Behavioral Health Consultant Ops

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONSULTANT OPS – )

Date:
Jan 8, 2026

Requisition No:867984

Agency:
Children and Families

Job Title:

Behavioral Health Consultant – OPS )

This position is a regional position and can be housed in Sarasota.

The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF or Department) is the state of Florida’s social services agency. The agency oversees services for child safety, fostering, adoption, domestic violence, adult protective services, refugees, homelessness, mental health, substance abuse, childcare providers, human trafficking, and public assistance. The agency’s mission is to work in partnership with local communities to protect the vulnerable, promote strong and economically self-sufficient families, and advance personal and family recovery and resiliency.

Within DCF, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health (SAMH) Program office is recognized as the single state authority for substance abuse and mental health services. The Office of SAMH is statutorily responsible for the planning, evaluation, and implementation of a comprehensive statewide system of care for the prevention, treatment, and recovery of children and adults with serious mental illnesses or substance use disorders.

Consult and collaborate with CPI and dependency case managers to help frontline staff identify behavioral health disorders, particularly substance use disorders, enhance family engagement, and improve access to appropriate treatment, recovery support, and community resources. BHC actively builds relationships with investigative staff within co-located offices, providing regular education on behavioral health indicators, the effects of behavioral health conditions on parenting behavior, and engagement strategies.

BHCs play a key role in educating and training investigative staff and case managers on the use and benefits of Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT).

Provides both in-field and office-based consultation during the pre- and post-commencement phases of child protection investigations. This includes participating in joint visits with CPIs, modeling effective family engagement techniques, and offering guidance on best practices for working with families affected by behavioral health issues, particularly opioid misuse.

Community collaboration and care coordination. Partner with behavioral health providers and the Managing Entity (ME) to maintain current knowledge of referral processes and treatment options, helping CPIs connect families to the most appropriate levels of care.

Tracking and documenting all cases where the BHC provides support to child welfare staff, including staffing, joint visits, consultations, brief assessments, and any additional tracking as directed by the department, especially those impacted by substance use disorders.

Participate in legal proceedings, multidisciplinary meetings, and family navigation staffing to support case progression and improve outcomes for children and families.

Offer subject-matter expertise in the identification and care of substance-exposed newborns, including providing consultation on treatment options, supporting care coordination for mothers and infants, and ensuring access to early intervention and family stabilization services.

May be called upon to perform duties beyond those outlined in this description to meet emergent organizational or regional needs.

Work extended or irregular hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays, and potentially operating from outside assigned duty location. Travel is required throughout the state and may include overnight stays. May also be called upon to assist with disaster recovery efforts and participate in Critical Incident Rapid Response Team (CIRRT) case investigations as needed throughout the state. Emphasis is placed on expertise in addressing opioid use disorders.

• Assess the impact, needs, and assist with the development of a response strategy and goals for the impacted community and implement disaster response plans.
• Coordinate psychological and mental health resources and services for individuals, first responders, and communities impacted by disasters.
• Provide…