Behavioral Health Specialist 2 - Qualified Mental Health Professional

Initial Posting Date:

01/21/2026

Application Deadline:

/

Agency:

Oregon Youth Authority

Salary Range:

$6,420.00 - $8,976.00

Position Type:

Employee

Position Title:

Behavioral Health Specialist 2 - Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP)

Job Description:

OREGON YOUTH AUTHORITY

Behavioral Health Specialist 2 – Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP)

Grants Pass – ROGUE VALLEY YOUTH CORRECTIONAL FACILITY

Are you passionate about delivering counseling and guidance to youth from diverse backgrounds? Join the Rogue Valley Youth Correctional Facility team as a Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP) and make a meaningful impact!

The Oregon Youth Authority (OYA) is looking for a full-time QMHP dedicated to providing comprehensive mental and behavioral health services to youth at Rogue Valley Youth Correctional Facility. You will collaborate with a multidisciplinary team, including contracted psychiatrists, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs), or psychologists, to create a supportive treatment environment within the assigned living unit.

Your mission will be to cultivate a positive and dynamic atmosphere that encourages youth to take responsibility, develop healthy habits, lead productive lives, and engage in socially acceptable behavior. Working alongside the Living Unit Manager (LUM) and Case Coordinator (CC), you will offer strong leadership and implement evidence-based interventions within a group living setting.

We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds, as we believe diversity enriches our team and enhances our collective expertise.

Would you like to learn more about this position or how our application process works? Join our Recruitment team during our OYA Career Chat Sessions every other Wednesday between 11am-11:30am PST. We can assist you with all your application and agency questions!

Click Here to Register for OYA Career Chats!

Additional Information:

• Effective Feb. 1, 2026, the compensation plan for this position will be increased to reflect a Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) of 2.5%. The salary listed in this posting does not reflect the COLA.

• Multiple Positions: This recruitment will fill multiple positions that are limited duration, temporary, and permanent positions. We may used this recruitment to fill future vacancies.

• Open Until Filled: This recruitment will remain open until filled but we may close the announcement at any time when we have received an adequate number of applications. We cannot guarantee that we will consider applications received after this screening date. We encourage interested applicants not to delay in applying.

• Representation: ​This position is represented by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU/OPEU).

• Comprehensive and equitable base salary offer within the listed range based on your experience, skills and education. For more information on pay equity, click here.

• The salary range listed is the non-PERS participating rate. If you are already a participating PERS member or once you become PERS eligible, the salary range will increase by 6%. Please review the Classification and Compensation page for more details.

• This position receives annual increases on anniversary date until the maximum of the salary range is reached.

• Please save a copy of this job announcement for your reference, as it may not be available for you to view after the job closes.

NOTE: Please ensure you’ve provided a thorough and updated application as it pertains to the position for which you are applying. Your application materials will be used to determine salary based on a pay equity assessment.  For further information, please visit the Pay Equity Project homepage.

ABOUT OYA

At OYA, diversity, equity, and inclusion are more than just words on a page. To meet our mission and live our values as an agency, DEI must be at the heart of all we do. We support cultural competence, develop teams and cultivate leaders in ways that are equitable to everyone, especially people of color, those who identify as LGBTQ+, or those from other marginalized communities. We are explicit and intentional as we identify resources that all our youth and staff need to grow and prosper. Our DEI work connects closely with our culture of positive human development, with safe and supportive environments where everyone is held accountable and connected to their community. The end goal is to protect the public and reduce crime by holding youth accountable and providing opportunities for reformation in safe environments.

If you are looking to join a team that values individual and cultural differences, with the opportunity to contribute to youth reformation by enriching our workforce with diversity, OYA wants to hear from you!  People of color, women, and other members of historically marginalized communities are strongly encouraged to apply!

For more information please visit www.oregon.gov/oya.

What's in it for You?

OYA values our employees. We believe that your time outside of the workplace is as valuable as it is inside the workplace. We offer a great work/life balance with flexible work schedules on most positions and a competitive benefits package, including low-cost, high-coverage health insurance, generous time-off, and a competitive retirement plan.

Discover more about working in Oregon state government by clicking here.

This position is represented by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU/OPEU). By joining and maintaining your membership with SEIU Local 503, the following benefits are available to you such as:

• $2,500 life insurance policy paid for by your union, SEIU Local 503. This policy is in effect if you are an active member.

• Up to $200,000 of additional life insurance can be purchased. Up to $100,000 member life, $40,000 spouse and $10,000 child is guaranteed within the first 90 days of new union membership.

• Short Term Disability insurance is guaranteed if purchased within the first 90 days of new union membership.

• Legal insurance enrollment is available to purchase within the first 90 days of new union membership.

• Tuition reimbursement.

For more information on SEIU, please click here.

What We Are Looking For:

• A Bachelor’s degree in nursing or occupational therapy AND licensed by the State of Oregon AND three years of progressively responsible experience related to the series concept; OR

• A Master’s degree in psychology; social work; recreational, art, or music therapy; or behavioral health science AND two years of progressively responsible experience related to the series concept.

Special Qualifications:

• Driver's license required: Driving is an essential function of this position. A valid driver license and an acceptable driving record are required for this position. We will conduct pre-employment driving records checks on our final candidate(s).

• Eligible for certification as Qualified Mental Health Professional at the time of application.

 NOTE: To be qualified as a Qualified Mental Health Professional you must have:
• Graduate degree in psychology; or
• Bachelor's degree in nursing and be licensed by the State of Oregon; or
• Graduate degree in social work; or
• Graduate degree in a behavioral science field; or
• Graduate degree in recreational, art, or music therapy; or
• Bachelor's degree in occupational therapy and be licensed by the State of Oregon:

AND

Education and experience which demonstrates the competencies to identify precipitating events; gather histories of mental and physical disabilities, alcohol and drug use, past mental health services and criminal justice contacts; assess family, social and work relationships; conduct a mental status examination; document a multiaxial DSM diagnosis; write and supervise a treatment plan, conduct comprehensive mental health assessment; and provide individual, family, and/or group therapy within the scope of practice.

DESIRED ATTRIBUTES/APPLICATION SCORING CRITERIA: If you have these qualities, let us know, it’s how we will choose whom to move forward!

Note: You do not need to have all of these qualities to be eligible for this position.  

• Preference given to those candidates that has received licensure in their discipline.

• Strong clinical skills providing mental health treatment to adolescents and young adults.

• Experience providing treatment in gang affiliation, anger management, fire setting, and violent offending.

• Certificates and/or work experience related to substance use treatment.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills assessed.

• Ability to provide clinical work independently.

How to Apply:

1. Complete the application or submit a completed resume.

2. Complete questionnaire.

3. After you submit your application, be sure to respond to the public records request authorization. This screen will come after you submit and will complete the process. If you are an employee, the public records request task will come to your Workday inbox.

4. Eligible veterans and Oregon National Guard servicemembers (current and former) who meet the qualifications of the position will be awarded candidate preference. For more information, please visit Veterans Resources.

5. If you are a veteran, the task to claim preference will come after the public records request question. Please do not attach your DD214/DD215/civil service preference letter to your application. We will ask you for your documents later in the process.

Working Conditions:

• All OYA locations are tobacco-free environments.

• Counseling and casework management is performed in a group living milieu.  This may involve the treatment of emotionally unstable clientele and the danger of physical assault is present.

• Daily face to face contact with adjudicated youth and youth from the Department of Corrections who may exhibit hostile, aggressive or assaultive behavior.  This position is expected to enforce rules and to restrain youth during crisis situations.

• May be subject to a hostage situation.

• Employees are subject to recall during facility emergencies. 

• May deal with angry and hostile family members and visitors.

• Weekend, holiday, or evening work may be required.

• Stand-by, or on-call duty may be required.

• Travel to other OYA locations or to trainings throughout the state may be required.

• There is potential exposure to communicable diseases.  The consistent and effective use of appropriate infection-control materials and techniques is required.

Additional Information:

Our goal is to be a diverse workforce that is representative, at all job levels, of the citizens we are here to serve. OYA is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All aspects of employment, including the decision to hire, promote, discipline, or discharge, will be individualized based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.

We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical​​​ condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or ​expression, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law. The more diverse we are, the better our work will be.

Applicants with a disability may request reasonable accommodation to participate in the hiring process. For assistance regarding reasonable accommodation or for alternative format please contact OYA Recruitment at 971-345-1236. Oregon Relay Service can be reached by calling 7-1-1.

Pre-employment Checks:

In keeping with our mission, OYA will conduct a criminal record check, per OAR 416 Division 800, a driving record background check and a vulnerable population abuse and neglect check. Information obtained about an individual is confidential. An individual who refuses to consent to a criminal records/background check shall be disqualified from consideration in the position for which you applied. All applicants are subject to additional pre-employment check(s) such as fingerprint based on criminal records check, pre-employment drug screening, education verification, and/or board certification and/or professional licensing status check as required for the position.

In 2003 Congress passed the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA), the first federal civil statue focused specifically on addressing sexual violence in juvenile facilities, jails, prisons, and other facilities.  In recognition of the rights, safety, and well-being of the youth we serve you will be asked specific questions about your background to ensure our hiring and promotion practices comply with the National PREA standards. 

All positions in OYA will require the incumbent to serve as a "mandatory reporter" of child abuse.

Visa Sponsorship:

We do not offer Visa sponsorship. If you are hired, you will be required to fill out the US Department of Homeland Security’s I-9 form confirming you are able to work in the US. OYA uses E-Verify to confirm that applicants are authorized to work in the United States.

Have Questions?:

For questions about the job announcement, email [email protected]v.