Behavioral Health Services Consultant -Psychiatric Services

Behavioral Health Services Consultant - Psychiatric Services

Company Background

The Iowa Primary Care Association (Iowa PCA) has supported Iowa’s community health centers for over 36 years to expand access to affordable, high quality, integrated care. The Iowa PCA, along with our sister companies INConcertCare (INCC) and IowaHealth (IH ), provides training, technical assistance, and shared services opportunities in quality improvement, value-based care, health information technology, and other areas. We are now expanding our services through a new partnership with Iowa Health and Human Services to serve as the new statewide Behavioral Health Administrative Service Organization (BH-ASO). It’s an exciting opportunity to expand our efforts and connection to the broader behavioral health safety net.

Purpose of the Position

The Behavioral Health Services Consultant - Psychiatric Services proactively develops, evaluates, supports and expands statewide psychiatric programs and initiatives and promotes a culture of continuous improvement. Reporting to the Lead Integrated Health Consultant, this role serves as a statewide subject matter expert, leading technical assistance specialized in psychiatric services with evidence-based, integrated health approaches and culturally competent frameworks focused on improving access and outcomes for behavioral health services across Iowa.

Integrated health is a key element of a whole-person approach to healthcare. It emphasizes coordinated, team-based, and person-centered care that unites all aspects of health including physical, oral, pharmacy, and behavioral (mental/brain) health. This comprehensive model is designed to improve outcomes by addressing the full spectrum of factors that contribute to an individual’s overall well-being.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

1. Program Development and Implementation

• Support alignment of psychiatric and medication-assisted treatment (MAT) services with the Iowa Behavioral Health Service System Statewide Plan, federal block grant priorities, and evidence-based frameworks and practices including advisement on service models for rural and underserved areas.
• Analyze data to identify trends, service gaps, and priority needs across the behavioral health service continuum for area of focus.
• Design and/or provide guidance on implementation of evidence-based behavioral health psychiatric service and medication-assisted treatment (MAT) programs targeted to diverse populations and supporting integration of psychiatric care with primary care and social services.
• Provide expert consultation and collaboration with stakeholders on evaluating gap assessment results and recommending and implementing appropriate psychiatric and MAT service approaches that align with statewide behavioral health objectives.
• Stay abreast of current research, trends and evidence-based best practices in behavioral health services assigned focus area(s).
• Lead development, relative to the assigned focus area(s), of appropriate policies, protocols, and procedures, including clinical, administrative, and operational, which are in compliance with the most current accepted professional standards for providers across Iowa.
• Provide support to the development of processes to improve operational efficiency and meet providers and partners’ strategic goals related to integrated health, with a focus on assigned area(s). Assist providers in creating workflows to optimize care delivery, introduce best practice improvements and/or promising practices, and evaluate outcomes. Meet with providers as needed to facilitate progress and address barriers.

2. Partnership and Collaboration

• Establish and maintain strong state and regional partnerships providing consultation on the development, implementation, and evaluation of psychiatric and MAT programs and services.
• Serve as a liaison to statewide coalitions, task forces, and workgroups focused on psychiatric and MAT services, facilitating cross-sector collaboration to maximize outreach and effectiveness of behavioral health care statewide.
• Build partnerships with academic institutions and psychiatric residency programs to inform workforce pipeline efforts statewide.

3. Technical Assistance and Training

• Act as the ASO’s primary subject matter expert in psychiatric services, psychiatric prescribing protocols, medication assisted treatment, polypharmacy, and related risk mitigation practices.
• Provide technical assistance, consultation and training to partner organizations, such as FQHCs, behavioral health providers, schools, public health agencies and community organizations, to ensure effective implementation of psychiatric services and frameworks.
• Develop and deliver trainings, webinars, educational materials, presentations and other resources for diverse audiences, including non-prescribing professionals (i.e. case managers), on understanding psychiatric medications and MAT to improve interdisciplinary coordination.
• Apply continuous improvement and facilitation tools when providing training and technical assistance to providers and partners, creating measurable and sustainable improvements in patient and provider outcomes.
• Participate in the development of integrated health strategies/solutions, training, and technical assistance for alternative modalities of care applicable to the assigned focus area for providers and partners.
• Facilitate Integrated Health meetings, Work Groups, Committees, Learning Cohorts, Project ECHOs, and facilitate/participate in statewide and cross-state coalitions to discuss innovations and ongoing strategic planning related to Integrated Health in assigned focus areas.

4. Evaluation and Reporting

• Collaborate with data analysts and evaluators develop and implement methods for monitoring and evaluating program outcomes, quality and performance measures (HEDIS) related to psychiatric care.
• Prepare regular reports demonstrating the impact, effectiveness, and reach of psychiatric services and MAT and recommendations for improvement actions.
• Assist with data collection and analysis in support of integrated health initiatives specific to assigned focus area(s).
• Manage assigned federal and/or state grant program initiatives including coordination of participating providers and partners and the grantor, ensuring that all grant objectives are met, participating in all required calls and meetings, and creating progress reports and other documentation as needed.

5. Resource Development

• Contribute subject matter expertise in developing grant applications or other funding proposals, reports, and policy recommendations related to psychiatric services.

6. Public Awareness and Communication

• Participate in development of statewide policies and guidelines for evidence-based programs for psychiatric services and MAT.
• Advise on culturally responsive and inclusive strategies to engage underserved and high-risk populations in appropriate psychiatric services and medication assisted treatment.

Qualifications

Education:

• Current and unrestricted licensure as an Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner. Other Advanced Practice Providers will be considered with extensive and specialized experience in behavioral health or public health programs.
• Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP or PMH) certification, and possession of DEA number to furnish controlled substances and experience in providing SUD (including MAT/MOUD) services preferred. Other certificates in Psychiatry, Behavioral Health, or SUD will be considered.
• Master’s or Doctoral Degree from an accredited institution.
• Unrestricted license to practice medicine in Iowa.

Experience:

• At least five years’ experience practicing in a clinic, managed care or public health setting. Experience in direct patient care is preferred.
• At least three years of experience leading psychiatric program or policy development including technical assistance for providers or health care teams.
• Demonstrated commitment to advancing culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and person-centered psychiatric practices.
• Demonstrated expertise in public health principles, integrated care models and interdisciplinary service delivery.
• Strong understanding of Iowa’s behavioral health system and public health infrastructure.
• Experience achieving objectives through close collaboration with clinicians and care teams, external stakeholders, organizational leaders, and peers.
• Experience using data analysis to drive strategic planning, develop programs, design technical assistance and/or process redesign in either a consulting role or a supporting role, preferably in behavioral health at the community or systems level.
• Experience planning and facilitating meetings and group work in a highly collaborative, interdependent environment.

Work Environment and Travel

• On-site work required at least two days per week, with travel across Iowa to support district operations and attend conferences or meetings.