Behavioral Health Professional 1

State of Iowa; Cherokee (IA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, Dental, Vision Coverage

Paid Time Off (vacation, sick leave, 9

Retirement Plans (IPERS, RIC)

Job summary

The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, Division of State-Operated Specialty Care, CCUSO, seeks a Behavioral Health Professional 1 to provide sex-offender-specific clinical services in a secure treatment environment in Cherokee, IA. This full-time role runs 7:30 a.m.

to 4:00 p.m., Monday–Friday. The ideal candidate demonstrates sound clinical judgment, strong communication, and the ability to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in psychology, mental health counseling, applied behavior analysis, clinical social work, behavioral sciences or closely related field.
• Background check required.
• Must obtain IBTSA SOTP 1 or SOTP 2 certification within three years of appointment.

Responsibilities

• Provide sex offender–specific therapy, including group and individual sessions and BSP development.
• Conduct intake evaluations and develop treatment plans with measurable goals.
• Coordinate case management and maintain organized clinical records.
• Complete all required documentation (notes, assessments, plans).
• Assist with crisis intervention and assess risk of suicide or harm to others.
• Prepare and facilitate psycho-educational groups tailored to sex offenders.

Skills

Clinical judgment

Team collaboration

Therapy

Crisis intervention

Education

Master’s degree in psychology, mental health counseling, ABA, clinical social work or related field

Job description

The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Division of State-Operated Specialty Care, Bureau of Civil Commitment Unit for Sex Offenders (CCUSO) is seeking a dedicated Behavioral Health Professional 1 to provide clinical services within a secure treatment environment. This position delivers sex offender–specific treatment, case management, and psycho-educational programming to individuals civilly committed to CCUSO. This is a full‑time position with a 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday‑Friday schedule.

The ideal Behavioral Health Professional demonstrates strong clinical judgment, excellent communication skills, and the ability to work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams in a treatment environment. The position requires graduation from an accredited four‑year college or university with a master’s degree in psychology, mental health counseling, applied behavior analysis, clinical social work, behavioral sciences, mental health, or a closely related field.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide sex offender–specific therapy. Facilitate group therapy, individual therapy, and develop Behavior Support Plans (BSPs).
• Conduct comprehensive intake evaluations, develop treatment plans, complete 90‑day progress reviews, and establish measurable goals within individualized treatment plans.
• Coordinate case management for assigned patients, maintain organized clinical records, and ensure treatment activities follow CCUSO policy and professional standards.
• Complete all required documentation, including patient contact notes, assessments, and treatment plans.
• Assist with crisis intervention, de‑escalation, and participate in assessing patients at risk for suicide, self‑harm, or harm to others.
• Prepare and facilitate psycho‑educational groups, demonstrating knowledge of developmental principles, responsivity considerations, and group therapy methods specific to sex offenders.

Special Requirement:

• Must obtain IBTSA SOTP 1 or SOTP 2 certification within three (3) years of appointment.

Applicants will be required to complete a background check to be considered for this position.

CCUSO provides a secure, long‑term, and highly structured setting to treat sexual offenders who have served their prison terms, but, in a separate civil trial, have been found likely to reoffend. The facility provides state‑of‑the‑art treatment to patients to lower their risk of re‑offending and to release themfrom confinement as quickly as possible. There is a full range of diagnostic, treatment, and rehabilitative services focused on addressing the conditions impacting a patient’s likelihood of re‑offending. For more CCUSO info: https://hhs.iowa.gov/family-community/specialty-care-facilities/civil-commitment-unit-sexual-offenders

Benefits of Joining CCUSO

Working for the State of Iowa comes with its perks. In addition to a competitive salary, you’ll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your well‑being and professional growth.

• Health, Dental, and Vision Coverage: Health and dental insurance packages to keep you and your family healthy at a low cost with outstanding coverage!
• Paid Time Off: Take time to recharge with paid time off, including vacation (96 hours/year to begin, increasing with years of service), sick leave (144 hours/year), and paid holidays (9 days/year).
• Retirement Plans: Participate in retirement plans such as IPERS (employees contribute 6.29% and the State of Iowa contributes 9.44%) as well as our Retirement Investors Club (RIC), Employer Sponsored Retirement Plan (the State of Iowa matches dollar for dollar up to $75/month).
• Flexible Spending Accounts: Take advantage of flexible spending accounts for medical and dependent care expenses.
• Insurance Coverage: Benefit from life insurance and free long‑term disability insurance for added peace of mind.
• Employee Assistance Program: Access resources and support through our Employee Assistance Program for personal and professional challenges.
• Employee Discount Programs: Enjoy discounts on a variety of goods and services through our employee discount programs.

For additional information on benefits click here.

Click here to see how we compare with other employers or offers by using our Total Compensation Calculator.

Cherokee Highlights

CCUSO is located in Cherokee, a city of approximately 5,000 set in the beautiful Little Sioux River Valley in Northwest Iowa. Residents enjoy fishing and canoeing on the Little Sioux River which winds through town providing a backdrop to a well‑developed parks and trails system. In addition, Cherokee has over 1,000 acres of land devoted to parks and outdoor activities like camping, hiking, and horseback riding. Cherokee is the home of the first accredited museum and planetarium in Iowa, Sandford Museum and Planetarium, established in 1951. Cherokee may be the smallest town in the world to have its own symphony orchestra! This 60‑member orchestra has been referred to as the “best kept secret in Northwest Iowa.”

Cherokee is home to Western Iowa Tech Community College and 1 hour or less from other educational institutions including Morningside College, Northwestern College, Buena Vista University, and Dordt College. This quintessential Iowa town is 1 hour from Sioux City and 2 hours from Omaha. Check out these 10 Reasons to Move to Iowa.

The State of Iowa is an EEO/AA Employer

HHS values those with “lived experience” and encourages adults who were fostered as youth, foster parents, and/or parents who were in the HHS system to apply. Minorities, women, persons with disabilities and veterans are encouraged to apply (Hearing and Speech Impaired – Relay Iowa 1-800-735-2942 TDD).

E-Verify and Right to Work

The State of Iowa participates in E-Verify, a federal program that helps employers confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. Within the required timeframe, new hires will be verified through the E-Verify system to ensure authorization to work in the United States. The State of Iowa also complies with the federal Right to Work laws, which protect employees’ rights to work without being required to join a labor organization. For more information, please visit www.e-verify.gov.

Graduation from an accredited four‑year college or university with a Master’s degree in psychology, mental health counseling, applied behavior analysis, clinical social work, behavioral sciences, mental health, or a closely‑related field.

For additional information click on this link to view the job description.

Within a period of time after hire, as determined by the appointing authority, employees in this class may be required to obtain one or more of the following certificates, licenses, or endorsements:

• Temporary Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHCt)
• Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC)
• Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
• Licensed Clinical Alcohol & Drug Abuse Counselor (LCADAC)
• Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)
• Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW)
• Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA)
• Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA)
• Licensed Behavioral Analyst