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The General Pediatrics Division is seeking a Behavioral Health Specialist in the Department of Pediatrics to provide services at Chesapeake Pediatric & Adolescent Associates as part of the High Five for Prenatal to Five collaborative early learning hub project. High Five for Prenatal to Five is a multi-site project focused on healthy equity through the provision of early childhood development supports within the context of pediatric primary care. Chesapeake Pediatric & Adolescent Associates is a private practice on the Eastern Shore with locations in Berlin, Maryland and Salisbury, Maryland. This position will spend 100% of their time in the Salisbury office located at 106 Milford Street, Suite 201, Salisbury, MD 21804.

This Behavioral Health Specialist position will work as an early childhood development expert within the pediatric primary care team to provide screening, assessment, brief interventions, consultative services, education, referral linkages, advocacy, and follow-up for families with children ages 0-5. This person will build strong relationships with families and with members of the care team (e.g., providers, social work staff, nursing staff, front-desk staff) to support team-based comprehensive care. As part of this position, the successful candidate will receive training and supervision in, and be expected to implement, at least three evidence-based models of care for young children, including Healthy Steps, the Chicago Parent Program, and the Mothers and Babies Program.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

Training/Professional Development Activities (on the job trainings)

• Participate in HealthySteps training (Virtual HealthySteps Institute).
• Participate in Chicago Parent Program training.
• Participate in Mothers and Babies training.
• Participate in regularly scheduled reflective supervision meetings.
• Participate in regularly scheduled longitudinal case-based learning sessions through the KKI-NECT Project ECHO model.

Clinical

• Promote HealthySteps within the practice to families and providers.
• Support the practice in implementation of screening for social, emotional, behavioral and developmental concerns and family needs for families, 0-5 years old.
• Conduct appointments before, during, or following the primary care provider visits that are focused on monitoring development, social-emotional functioning, and relational health, and providing anticipatory guidance.
• Conduct consultations on a short-term basis for child/family needs regarding social, emotional, developmental and/or behavioral concerns (e.g., sleep issues, positive parenting, picky eating, tantrums).
• Maintain a child development support line and respond to call requests within the designated response time.
• Provide brief developmental and mental health interventions using established evidence-based interventions.
• Facilitate parent/caregiver groups using the Chicago Parent Program and Mothers and Babies curriculums.

Provision of Team-Based Care

• Serve as an active member of the High Five for P-5 Implementation Team and attend regular team meetings.
• Work with administrative staff to ensure appropriate scheduling of the Behavioral Health Specialist’s time in coordination with provider visits.
• Engage in Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) initiatives to ensure the HealthySteps model is delivered with fidelity.
• Collaborate with the High Five for P-5 team to implement all core components of the HealthySteps model, Chicago Parent Program and Mothers and Babies interventions including universal screenings, making positive parenting and early learning guidance information available, and adjusting workflows for optimal efficiency.
• Maintain open communication with all members of the primary care team (providers, nurses, social workers, etc.)
• Work closely with pediatric primary providers around care coordination, goal setting, coaching, and education about key aspects of a child’s development.
• Provide consultation and/or facilitates training to medical professionals and all practice staff regarding early childhood development, early relational health, infant early childhood mental health, and trauma-informed practice.
• Participate in occasional trainings for the residents on the HealthySteps model and early child development and socio-emotional health.

Referrals and Community Collaborations

• Create and maintain community resource directory/database.
• Provide referrals and track follow-up, as appropriate, to help families make successful connections to key resources within the community.
• Reach out to community providers within first 6 months in position to share about HealthySteps, their role, and receive information to support referrals, warm handoffs, and ensure appropriate referral criteria is met.
• Participate (when appropriate) in community-wide early childhood and/or mental health meetings.
• Participate (when appropriate) in Project Advisory Board meetings.

Documentation

• Document all patient clinical activity and care coordination in the clinic’s electronic health record.
• Track all clinical activities completed using the High Five for P-5 project’s REDCap database within a timely fashion.
• Collaborate with the High Five for P-5 team to complete required reporting to the HealthySteps National Office on services provided.
• Respond honestly to surveys and assessments of the program implementation.

Additional Skills, Knowledge and Abilities

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Commitment to working with underserved populations in a community setting.
• Empathic, supportive, and patient.
• Strong motivational interviewing skills.
• Ability to work with people of many backgrounds and cultures.
• Ability to take initiative and a willingness to learn.
• Ability to work well in teams and independently.
• Ability to multitask and triage multiple appointments and priorities.
• Comfort with an open-door policy, potentially frequent interruptions, and warm hand offs.
• Ability to communicate clearly and assertively with primary care providers and other colleagues about patient needs.
• Work requires concentration and constant attention to accuracy and detail for extended periods.

Physical Requirements

• Work is generally sedentary in nature; however, some standing, stooping, and bending are required.
• Work requires the daily use of a computer.
• Work requires attendance at High Five for P-5 project meetings and off-site meetings on occasion.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master's Degree in Counseling, Psychology, Public Health, Social Work, Education or related areas such as Women/Gender Studies is required. Eligibility for professional license in Maryland is required.
• Two years of clinical experience in a mental health profession working with clients required; three years preferred.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bilingual in English and Spanish.

Classified Title: Behavioral Health Specialist
Role/Level/Range: ACRP/03/MB
Starting Salary Range: $41,300 - $72,300 Annually ($65,000 targeted; Commensurate w/exp.)
Employee group: Full Time
Schedule: M-F, 8:30 - 5pm
Exempt Status: Exempt
Location: School of Medicine Campus
Department name: SOM Ped General Pediatrics
Personnel area: School of Medicine