LMSW under clinical supervision preferred, or full licensure as an LPC, LMFT, LCSW
• Significant clinical experience working with CPS and/or local mental health authority or CMHP
• Implementation of interventions within or between systems in the youth’s environment that affect or influence the behavior of youth (i.e. placement, family, peer, school, and neighborhood)
• Training and collaboration with outside agencies

Preferred Knowledge:

• Three years experience working with individuals with a serious mental illness or a serious emotional disturbance.
• Experience working with Welfare System and Child Placement Agencies.
• Proficiency with computer software as demonstrated by knowledge of Microsoft applications.
• Collaboration and partnership with community agencies.
• Bilingual (English-Spanish).
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Experience in working collaboration with other child serving agencies.
• Advanced Microsoft Office Suite skills - Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc. with an ability to become familiar with company-specific programs and software.
• Must be able to work on and have knowledge of a PC (personal computer).

Job Type: Bachelor or Master level – Full-time

Shift Hours: Monday through Friday; flexibility and some community engagement activities on weekday/weeknights/weekends

NTBHA is deeply committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, both in our hiring practices and in our experiences as employees. We strive to create a mindful and respectful environment and culture that is free of perceived harassment, racism, and discrimination, creating an environment of understanding and compassion for all lived experiences.