EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS AND NOTES

The Behavioral Health Officer must hold:

• An earned doctoral degree in an applied field of psychology from a graduate program fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association, and internship approved by the American Psychological Association, and a minimum of ten years experience in the practice of psychology and five years supervisory experience in a behavioral health setting; or

• A doctoral degree in social work from a school accredited by the Council on Social Work Education with experience as noted above (ten years in the application of clinical social work principles/five years supervisory experience).

   

In order to successfully meet the performance objectives of this task order, the contract employee should possess the following knowledge/skills:

• The BHP must have a minimum of two years experience providing mental health services in a supervised setting. A range of experiences in terms of clientele and professional activities is preferred.

• An understanding of available systems of care and experience collaborating with social service agencies to integrate resources, plan, and deliver comprehensive services, is considered essential.

• Knowledge of military culture and issues (e.g., combat-related stress, family separation, reunion and reintegration) and experience intervening with military personnel is also preferred.

• The BHP must have a developing expertise in conducting mental status evaluations.

• Experience conducting fitness for duty evaluations is preferred.

• Ability to make accurate assessments of service members’ mental status. This assessment may be conducted with limited available collateral information and with service members who have a vested interest in appearing well. Thus, the BHP must be skilled enough to make sound clinical decisions in the context of diagnostic uncertainty.

• Ability to make referrals to and link service members to appropriate resources.

• Confidence to make affirmative recommendations based on the results of evaluations. The BHP must be willing and able to act on the results of evaluations. This will require substantial interpersonal confidence and comfort in a role that may seem adversarial to some service members.

• Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with personnel at all levels. The objective is that the BHP be viewed as a resource and asset from the brigade to unit level.

• Computer skills sufficient to create, maintain, and send reports.

• Effective verbal and written communication skills.

• Assist in identifying problems and gaps in service in current behavioral health delivery system and devising methods to improve and enhance system.

• Contractor must reside in Virgin Islands and be prepared to work in Virgin Islands and have the ability to travel frequently.

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  Specific duties include:

• Behavioral Health Officer (BHO):

• Serves as subject matter expert to the VIARNG on matters related to behavioral health, specifically serves as the principle advisor to the Adjutant General (TAG) on psychological/behavioral health initiatives and issues.

• Assists the State Surgeon with assessment and tracking of joint force behavioral health needs.

• Coordinates in planning, developing, and implementing the Behavioral Health Section as the comprehensive behavioral health infrastructure within the VIARNG.

• As subject matter expert for the VIARNG, serves as the link between J-1 and J-9 operational staff on behavioral health policies and procedures.

• Serves as the main contact for all service member support programs with a behavioral health component including, but not limited to: Family Programs Office; Military Family Life Consultant; Crisis Intervention Team; Suicide Prevention; Prevention, Treatment, and Outreach Program; Office of the Chaplain; Director of Psychological Health; Transition Assistance Program.

• Establishes a network of providers comprised of licensed and credentialed civilian behavioral health professionals who meet minimal training requirements and demonstrate knowledge of military culture, assessment, and treatment of the types of behavioral health needs common to VIARNG service men and women.

• Reviews behavioral health documentation, evaluates and monitors the behavioral health status of service members. Assures accurate profiles are in place for service members with behavioral health difficulties, conducts Fit for Duty (FFD) evaluations and Medical Evaluation Board (MEB) evaluations.

• Provides consultation services to VIARNG command personnel pertaining to behavioral health issues.

• Provide technical expertise to Medical NCO’s and Case Coordinators toward identifying, evaluating, resourcing, monitoring, and determining dispositions for service members with behavioral health difficulties.

• Serves as Point of Contact (POC) to behavioral health personnel at all organizational levels from brigade to unit to ensure clinical training and competency standards are met.

• Maintains knowledge of and proficiency with the array of external behavioral health resources available to VIARNG service members.

• Provides support for Behavioral Health Section staff by assisting with section planning and strategies, case assignment and evaluations, and assuring adequate training is available to the Behavioral Health Professionals.

• Recruits, evaluates, and selects qualified psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, and clinical social workers to fill VIARNG behavioral health positions.

• Assists in the preparation of program plans to attain resources and manager staffing needs for Behavioral Health Section initiatives and projects.

• Prepares and maintains statistical and narrative reports of activities related to behavioral health within the Behavioral Health Section, subject to supervisory review.

• Serves on committees and task forces for the National Guard and for other local, state and Federal agencies as deemed appropriate.

• Reports to the State Surgeon and/or Deputy State Surgeon of the VIARNG on a regular basis in regard to Behavioral Health Section activities and to monitor performance for such purposes as quality improvement.

• Keeps supervisors informed of all significant modifications in policies or practices.

• Maintains Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) standards and guidelines.

• Behavioral Health Professional (BHP):

• Evaluates and monitors the mental status of VIARNG personnel in accordance with military regulations.

• Advises respective Brigade personnel on behavioral health issues; consults with and trains military commands and service professionals as needed.

• Assists the Medical NCO (MNCO) and Case Coordinator in identifying and providing for service members dealing with behavioral health related difficulties.

• Assists the MNCO in identifying and monitoring personnel “at risk” for developing psychological problems in the future.

• Connects identified service members with available resources, and monitors compliance, progress, and outcomes of any remediation.

• Partners with and augments activities of the Crisis Intervention Team, Psychological Health Program, Family Program Office, Office of the Chaplain, and other Guard entities and programs related to psychological well-being.

• Collaborates with behavioral health personnel at all organizational levels; from brigade to unit level.

• Assists in identifying problems and gaps in service in the current behavioral health delivery system and devising methods to improve and enhance the system.

• Advises respective brigade personnel on behavioral health issues; consults with and trains military commands and service providers as needed.

• Maintains a working knowledge and proficiency in linkage and referral to the array of resources available to ARNG personnel (e.g., online resources like realwarriors.net).

• Maintains Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) standards and guidelines.

• Performs other responsibilities and tasks which meet the organizational needs of medical branch.