Applications will be reviewed on Tuesday, October 21, 2025
The County of Riverside's Human Resources Temporary Assignment Program (TAP) seeks to fill a Temporary Behavioral Health Specialist III position. This is a full-time, temporary position located in Desert Hot Springs, California.

Under general supervision, teams with behavioral health professionals in planning and providing behavioral health services; provides general counseling, case management, community outreach, and prevention services; performs other related duties as required.

The Behavioral Health Specialist III is the journey level classification in the Behavioral Health Specialist series and reports to a supervisory or mid-level manager position. Incumbents team with behavioral health professionals in the provision of client or participant treatment and prevention services to directly assist clients or participants in the utilization of appropriate community resources, provide education and information to the community, and provide support, encouragement, advocacy, and related services in order to assist the client or participant in coping with immediate situations with no attempt to modify or change the consumer's personality structure. The Behavioral Health Specialist series differs from the Clinical Therapist series in that the latter, due to advanced education and experience, uses independent judgment in making diagnoses, developing treatment plans, and providing a wide range and variety of behavioral health services including psychotherapy.

The Behavioral Health Specialist III is distinguished from the Behavioral Health Specialist II by the former's assignment of primary case responsibilities in the Substance Abuse Program and the specialized knowledge and skills required to work with alcoholics, drug abusers, and other substance abusers, and to deliver effective prevention services. The Behavioral Health Specialist III is further distinguished by the responsibility of providing one or more types of client services, including screening and referral to a variety of substance abuse programs, substance abuse counseling, community outreach, and prevention activities.

Meet the Team!
Riverside University Health System-Medical Center consistently receives national recognition for its progressive and innovative care, as well as being known as one of the top employers in the region. The 439-bed Medical Center is a designated Stroke Center, Level II Trauma Center, and the only Pediatric ICU in the region. Can you see yourself here? For more information on RUHS-Medical Center, please visit www.ruhealth.org .

TAP Benefits: https: //rc-hr.com/temporary-medical-assignment-program-tapmap• Interview, evaluate and counsel clients relative to alcoholism or drug abuse.

• Refer clients to County operated and/or community treatment facilities (e.g., detoxification centers, hospitals, recovery homes, residential treatment programs, or DUI program providers).

• Provide individual and group counseling sessions for clients and their families affected by substance abuse.

• Participate in joint County-community agency efforts in providing educational and prevention services to control and prevent substance abuse.

• Under direct supervision, monitor and evaluate program providers and determine compliance with program requirements; assist in planning, organizing, coordinating, and implementing program design within the program; assist in resolving crises for clients and their families.

• Participate in substance abuse treatment and prevention programs; conduct community visits to assist substance abuse clients and their families achieve success in the program.

• Monitor client's course after discharge to ensure continuum of care and provide for adjustment.

• Under supervision, may monitor a variety of County and state mandated program providers by conducting site visits and record reviews to ensure compliance with County and state mandates.

• Assist in making preliminary recommendations as to the appropriateness and quality of treatment and prevention services; may analyze new and current legislation on the delivery of program services.

• Provide educational presentations on the abuse of alcohol and other drugs.

• Prepare and maintain records, reports and correspondence regarding substance abuse cases; maintain records on client case work. OPTION IExperience: One year of providing individual or group counseling to individuals in a substance abuse treatment program/facility, which must have included responsibility for assessing, evaluating and making referrals, either individually or as part of a team led by a substance abuse or medical professional, for substance abuse clients.

Certificate: Incumbents are required to be registered by the date of hire with an Alcohol and Other Drug certification in accordance with Health and Safety Code Section 11833(b)(1).

OPTION IICertificate: Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Counselor Certification.

ALL OPTIONSKnowledge of: Basic principles and practices involved in improving behavioral health; laws, rules and regulations governing a public substance abuse agency; counseling techniques applicable to substance abuse treatment and prevention; social, cultural, psychological, and economic factors relating to substance abuse; public agency, community resources, community based support systems, and their functions; use of the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) screening criteria for consumer placement into appropriate levels of care; providing appropriate services for consumers with co-occurring SUD and MH disorders; tenets of providing trauma-informed care; medications used for Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) services; laws and ethics involved in the provision of substance use services.

Ability to: Work effectively with a variety of different agencies, organizations and individuals; interview and evaluate clients experiencing substance abuse problems; counsel and guide clients toward independence from substance abuse; assess and monitor program providers and develop recommendations; communicate effectively in verbal and written form; assist in the development and implementation of new ideas, methods and programs related to substance abuse treatment and substance abuse prevention; match multidimensional severity and level of function with type and intensity of service; provide integrated services.For specific questions regarding this position, please contact Cindy Mendez at cmendez @rivco.org.