Children's Intensive Behavioral Health Services Specialist

MPHI is a Michigan-based and nationally engaged, non-profit public health institute. We are a team of teams, process and content experts, dedicated to building A world where tomorrow is healthier than today!

Title: Children's Intensive Behavioral Health Services Specialist

$66,539.20 - $99,320 / Posted Thru: 2-2-2026

This position requires a cover letter with application

Location: Hybrid - Must work and live in the State of Michigan

Some in-person requirements - Lansing, Michigan office

Purpose: The Children's Intensive Behavioral Health Services Specialist will provide policy and programmatic support and expertise to the Division Director for the Division of Access Standards, Service Array, and Policy with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Bureau of Coordinated Children's Health Policy and Supports. The specialist will be responsible for leading the development and implementation of specific Medicaid-funded intensive behavioral health services for children, youth, and families. The specialist will coordinate changes to necessary federal authorities, managed care contracts, Medicaid policy, and other supplemental guidance to implement new or expanded services. The specialist will also develop identify issues and develop recommendations for the division director, bureau director, and other members of MDHHS leadership on necessary changes to support service implementation. The specialist will also coordinate other policy and programmatic changes related to specialty behavioral health service delivery to children, youth, and families.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Conduct program research and develop recommendations for changes to intensive behavioral health services in alignment with DD v. MDHHS settlement agreement and other identified departmental priorities
• Conduct analysis of existing and proposed laws, policies, and procedures as they relate to a children's intensive behavioral health services.
• Assess the impact of existing and proposed policies and program decisions.
• Develop project plans and associated documentation to implement necessary federal authority, contract, policy, and other programmatic changes.
• Develop policies, procedures, contract language, and necessary federal authority documentation to support implementation of identified changes
• Coordinate the implementation of related changes with other MDHHS staff and external partners.
• Develop and provide technical assistance and guidance to external partners on implementation of intensive behavioral health services.
• Represent the division director in meetings and on workgroups as requested.
• Make public presentations on behalf of the division.
• Respond to requests for information from internal and external partners.
• Compile information for timely completion of necessary reports.
• Assist with implementation of division duties related to DD v. MDHHS settlement agreement.
• Develop relationships with entities including, but not limited to: Prepaid Inpatient Health Plans (PIHPs); Community Mental Health Services Programs (CMHSPs); public and private child welfare partners, Community Mental Health Association (CMHA), Association for Children's Mental Health (ACMH), and other identified stakeholders.
• Work with identified stakeholders to execute division goals and facilitate meetings/workgroups with internal and external partners to meet the goals of the division.
• Always represent the best interests of MDHHS and MPHI.
• All other duties as assigned.

Qualifications/Requirements:

Education: Minimum of a Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Psychology, Public Health, Public Policy, or Public Administration, or similar degree program. Master's degree preferred.

Experience: A minimum of five years of professional experience working on designing and implementing behavioral health programs at the federal, state, or local level.

Important Skills and Characteristics:

• Highly organized with the ability to multi-task.
• Strong research and analysis skills.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Able to manage teams effectively.
• Self-motivated and able to work independently.
• A team player.
• Strength based and dependable.

Work Environment and Physical Requirements: Job may require moderate physical effort including lifting materials and equipment of <35# and involve viewing CRT or VDT screen 50 to 75% of the time. Standard office environment; may require occasional participation in off-site functions. May require valid vehicle operator's license where needed to perform the duties of the position.

RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE WORK OF OTHERS: No assigned responsibility.

IMPACT ON PROJECTS, SERVICES AND OPERATIONS: This position has a direct impact on the quality of services provided by MPHI to MDHHS.

REQUIRED COMMUNICATION

Contact Person/Group	Frequency	Purpose
Supervisor	Daily	Supervision
Internal Partners	As Needed	Collaboration
External Stakeholders	As Needed	Collaboration

For purposes of employment standards, this classification is "Exempt" from overtime provisions of the fair Labor Standards Act.

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MPHI is an EEO employer that participates with e-verify.