Review Vacancy
AgencyMental Health, Office of
TitleMental Health Program Specialist 2, Central Office;
Occupational CategoryClerical, Secretarial, Office Aide
Bargaining UnitPS&T - Professional, Scientific, and Technical (PEF)
Salary RangeFrom $84156 to $106454 Annually
Duties Description The Office of Mental Health (OMH) is recruiting to fill one Mental Health Program Specialist 2, Grade 23, position in the Division of Integrated Community Services for Children and Families, RTF Authorizations and Admissions Unit. The Division directs, supports, and oversees all community based mental health services funded, designated and/or licensed by OMH that serve children and their families, to ensure they are providing quality, strengths-based, trauma-informed, family-driven, youth-guided, and culturally and linguistically informed.
The Mental Health Program Specialist 2 positions, under the guidance and general direction of a Mental Health Program Specialist 3 (Clinical), will serve as RTF Authorization Coordinators and participate in multi-disciplinary teams responsible for making children's Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility (PRTF) eligibility and medical necessity determinations, Medicaid Childhood Disability determinations and managing RTF admissions.
OMH is required by law to review applications for those seeking access to RTF services to determine whether they meet eligibility and medical necessity criteria. The RTF Authorization Teams, including the Mental Health Program Specialist 2, conduct initial RTF eligibility reviews, reconsideration of RTF eligibility reviews, and reconfirmation of RTF eligibility reviews before an applicant's admission to an RTF. The Teams also review applicants and current RTF admissions to determine if the individuals meet Medicaid Childhood Disability Criteria as part of a process to apply for new and continued OMH Medicaid District 97 coverage during an RTF admission. The Mental Health Program Specialist 2/RTF Authorization Coordinator position will manage assigned RTF authorization reviews in partnership with RTF Authorization Psychiatrists and manage pending admissions of RTF eligible youth statewide. These functions and responsibilities are essential to OMH's mission of maintaining safe, therapeutic, and recovery-oriented services to New York State residents with mental health illnesses.
Duties to be performed include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Manage RTF Authorization Review Assignments
• Engage in multidisciplinary team RTF Authorization (eligibility and medical necessity) reviews with RTF Authorization Psychiatrists
• Conduct MA Childhood Disability Certification Reviews
• Collaborate with county Children’s-Single Points of Access, Office of People With Developmental Disabilities, and Office of Children and Families including the Division of Juvenile Justice and Youth Opportunities on the RTF referral process
• For RTF eligible applicants engage providers, caregivers and applicants themselves as appropriate in an RTF referral submission selection process
• Coordinate RTF authorized referrals submissions and admissions with RTFs statewide
• Manage statewide and program specific waitlists of RTF eligible youth and admissions to RTFs
• Manage RTF Referral and Admission Database (RRAD) by engaging in ongoing data collection and data analysis
• Provide expert technical assistance and consultation to county mental health departments, providers, advocates, and caregivers on the RTF referral and authorization process
• Maintain a knowledge of RTF services and intake process including visits to each RTF and annual meetings with intake staff
• Manage Fair Hearing requests including evidence preparation, submission, and attendance/participation as the OMH representative
• Provide trainings, educational presentations, resources, tools, including the development of such resources as required, to county mental health departments, providers, advocates, and caregivers on RTF application and authorization processes
• Collaborate with OMH Central Office Inpatient and Residential Unit and Field Office Child and Family staff on RTF referral, authorization, admission, continued stay, discharge and significant incident patterns and trends
• Leading and participating in specialized work groups to revise or develop new policies, guidance, regulations, and statutes or revise or develop new inpatient and residential program types or at the request of leadership development or implementation of other Division or agency initiatives, etc.
• Identifying any RTF eligible population, RTF level of care, and inpatient and residential system barriers or needs and producing solution-focused recommendations for remediation and risk management
• Provide administrative support and other relevant support to the RTF Admissions Advisory Board or relevant workgroups, committees, etc. as needed
• Other duties as assigned
Minimum Qualifications Non-Competitive Minimum Qualifications Under the NY HELPS Program:
A bachelor's degree in child and family studies, counseling and community psychology, creative arts therapy, criminal justice, health administration, hospital administration, marriage and family therapy, mental health counseling, nursing, psychoanalysis, psychology, public administration, public health, public policy, recreation therapy, rehabilitation counseling, social work, sociology, or special education AND three years of professional clinical or administrative experience in a federal or state operated, licensed, certified, or funded mental health program.
A master's degree in child and family studies, counseling and community psychology, creative arts therapy, criminal justice, health administration, hospital administration, marriage and family therapy, mental health counseling, nursing, psychoanalysis, psychology, public administration, public health, public policy, recreation therapy, rehabilitation counseling, social work, sociology, or special education can substitute for one year of specialized experience.
Preferred Qualifications:
The ideal candidate(s) will hold a current New York State Education Department license as a master or clinical social worker (LMSW or LCSW) or a licensed psychologist. The ideal candidate would have a minimum of three years of experience working with children and/or adolescents with mental illness in a clinical capacity, as well as experience with utilization management and/or utilization review.
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The ideal candidate(s) will have direct care and utilization management experience, including familiarity with the review of medical evidence, psychiatric evidence, a knowledge base of child-serving systems in New York State, as well as relevant federal and state statutes, regulations and guidelines, and any other pertinent evidence to determine whether it is appropriate and necessary for an individual accessing a psychiatric inpatient level of care.
Generally speaking, this role requires strong clinical and administrative skills; excellent interpersonal skills; excellent communication and writing skills with professionals with both clinical and non-clinical backgrounds; critical and analytical thinking; the ability to work independently; the ability to work in a multidisciplinary team.
Additional Comments Specific scheduled hours and telecommuting availability for this position will be discussed during the interview process. Please note, employees are required to apply and obtain approval through management to telecommute according to operational needs and Agency Telecommuting Program Guidelines.
The Mission of the New York State Office of Mental Health is to promote the mental health of all New Yorkers, with a focus on providing hope and supporting recovery for adults with serious mental illness and children with serious emotional disturbances. Applicants with lived mental health experience are encouraged to apply. The Office of Mental Health embraces diversity and promotes a workplace in which individual differences are recognized, appreciated, and respected. The New York State Office of Mental Health is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.
This title is part of the New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide Program (NY HELPS).
For the duration of the NY HELPS Program, this title maybe filled via a non-competitive appointment, which means no examination is required but all candidates must meet the minimum qualifications of the title for which they apply. At this time, agencies may recruit and hire employees by making temporary appointments. In May 2024, if a temporary NY HELPS employee is satisfactorily performing in the position, the appointment will be changed from temporary pending Civil Service Commission Action to permanent non-competitive and the official probationary period will begin.
At a future date (within one year of permanent appointment), it is expected employees hired under NY HELPS will have their non-competitive employment status converted to competitive status, without having to compete in an examination. Employees will then be afforded with all of the same rights and privileges of competitive class employees of New York State. While serving permanently in a NY HELPS title, employees may take part in any promotion examination for which they are qualified.
Some positions may require additional credentials or a background check to verify your identity.
Email Address OMHHRM@OMH.NY.GOV
Address
Street NYS Office of Mental Health
44 Holland Avenue
Notes on ApplyingTo be considered for this position, interested candidates should email a cover letter and resume in Microsoft Word or PDF format to omhhrm@omh.ny.gov. Please include the title of the position, location, and Vacancy ID #178164 in the subject line of your email when applying.
You are advised that, should you accept a job offer with the Office of Mental Health, you may be required to be fingerprinted and pay a fingerprint fee.