Social Worker, Mental Health

Job Title

GS-0185-12, Social Worker

Supports the psychological health team in developing and executing the annual behavioral health program strategy; determines priorities, gaps, and methods to meet goals.

Assists with development and annual review of SOPs for the behavioral health system of care.

Leads psychological health promotion, behavioral health program implementation, and evaluation.

Designs strategies to increase interest, acceptance, and participation among organizational/community partners and NG Soldiers/families; serves as primary advisor on stigma reduction and marketing of psychological health programs.

Develops relationships with military and community groups to enhance prevention and expand behavioral health resources.

Builds networking processes and a community provider directory.

Maintains a broad array of behavioral health resources and partnerships to support NG Soldiers and families. Participates in community activities to build prevention, influence community problem-solving, and promote psychologically healthy lifestyles within the NG.

Attends relevant committees to provide input and obtain information on psychological health.

Collaborates with programs addressing family support, resiliency, suicide prevention, sexual assault, and substance abuse. Conducts community outreach and prevention initiatives and coordinates key findings with the State Surgeon and leaders to keep them informed on behavioral health issues.

Coordinates and implements prevention and education programs.

Conducts needs assessments and SWOT analyses to drive program development.

Creates action plans to meet service member needs and address emerging behavioral health concerns.

Develops and provides primary prevention services educating leadership and the NG community on psychological illness. Briefs commanders and senior leaders on prevention issues and activities.

Educates stakeholders on life skills, coping, and wellness.

Expands access to secondary prevention and psycho-educational skill-building (e.g., parenting, stress/change/anger management, financial management, support groups, couples communication).

Develops formal evaluation processes to monitor prevention/outreach programs and resource access.

Performs clinical screening, evaluation, and consultation.

Applies social work principles in line with DoD guidance.

Screens records/personnel and provides recommendations for security clearances and POSTA. Conducts annual behavioral health, pre-/post-mobilization screenings to determine readiness.

Provides behavioral health consultation to Soldiers, leaders, and partners.

Completes assessments using DSM criteria and biopsychosocial history; uses and interprets psychological measures; prepares written evaluations with clinical impressions. Determines readiness and completes profiles per AR 40-501.

Provides timely feedback to providers and commanders and advises commands on supporting behavioral health treatment plans.

Builds efficient behavioral health referral and case management processes, ensuring timely Soldier contact, documentation, follow-up, connection to services, and quality assurance feedback.

Uses BHDP, MEDCHART/eCase, Behavioral Health Reporting Tool, E-profile, DoDSER, and other ARNG systems.

Continuously improves case management and supports the surgeon's office as SME on behavioral health readiness and return-to-duty determinations.

Conducts population-based behavioral health surveillance to identify trends and shape targeted prevention/mitigation strategies.

Works with the State Surgeon team to monitor behavioral health metrics, including provider utilization, service member experience, and psychological health outcomes.

Collects population data (demographics, service and deployment characteristics) and process/utilization data (contacts, referrals, briefings, presenting problems, client demographics).

Tracks mental health encounters, positive screens, interest in assistance, mandated reporting, and suicide mitigations. Ensures metrics comply with DoD policy, Army Regulations, National Guard guidance, and policy letters.

Provides consultation, education, and training to military and civilian health professionals on behavioral health policy, psychological fitness, and prevention programs.

Expands NG provider competencies on psychological health resources and interventions.

Assesses training and professional development needs for state medical and behavioral health teams and delivers accurate, timely training.

Maintains professional development and awareness of emerging prevention and treatment modalities through continuing education, conferences, professional organizations, and independent study.

Other duties as assigned (temporary, minor, or incidental tasks).