Behavioral Health Specialist 2

Initial Posting Date:

09/03/2025

Application Deadline:

/

Agency:

Oregon Youth Authority

Salary Range:

$6,420.00 - $8,967.00

Position Type:

Employee

Position Title:

Behavioral Health Specialist 2 - Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP) - Part-Time, Full-Time, or Temp

Job Description:

OREGON YOUTH AUTHORITY

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

Burns, Oregon - Eastern Oregon Youth Correctional Facility

Do you have a passion for providing counseling and guidance services to youth? Join the Eastern Oregon Youth Correctional Facility as a Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP)!

The Oregon Youth Authority (OYA) is currently seeking a Qualified Mental Health Professionals (QMHPs) who is dedicated to delivering comprehensive mental and behavioral health treatment and services to youth at Eastern Oregon Youth Correctional Facility. In this role, you will work closely with a diverse team of professionals, including contracted psychiatrists, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs), or psychologists, to create and maintain a supportive treatment environment within the assigned living unit. Your primary objective will be to foster a dynamic atmosphere that promotes the growth and development of youth, encouraging them to take responsibility, adopt healthy habits, lead productive lifestyles, and engage in socially acceptable behavior. Collaborating with the Living Unit Manager (LUM) and the unit Case Coordinator (CC), you will provide strong leadership within your assigned living unit, implementing and sustaining evidence-based interventions within a group living setting.

We are actively committed to cultivating a diverse and inclusive workplace where individuals from all backgrounds can thrive. We encourage applications from candidates who represent different races, ethnicities, genders, abilities, and identities, as we believe that a diverse team brings a wide range of perspectives and enriches our collective expertise.

Additional Information:

• Work Schedule: Full-Time work schedule for this position is Sunday-Thursday- 12:00pm-8:00pm. Part-Time (20 hours a week) and Temporary position are flexible hours/days.
• Part-Time: Part-time positions are up to 20 hours per week. Benefits will be prorated according to the number of hours worked. Salary listed in the job announcement is based on a full-time schedule. Part-time positions are hourly positions.
• 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.
• 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 the City of Burns:

Burns, Oregon commonly referred to, as the gateway to the Steens Mountains, is a small rural town located in the south eastern corner of Oregon. Far from the wet coastline and forested mountains that characterize the state’s western region, this high-desert country is full of volcanic craters, craggy mountain peaks, untraveled back roads and abundant wildlife. Residents in these friendly small towns come from farming and ranching families that have worked the land here for generations. Head to Oregon’s high desert to discover a land of wild beauty and Old West welcome. To learn more about this great town, please click here or visit Harney County at http://www.co.harney.or.us/

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.

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 from 11-11:30am. We can assist you with all your application and agency questions!

Click Here to Register for OYA Career Chats!

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 policypaid 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 insurancecan 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 insuranceis guaranteed if purchased within the first 90 days of new union membership.
• Legal insuranceenrollment 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).
• A 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.

• 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).

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.  

1.    Familiarity with Drug and Alcohol  and Sexually Harming Behavior Treatment. 
2.    Experience facilitating treatment groups.
3.    Experience working with clients in crisis.
4.    Strong client documentation experience. 

How to apply:

1. Complete the application or upload 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. 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 a 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.

Relocation Assistance:

OYA is prepared to offer relocation assistance to the successful candidate. This reimbursement package must be requested by the candidate and approved before accepting the position.  Approved assistance packages, noted in the offer letter, will be processed as a reimbursement and must follow State of Oregon Department of Administrative Services Policy 40.055.20 which allows for reimbursement of expenses with receipts within the following categories (limits per category) not to exceed $1,500.00:

• Moving of personal household belongings (up to 20,000 lbs.)
• Packing, crating, and unpacking of personal household belongings ($1,500)
• Additional moving charges for full value insurance, appliance blocking charges, extra handling charges ($2,000)
• Private vehicle mileage from old to new residence (two vehicles)
• Miscellaneous Expenses ($5,000)

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 the HR Recruiter at [email protected]