Requisition No: 887412
Agency: Children and Families
Working Title: BEHAVIORAL PROGRAM SPECIALIST - 60060146
Pay Plan: Career Service
Position Number: 60060146
Salary: $34,760.00 to $36,504.00 Annually
Posting Closing Date: 11/20/2026
Total Compensation Estimator Tool The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) is the state of Florida’s social services agency. The agency oversees services for child safety, fostering, adoption, domestic violence, adult protective services, refugees, homelessness, mental health, substance abuse, childcare providers, human trafficking and public assistance. The agency’s mission is to work in partnership with local communities to protect the vulnerable, promote strong and economically self-sufficient families, and advance personal and family recovery and resiliency.
Within DCF, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health (SAMH) Program office is recognized as the single state authority for substance abuse and mental health services. The Office of SAMH is statutorily responsible for the planning, evaluation, and implementation of a comprehensive statewide system of care for the prevention, treatment, and recovery of children and adults with serious mental illnesses or substance use disorders.
Northeast Florida State Hospital (NEFSH) is an 800-bed, licensed mental health treatment facility that provides person-centered services to adults suffering from severe and persistent mental illness. The hospital, located in Macclenny, was established in 1959 and is the largest state operated civil treatment facility.
NORTHEAST FLORIDA STATE HOSPITAL IS A TOBACCO FREE FACILITY.
TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION RESPONSES TO THE QUALIFYING QUESTIONS ARE REQUIRED AND MUST BE VERIFIABLE BASED ON YOUR SUBMITTED APPLICATION.
This is an Anticipated Vacancy and Multi-Hire Opportunity.
This is a highly responsible and professional position serving as the Behavioral Program Specialist within the Recovery Services Unit. The ideal candidate will be a collaborative team player who works seamlessly across all sections within the program office. This role requires the use of independent judgment, a proactive approach to responsibilities, and exceptional attention to detail. If you are driven, organized, and thrive in a fast-paced environment, we encourage you to apply.
Specific Duties and Responsibilities include:
This is professional work involving behavioral assessment, data gathering and development of behavior modification programs for developmentally disabled, dually diagnosed, emotionally disturbed and Mentally ill people we serve. In order to implement programs for the people we serve, monitoring will be required in addition to hands-on training.
- To improve the adaptive functioning of the people we serve: develops and implements a variety of individual and group training programs; Escorts the people we serve on/off grounds using a 15 passenger van; Uses behavioral observation and data gathering procedures, including graphic presentation, to determine treatment needs, as well as, benefits and effectiveness to improve treatment planning efficiencies.
- Regularly monitors and accurately documents progress on individual and group behavioral programs to ensure that the people we serve receive treatment services and to optimize customer satisfaction.
- To improve the continuity of care, attends and participates in treatment team meetings (as needed) presenting relevant documentation and information regarding those needing or receiving behavioral programming/training. Attends departmental and program meetings as required.
- Maintains a clean, neat, work environment conducive to learning
- Maintains competency and skills through attendance and participation at required trainings, workshops, classes, seminars, conferences, research activities and through consultation with a Behavior Analyst.
- Performs other related duties as assigned.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities required for the position:
- Knowledge of the principles and techniques of self-care program activities.
- Ability to make behavioral assessments.
- Ability to plan, organize and coordinate activities.
- Ability to develop and monitor self-care behavioral modification prescriptive treatment plans, activities and programs.
- Ability to teach and apply behavior modification principles.
- Ability to evaluate client services for compliance with program objectives.
- Ability to communicate effectively.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
Minimum Qualifications:
- An associate's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in nursing, education, or a social, behavioral or rehabilitative science and two years of experience involving the application of behavior modification principles; or
- A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in nursing, education, or a social, behavioral or rehabilitative science.
- Experience as described above can substitute on a year-for-year basis for the required college education.
Candidate Profile (application) Requirements:
Candidate Profile (application) must be complete in its entirety.
- Work History - entered with the most recent/current listed first:
- Any and all State of Florida jobs
- Any and all Florida University jobs
- All periods of employment
- Periods of unemployment
- Gaps 3 months or more*
- Education
- Volunteer Experience
- Include supervisor names and phone numbers including current place of employment.
- *Gaps 3 months or more must be addressed – you will need to account for and explain any gaps in employment including unemployment. You can either list these in your application under Period of Employment or attach a word document listing your gaps.
- Experience, education, training, knowledge, skills and/or abilities as well as responses to pre-qualifying questions must be verifiable to meet the minimum qualifications.
- If claiming Right to First Interview, candidate MUST attach a copy of your official layoff letter when applying. This only applies to employees laid off from Career Service positions.
If you experience problems applying online, please call the People First Service Center at (877) 562-7287.
Benefits of Working for the State of Florida:
- Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck. The State’s total compensation package for employees features a highly competitive set of employee benefits.
- For a more complete list of benefits, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com.
DCF EMPLOYMENT DISCLOSURES
US CITIZEN REQUIREMENT Only US citizens and lawfully authorized alien workers will be hired.
SELECTIVE SERVICE SYSTEM REGISTRATION All selected male candidates born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion into an authorized position unless they are registered with the Selective Service System (SSS). Verification of Selective Service registration will be conducted prior to hire. For more information, please visit the SSS website: http://www.sss.gov.
RETIREE NOTICE If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), please check with the FRS on how your current benefits will be affected if you are re-employed with the State of Florida. Your current retirement benefits may be suspended or voided, and you required to repay all benefits received depending upon the date of your retirement.
BACKGROUND SCREENING It is the policy of the Florida Department of Children and Families that any applicant being considered for employment must successfully complete a State and National criminal history check as a condition of employment before beginning employment, and, if applicable, also be screened in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 435, F.S., and Chapter 408, F.S. No applicant may begin employment until the background screening results are received, reviewed for any disqualifying offenses, and approved by the Agency. Background screening shall include, but not be limited to, fingerprinting for State and Federal criminal records checks through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and may include local criminal history checks through local law enforcement agencies.
Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse Education and Awareness: https://info.flclearinghouse.com Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.
The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.
VETERANS’ PREFERENCE. Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans’ Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply. Certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements. Candidates claiming Veterans’ Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code. Veterans’ Preference documentation requirements are available by clicking here. All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.
