Behavioral Health Practitioner

Join Our Team as a Behavioral Health Practitioner!

The Santa Barbara County Education Office (SBCEO) is seeking a compassionate and culturally competent Behavioral Health Practitioner to provide individual, group, and family therapy to children and families in various educational settings. This position offers a unique opportunity to support at-risk youth in overcoming academic, emotional, and behavioral challenges through therapeutic services and case management. The ideal candidate will have a Master’s degree in a related field, at least three years of post-licensure experience, and expertise in evidence-based practices such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

Strong communication skills, the ability to work collaboratively, and fluency in Spanish (if required for certain roles) are also highly valued. Join our dedicated team and make a lasting impact on the well-being of students and families in our community.

You are a culturally competent and empathetic professional with creative problem‑solving skills who cares deeply about the students and families receiving your services. You are a team player, skilled in your area of expertise, and you use your knowledge and skills to accomplish collective goals.

Under general direction, provide culturally competent individual, group, and family therapy in order to: help children and students succeed academically, socially, and emotionally; strengthen families and connect them with the resources they need; and create a safe, healthy, and supportive learning environment, in collaboration with educators and other professionals.

A typical way to qualify for this classification would be:

• Education:
  
  Possession of a qualifying master’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education.
• Experience:
  
  Three years of post-licensure experience providing therapy to at‑promise (at‑risk) youth or families, preferably in a school environment.

The Juvenile Court and Community Schools department is focused on providing educational opportunities and behavioral health support for at‑risk youth throughout Santa Barbara County. Through programs such as the Peter

B. Fitz Gerald Community School and Dos Puertas School
, we serve students facing challenges such as disciplinary issues, chronic absenteeism, or involvement with the juvenile justice system. Our goal is to help students re‑engage with their education, overcome personal challenges, and either reintegrate into their home schools or graduate through our supportive, alternative education programs.

Initial salary placement: $57.70–$66.51 per hour. Eligible employees may also receive a $2,000 stipend for a master’s degree or a $3,000 stipend for a doctorate. Additionally, incumbents who pass the bilingual assessment will receive a 5% salary differential.