Behavioral Health Advocate (LCSW or LPC)

Apogee Solutions, a Woman-Owned Small Business, is seeking a full-time Behavioral Health Advocate to support the United States Marines Corps Wounded Warrior Regiment (WWR) at Quantico, VA. Qualified candidates must be a US Citizen able to pass a background check, to include Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) fingerprint check and National Agency Check with Written Inquires (NACI).

The Behavioral Health Advocate or Clinical Care Advocate (CCA) provides clinical care advocacy to navigate complex medical care systems and ensure Marines have access to the optimal medical treatment, at the right time, in an appropriate location. Many cases referred to WWR have comorbid psychological concerns and concomitant issues of major financial difficulties, family distress, legal or misconduct charges and housing problems. Managing this complicated population requires a well-coordinated medical and administrative support system that integrates and communicates seamlessly throughout the care process for all types of serious medical illnesses, complex traumas, mental health, SMI, and TBI. 

Responsibilities:

The Behavioral Health Advocate will provide wounded, ill, and injured Marines, Sailors, and their families with medical and psychological health support, to include facilitating cross agency and multidisciplinary care, and connection with state-of-the-art specialized services for Marines as they move through the recovery-rehabilitation-reintegration continuum.  The WWR is responsible for the support, recovery, and non-medical care of combat and non-combat WII Marines and Sailors attached to Marine units to maximize recovery. 

The Behavioral Health Advocate will:

• Evaluate for mental health and complex care related issues, assess adequacy of clinical evaluations for all medical conditions, determine appropriateness/effectiveness of treatment, and identify social and environmental factors impacting member’s condition(s) through interviews with the service member or family members, review of health record documentation, communications with service member’s chain of command, engagement with other health care providers, plus multidisciplinary and interagency coordination to ensure appropriate evaluation and treatment.
• Assist Navy medical case managers and Recovery Care Coordinators to maintain stability of care for Recovering Service Members by eliminating obstacles to care and overcoming gaps in obtaining necessary treatment and services.
• Work closely with the multiple clinical and non-clinical entities, both federal and non-federal, in concert with the individual Marine and family members across the continuum of care.
• Specifically identify whether the referred individual needs expedient evaluation or treatment for mental health problems or complex health issues and determine what support or care issues need to be addressed.
• Assist veteran Marines to engage the appropriate health care system (Veterans Health Administration, Military Healthcare System/TRICARE, civilian health care providers) or other local community services (chaplain, support group, etc.), in order to obtain needed services if the mental health issue is not service connected.
• Continually update the WWR records being maintained for each Marine to identify treatment progress and status, and evaluate referrals and authorizations, to include compliance with care plan.
• Facilitate referral and access to medical and mental health support resources for Marines and their family members.
• Identify WII Marines with complex mental health, TBI, and substance abuse issues and assist the care team with enrollment in or referral to highly specialized treatment programs where needed.
• Assist Marine commands, medical personnel, referred Marines and their family members with procurement of information regarding WWR programs, WWR support services, and resources for mental health including SMI and complex medical conditions.

Required Experience:

• US Citizen with the ability to pass a background check, to include Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) fingerprint check and National Agency Check with Written Inquires (NACI)
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker, or Licensed Professional Counselor, or Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, or Licensed Mental Health Counselor
• Have a minimum of two years of experience, in the mental health and/or deployment health arena, or an equivalent level of experience as determined by the Regiment Surgeon
• Prior experience working with service members, highly preferred
• Proficient with Microsoft Office products
• Experience with MCWIITs or AHLTA preferred
• Must have a strong attention to detail and be highly organized