Job Description

Requisition No: 868637

Agency: Children and Families

Working Title: BEHAVIORAL PROGRAM SPECIALIST OPS - 60955520

Pay Plan: Temp

Position Number: 60955520

Salary: $18.38 per hour

Posting Closing Date: 01/27/2026

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) isthe state of Florida’s social services agency. The agency oversees services for child safety, fostering, adoption, domestic violence, adult protective services, refugees, homelessness, mental health, substance abuse, childcare providers, human trafficking and public assistance. The agency’s mission is to work in partnership with local communities to protect the vulnerable, promote strong and economically self-sufficient families, and advance personal and family recovery and resiliency.

Within DCF, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health (SAMH) Program office is recognized as the single state authority for substance abuse and mental health services. The Office of SAMH is statutorily responsible for the planning, evaluation, and implementation of a comprehensive statewide system of care for the prevention, treatment, and recovery of children and adults with serious mental illnesses or substance use disorders

Northeast Florida State Hospital (NEFSH) is a 613-bed, licensed mental health treatment facility that provides person-centered services to adults suffering from severe and persistent mental illness. The hospital, located in Macclenny, was established in 1959 and is the largest state operated civil treatment facility.

NORTHEAST FLORIDA STATE HOSPITAL IS A TOBACCO FREE FACILITY.

TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION RESPONSES TO THE QUALIFYING QUESTIONS ARE REQUIRED AND MUST BE VERIFIABLE BASED ON YOUR SUBMITTED APPLICATION.

This is a highly responsible and professional position serving as the Behavioral Program Specialist OPS within the Psychology unit. The ideal candidate will be a collaborative team player who works seamlessly across all sections within the program office. This role requires the use of independent judgment, a proactive approach to responsibilities, and exceptional attention to detail. If you are driven, organized, and thrive in a fast-paced environment, we encourage you to apply.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities include:

• Upon referral from the treatment team and under the supervision of psychology (either Masters or Doctoral) staff, assists with the assessment and behavior modification interventions for persons having significant behavioral issues that delay/prevent discharge. Collaborates with attending physicians and treatment team to ensure continuity of services. Conducts functional behavioral assessments and observes and records target behavior as appropriate. Develops operational strategies and assists living area staff engage in measurement of target behaviors.
• In conjunction with psychology staff, develops, trains, and implements behavior modification strategies to effectively address target behaviors. Monitors and documents intervention delivery to ensure program integrity. Adjusts interventions in conjunction with psychology staff as data indicates. Completes monthly progress notes for persons receiving behavioral programming services. Works with unit direct care staff to provide coaching and feedback regarding interventions. Maintains an active presence on the living areas of the targeted persons served.
• Assists psychology, rehabilitation, and other clinical staff in designing instructional techniques/practices appropriate for persons with significant behavioral disorders, including those persons who refuse to attend scheduled activities. Develops reinforcer preference inventories in conjunction with psychology staff. Conducts reinforcer preference inventories with individuals served. Maintains an inventory of appropriate reinforcer and coping skill items to be utilized by individuals hospital wide.
• Conducts personal safety plans for individuals on assigned caseload upon admission, annually and after any significant event such as seclusion or restraint. The personal safety plan is utilized as a first line intervention in de-escalating individuals served.
• Provides enrichment/enhancement activities on assigned living areas as needed. Provides group coverage for the psychology department as indicated and directed by supervisor. Attends recovery team meetings on assigned living areas.

• Performs other duties as assigned

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities required for the position:

• Knowledge of the principles and techniques of self-care program activities.
• Ability to make behavioral assessments.
• Ability to plan, organize and coordinate activities.
• Ability to develop and monitor self-care behavioral modification prescriptive treatment plans, activities and programs.
• Ability to teach and apply behavior modification principles.
• Ability to evaluate client services for compliance with program objectives.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.

Minimum Qualifications:

• An associate's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in nursing, education, or a social, behavioral or rehabilitative science is preferred and two years of experience involving the application of behavior modification principles; or
• A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in nursing, education, or a social, behavioral or rehabilitative science is preferred.
• Experience as described above can substitute on a year-for-year basis for the preferred college education.

• Class E Florida Driver’s License.

Candidate Profile (application) must be completed in its entirety.

• Include supervisor names and phone numbers for all periods of employment.

• Account for and explain any gaps in employment so that the hiring process is not delayed.

• Experience, education, training, knowledge, skills and/or abilities as well as responses to pre-qualifying questions must be verifiable to meet the minimum qualifications. 

• It is unacceptable to use the statement “See Resume” in place of responding to qualifying questions and entering work history.

• If you experience problems applying online, please call the People First Service Center at (877) 562-7287.

Benefits of Working for the State of Florida:

• Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck. The State’s total compensation package for employees features a highly competitive set of employee benefits.
• For a more complete list of benefits, visit  www.mybenefits.myflorida.com

DCF EMPLOYMENT DISCLOSURES

US CITIZEN REQUIREMENTOnly US citizens and lawfully authorized alien workers will be hired.

SELECTIVE SERVICE SYSTEM REGISTRATION All selected male candidates born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion into an authorized position unless they are registered with the Selective Service System (SSS). Verification of Selective Service registration will be conducted prior to hire For more information, please visit the SSS website: http://www.sss.gov

RETIREE NOTICE If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), please check with the FRS on how your current benefits will be affected if you are re-employed with the State of Florida. Your current retirement benefits may be suspended or voided, and you required to repay all benefits received depending upon the date of your retirement.

BACKGROUND SCREENING It is the policy of the Florida Department of Children and Families that any applicant being considered for employment must successfully complete a State and National criminal history check as a condition of employment before beginning employment, and, if applicable, also be screened in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 435, F.S., and Chapter 408, F.S. No applicant may begin employment until the background screening results are received, reviewed for any disqualifying offenses, and approved by the Agency. Background screening shall include, but not be limited to, fingerprinting for State and Federal criminal records checks through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and may include local criminal history checks through local law enforcement agencies.

#SAMH

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.