Behavioral Health Specialist I - ICM PATH & Hypothermia

Behavioral Health Specialist I - ICM PATH & Hypothermia

Salary

$63,732.03 - $111,531.06 Annually

Location

MERRIFIELD CENTER, 8221 WILLOW OAKS CORPORATE DR., FAIRFAX (HH12), VA

Job Type

FT Hourly W BN

Job Number

26-01036

Department

Community Services Board

Opening Date

07/18/2026

Closing Date

7/24/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

Pay Grade

S22

Posting Type

Open to General Public

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Job Announcement

Are you passionate about helping people experiencing homelessness rebuild their lives? Join Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Boards Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH) team and become part of a dedicated group of professionals committed to serving adults experiencing homelessness and serious mental illness.

As a PATH Behavioral Health Specialist I (BHS I), youll provide outreach, engagement, case management, and behavioral health support to individuals where they are-in shelters, campsites, libraries, public spaces, transit stations, and throughout the community. Every interaction is an opportunity to build trust, remove barriers, and help someone take the next step toward stability and recovery.

What Youll Do

Youll make a direct impact by:

• Conducting compassionate street outreach to individuals experiencing homelessness throughout Fairfax County.
• Building trusting relationships and connecting individuals with behavioral health, medical, housing, and community resources.
• Assisting individuals in obtaining identification, benefits, healthcare, and housing documentation.
• Coordinating appointments, transportation, and ongoing case management services.
• Providing supportive services at homeless drop-in centers and emergency/hypothermia shelters.
• Teaching life skills that promote recovery, personal safety, medication management, community functioning, and harm reduction.
• Collaborating with shelters, hospitals, law enforcement, healthcare providers, libraries, landlords, housing agencies, and other community partners.

HMIS Super User Responsibilities

Following training, youll also serve as a Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) Super User by:

• Entering and maintaining accurate client data.
• Running monthly data quality reports.
• Identifying and correcting data quality issues.
• Providing technical assistance to staff.
• Ensuring compliance with funding and reporting requirements.
• Supporting program management through accurate reporting.

Who Were Looking For

Were seeking someone who is:

• Passionate about serving vulnerable populations.
• Comfortable working independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Skilled in communication, engagement, and relationship-building.
• Able to work with individuals experiencing serious mental illness, substance use disorders, and complex medical needs.
• Adaptable, compassionate, and solution-focused.
• Comfortable working outdoors and in non-traditional community settings.
• Able to document services in an electronic health record and transport clients as needed.

Work Environment

This is not a traditional office position.

Youll spend your days meeting people where they are-whether in shelters, wooded campsites, libraries, transit stations, businesses, sidewalks, or other community locations. Every day is different, and every interaction has the potential to change someones life.

Schedule

• Monday-Friday
• 8 hours each workday
• One or more evening outreach shifts during hypothermia season
• Flexible work locations based on client and community needs

Why Join PATH?

At PATH, youll be part of a compassionate team committed to reducing homelessness and improving behavioral health outcomes across Fairfax County. Your work will create meaningful connections, restore hope, and help individuals move toward recovery, housing stability, and independence.

If youre ready to make a lasting impact in your community, wed love to hear from you.

Apply today and help transform lives-one connection at a time.

Here are some of the benefits CSB employees enjoy:

• Fairfax County is home to a highly diverse population, with a significant number of residents speaking languages other than English at home - including Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and many others. We encourage candidates who are bilingual in English and another language to apply for this opportunity. A foreign language skills stipend of up to $1600/year (full-time) may be given for qualified bi-lingual employees.
• The CSB provides clinical supervision for employees who are registered as licensed eligible mental health in one of the following areas: Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Substance Abuse Treatment Practitioner or Licensed Nurse Practitioner.
• License/Certification Reimbursement - Reimbursement for job related licenses and/or certifications once per year.
• To find out more about the benefits of working with Fairfax County Government, please visit the CSB Careers Page.

Note: To learn more about careers that make a difference, watch our video "CSB Celebrates 50th Anniversary of Providing Care."

Illustrative Duties

(The illustrative duties listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list. A complete list of position duties and unique physical requirements can be found in the position job description.)

• Functions as an active member of a treatment team;
• Functions as a co-leader in groups;
• Assists with data gathering for needs assessment;
• Contributes to the development of individual service plans, with consideration given to the nature and severity of the behavioral health and psychosocial needs, individual strengths and preferences, and support systems;
• Makes interventions as outlined in the service plan;
• Brings forward timely information on individuals progress and evolving needs to the treatment team;
• Provides individual supportive counseling and skill-building involving specific concerns;
• Conducts admission and orientation into the program/services;
• Provides individual and group psycho-educational sessions for clients, family members, and significant others;
• Maintains and updates information on community resources for individuals, families, and other concerned persons;
• Provides skill building to clients in developing and practicing daily living, recovery, and self-advocacy skills;
• Observes client behavior and provides de-escalation techniques;
• Maintains client records in accordance with state and department regulations;
• Maintains all appropriate program logs and information;
• Provides program coverage and supervises program activities;
• Transports and accompanies individuals to various appointments.

Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities

(The knowledge, skills and abilities listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list.)

• Knowledge of the principles, theories, and methods of the psychological and social development of individuals;
• Knowledge of substance use disorders and the physiological, psychological and social impacts;
• knowledge of public and private community based resources;
• Knowledge of social history development and interviewing and treatment techniques appropriate for individuals with substance use and/or mental illness/ serious emotional disturbance (SED);
• Ability to recognize behavioral symptoms of mental illness/ serious emotional disturbance (SED) and substance use, and developmental disabilities;
• Ability to establish rapport and maintain effective relationships with clients;
• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers and the general public;
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing;
• Ability to maintain records and prepare reports;
• Ability to assist with initial screening of the severity of individuals substance use/mental health symptoms, treatment, and support needs.

Employment Standards

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelors degree in psychology, social work, sociology, nursing, public health or a related field;

OR a bachelor's degree and a valid Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP) or Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC) certification.

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:

• First Aid and CPR certification, within 90 days of appointment and maintained throughout CSB employment;
• MANDT Certifications within three (3) months of appointment and annually thereafter;
• Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP) or Qualified Mental Health Professional-Trainee (QMHP-T)-Required within 1 month of hire
• Valid Motor Vehicle Drivers license with fewer than six demerit points (or the equivalent in another State) and maintained throughout employment with CSB.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check, a Child Protective Services Registry check, a driving record check, and sanction screening to the satisfaction of the employer. A TB screening upon hire and annually thereafter.

Additional Work Schedule Requirements: Program provides services during hypothermia season. Position requires some evening work during hypothermia season and yearly Point In Time Count (one night only). Some weekend hours required to provide training to non-profits pre-hypothermia season.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Prior PATH work experience.
• Experience working with adult homeless population.
• Experience conducting outreach and engagement services in the community.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Ability to drive a car and conduct extensive community outreach activities on foot in a variety of environmental conditions and to work in non-traditional settings including tent encampments, heavily wooded areas, abandoned buildings, shelters, streets, hospitals, and jails. Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with clients, families, community stakeholders, and coworkers and to observe and report client appearance, functioning, and behavior. Ability to sit, stand, bend, walk, and transport supplies or client belongings as needed. Ability to make clinical observations and interventions in community settings and operate electronic health record systems and standard office equipment. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

SELECTION PROCEDURE:

Panel Interview and may include a practical exercise.

Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.

Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. TTY 703-222-7314. DHREmployment@fairfaxcounty.gov EEO/AA/TTY.

#LI-AP1

Merit Positions

Fairfax County is proud to offer employees an attractive and comprehensive benefits program, including the following:

• Medical/Vision/Dental Insurance Coverage
• Group Term Life Insurance
• Long Term Disability
• LiveWell Program
• Flexible Spending Programs
• Paid Leave (annual, sick, parental, volunteer activity, and more!)
• Paid Holidays
• Contributory Retirement Plan
• Deferred Compensation
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employees Child Care Center
• Continuous Learning Opportunities

Please click here for a summary of our benefits.

NOTE: Fairfax County Government is a qualifying employer under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. For more information about the PSLF program: Public Service Loan Forgiveness | Federal Student Aid

For additional details please visit the Countys benefits webpage.

Non-Merit Positions

• Non-Merit Benefit Eligible: scheduled to work a minimum 1,040 hours and no more than a maximum of 1,560 hours in a calendar year.

• Medical/Vision/Dental Insurance Coverage

• Flexible Spending Program

• Deferred Compensation

• Temporary: scheduled to work a maximum of 900 hours in a calendar year.

• No benefits

01

What is the highest level of education that you have completed?

• Less than 12th grade
• High school diploma or GED
• Some college
• Associates degree
• Bachelors degree
• Masters degree
• Doctorate degree

02

If you answered that you have a degree in the previous question, please indicate your area of study below. If you do not have a degree, please select "not applicable."

• Psychology
• Social work
• Counseling
• Nursing
• Public health
• Sociology
• Community health
• Health science
• Human services
• Behavioral sciences
• Other (related field)
• Other (non-related field)
• Not applicable

03

If you answered "Other (related field)" or "Other (non-related field)" for the previous question, please list the discipline of your degree. If this question does not pertain to you or you do not possess a degree, enter "N/A".

04

Are you certified in the Commonwealth of Virginia as a Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP) or as a Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC)? Please list certifications on your application also. Details regarding QMHP can be found on https://www.dhp.virginia.gov/counseling/counseling_QMHP.htm. Details regarding CSAC certification can be found on https://www.dhp.virginia.gov/Boards/Counseling/ApplicantResources/CSACapplicationinfo/.

• Yes, QMHP
• Yes, CSAC
• No
• No, but eligible

05

Do you currently possess a valid drivers license?

• Yes
• No

06

How many full-time equivalent years of clinical experience do you have working directly with individuals with severe and chronic mental illness and/or co-occurring disorders? (Includes supervised internships, practicums and field experience)

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five or more years

07

Which of the following tasks have you performed with individuals who have a serious mental illness or co-occurring disorder? (Check all that apply)

• Performed a full assessment of an individuals mental health history, symptoms, daily living skills, history of mental health treatment, diagnoses, needs and strengths.
• Performed a full assessment of a consumers substance use or abuse, including history of use, treatment and legal history.
• Assisted an individual in applying for housing programs, entitlements, or pursue vocational interests.
• Did supportive counseling with individuals with serious mental illness/co-occurring disorders.
• Worked with individuals from diverse ethnic and racial groups.
• Worked with staff at jails, shelters, and/or hospitals to coordinate care.
• None of the above

08

Do you have experience providing outreach, engagement, or ongoing services in non-traditional settings such as jails, hospitals, shelters, streets, job sites, or clients' homes?

• Yes
• No

09

How many years of experience do you have providing services to homeless individuals who are mentally ill?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five or more years

10

Are you familiar with the Housing First and Permanent Supported Housing models?

• Yes
• No

Required Question

Employer Fairfax County

Address 12000 Government Center Pkwy. Suite 270

Fairfax, Virginia, 22035

Phone 703-324-3311

Website http://agency.governmentjobs.com/fairfaxcounty/default.cfm