Full-Time

Director of Mental Health Services

Posted on 3/26/2026

Kaweah Health

Kaweah Health

1,001-5,000 employees

Non-profit hospital system delivering trauma care

Compensation Overview

$78.85 - $118.27/hr

Visalia, CA, USA

In Person

Category
Medical, Clinical & Veterinary (2)
,
Required Skills
Management
Risk Management
Marketing
Requirements
  • CA Licensed Registered Nurse
  • Kaweah Health approved crisis intervention training within 60 days of hire/transfer
  • Five years management experience in Mental Health
Responsibilities
  • Directs the development, planning, implementation, and evaluation of programs, services, and policies in the areas supervised.
  • Designs, implements, and influences organizational direction in relation to KH mission statement and values.
  • Assures that all service lines have established goals on a yearly basis that relate to KH and Kaweah Health Mental Health Hospital (KDMHH) mission, goals, and strategic plan.
  • Develops and maintains information systems which facilitate high quality services, staff development, cost effectiveness, and quality information.
  • Continually seeks to improve day-to-day operations at in all service lines through observation and feedback from all customers.
  • Assists in developing strategic plan and marketing strategies for KDMHH in collaboration with others within the services supervised.
  • Provides a positive environment for employee growth and development, with open communication throughout the system, as well as effective allocation and utilization of human resources.
  • Evaluations of staff are completed within the guidelines of KH. Staff develop goal related to professional and organizational needs which are maintained in Human Resources files.
  • Ultimately responsible for maintenance of staff competencies on a yearly basis. Educational programs are developed for staff with consideration of staff, patient, and community needs.
  • Establishes open working relationships and works collaboratively with Medical Directors, medical staff, other hospital service areas, and the community.
  • Works with community schools of education, businesses, etc. to gain their feedback on needs and works with them in developing or supporting community programs.
  • Assures that care/services are safe, meets quality standards, is cost effective, and anticipates future requirements of customers and market.
  • Establishes methods of gaining feedback from users of services and makes changes in operations/services as needed as to improve programs and processes.
  • Maintains compliance programs in programs supervised, and assures measures are being taken to maintain compliance with standards and regulations.
  • Informs the appropriate regulatory agencies within 24 hours of all unusual occurrences.
  • Has a well defined plan for obtaining and responding to customer satisfaction. All issues are dealt with in a timely manner with appropriate feedback to all parties.
  • Plans, allocates, and utilizes resources in a cost effective manner.
  • Maintains actual budget within three percent of projected budget in all programs and at least two processes are revised or developed to increase revenue or decrease costs on a yearly basis.
  • Reviews the budget monthly with the coordinators/managers of programs to promote accountability, education, and creative thinking.
  • Consistently attends to cost effective/reduction strategies when revised operations are considered.
  • Participates in the negotiation for capitation or other managed care rates for programs.
  • Meets on a regular basis with physician staff to gain feedback on operations so as to improve services delivered.
  • Communicates with other service areas to problem solve and generate ideas for service improvement.
  • Assures adherence to client rights as determined by KH policy and governmental regulations.
  • Creates and assures synergy between all service lines supervised as well as other Kaweah Health service lines.
  • Continually strives to improve critical thinking, professional excellence, and personal well being.
  • Networks with peers within the organization as well as within professional organizations.
  • Uses industry-wide benchmarks to improve services and reduce costs.
  • Is actively involved in a professional organization(s), and always strives to apply knowledge to operations or processes.
Desired Qualifications
  • Demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care and services appropriate to the population served on the assigned unit or work area. Knowledgeable of growth and development for all patient/family cultural, linguistic, spiritual, gender, and age specific needs. Able to effectively communicate and care for patient and family as reflected in the Plan for Provision of Care.
  • Master's degree is preferred

Kaweah Health is a public, not-for-profit health system based in Visalia, California, serving the Central Valley since 1963. It operates a 581-bed medical center, a large outpatient clinic, and several facilities, offering emergency care, cancer treatment, cardiovascular services, rehabilitation, and other medical services. It is the largest hospital system in Tulare County and a certified trauma center. As a not-for-profit, it reinvests earnings back into the community to fund new services, facilities, and programs, with a strategic focus on accessible, high-quality healthcare. The organization has launched an financial recovery plan, “Operation Back in Black,” to improve finances through revenue enhancement and cost reduction, and partners with Medline to enhance supply chain and operational efficiency. Its goal is to provide broad, high-quality healthcare to its community while strengthening financial sustainability and expanding services as needed.

Company Size

1,001-5,000

Company Stage

Grant

Total Funding

$8.7M

Headquarters

Visalia, California

Founded

1963

Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Nursing shortage dropped from 25% in 2021 to 7% via Unitek College partnership.
  • $20.8 million Distressed Hospital Loan received March 4, 2024, boosts liquidity.
  • Jonna Schengel appointed Zone 2 board representative through December 4, 2026.

What critics are saying

  • Employment discrimination lawsuit triggers multimillion-dollar settlements in 6-12 months.
  • Debt service failure after 106 layoffs breaches $20.75M loan covenants in 3-6 months.
  • 7% nursing shortage with 70 RN vacancies risks fines and service cutbacks in 12-18 months.

What makes Kaweah Health unique

  • Kaweah Health operates Tulare County's largest 581-bed trauma center since 1963.
  • Operation Back in Black drives revenue growth and cost reductions for financial recovery.
  • Medline partnership optimizes supply chain and operational efficiency.

Help us improve and share your feedback! Did you find this helpful?

Your Connections

People at Kaweah Health who can refer or advise you

Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

Paid Vacation

Paid Sick Leave

Paid Holidays

Flexible Work Hours

Company News

The Valley Voice, LLC
Mar 6th, 2026
Kaweah Health board appoints Jonna Schengel as Zone 2 representative.

Kaweah Health board appoints Jonna Schengel as Zone 2 representative. The Kaweah Health Board of Directors has appointed Jonna Schengel, PT, MA, Ed.D., to serve as the Zone 2 representative, filling the seat vacated by the retirement of Lynn Havard Mirviss, RN, Ed.D. Schengel will serve out the remainder of the term through Dec. 4, 2026. Schengel is currently the Dean of Career Technical Education (CTE) and Workforce Development, Industry and Technology, Manufacturing, Nursing and Allied Health at College of the Sequoias (COS). Selected from a pool of highly qualified candidates, she brings extensive expertise in healthcare education and workforce development to the board. A Visalia resident since 1991, Schengel has deep roots in the local healthcare community. She worked as a physical therapist and founded Central California Physical Therapy Specialists before selling the practice in 2011. At COS, she developed the physical therapist assistant program and significantly expanded the nursing program, further demonstrating her commitment to building the regional healthcare workforce. "I understand how important Kaweah Health is to the vitality of the Central Valley, not just for the employees who work here, but also for the patients," Schengel said. "Ultimately, I want Kaweah Health to be the premier provider of healthcare in the Central Valley." With her strong background in health sciences and educational leadership, Schengel looks forward to contributing her experience, perspective, and commitment to supporting the mission and future of Kaweah Health. Kaweah Health is the community name for the Kaweah Delta Health Care District, a public hospital district serving the greater Visalia area. The district covers 183 square miles, encompassing all of Visalia and Goshen and parts of Ivanhoe and Farmersville. The district is divided into five equally populated zones, each represented on the board by a locally elected member. Board members serve four-year terms and may run for re-election without limit.

Valley Public Radio
Jan 29th, 2026
Kaweah Health graduates nursing staff as shortage plagues county

Kaweah Health graduates nursing staff as shortage plagues county. VISALIA, Calif. - Kaweah Health has graduated an inaugural class of nurses under a new partnership that seeks to address a shortage in Tulare County. In 2020, the hospital partnered with Unitek College, an institution that offers higher education in medicine and nursing throughout the country. It has physical campuses in California, Nevada, and New Mexico. Thirteen graduates received their Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees this month. The new nurses come at an opportune time, as there has been a decline in the number of people working in hospitals across the nation and the Central Valley. The COVID-19 pandemic left significant impacts in the medical field - like stress and excessive workloads - which made the nursing shortage worsen... Kaweah Health officials say the hospital faced a 25% nursing shortage in 2021. That figure sparked the urge to close the gap and improve nurse capacity in the county. The college proposed creating a program within Kaweah Health for prospective nurses who are interested in studying and working at the same time. Dianne Cox, chief human resources officer at Kaweah Health, says the nursing shortage at its hospital is now 7%. "We have 70 vacancies of registered nurses and about 1000 direct patient care registered nurses positions available. We're doing very well with recruitment and retention," Cox said. "We really believe that we will have solved our nursing shortage in Visalia and Tulare County." The program is primarily available to hospital employees, though there are some exceptions. To apply, employees must go through a testing process and provide references. Currently, 160 employees are enrolled. After the 13 graduates who completed the program this month, the hospital expects roughly 50 participants will graduate each year after. Interim Chief Nursing Officer Scott Baker says this program has great potential, especially since it could help fill vacancies by nursing staff who will soon retire. "As we grow this program, and as we hire more of these nurses, this is going to feed the hospital," Baker said. "Having this pool of nurses to pull in will refresh that, and as we grow them into clinical experts, it really balances out what we're going to be losing." Kaweah Health has also partnered in recent years with Porterville College and San Joaquin Valley College's radiologic technology program to boost training and medical staffing.

Nexstar Media Group, Inc.
Feb 27th, 2025
WATCH: Kaweah Health and Award Winning Spine Surgery in the Central Valley

FRESNO, Calif. (KGPE) - Kaweah Health was recently recognized as being a top 100 hospital in the nation for spine surgery by Healthgrades.

The Valley Voice, LLC
Oct 6th, 2023
Kaweah Health named in employment discrimination case

Kaweah Health named in employment discrimination case.

Exeter Chamber of Commerce
Sep 25th, 2023
Kaweah Health's Open House Journey to Care

You'll learn first-hand why so many have picked Kaweah Health to pursue their career in healthcare, and why Kaweah Health was named Healthgrades® America's 100 Best Hospitals™ for 2023.

INACTIVE