Temporary Behavioral Health Specialist III Salary $47,278.13 - $71,729.18 Annually
Location: Desert Hot Springs Job Type: Temporary Job Number: 26-79751-01TCM Department: Behavioral Health Division MOU With DPSS Opening Date: 01/29/2026 Closing Date: 2/2/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
Description
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
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.
Job Summary
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 consumers personality structure.
Key Responsibilities
Minimum Qualifications
Option I:
Experience: 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 II:
Certificate: Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Counselor Certification.
Knowledge and Ability:
Knowledge 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.
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.
About TAP
The Temporary Assignment Program (TAP) recruits and hires temporary employees for all County departments. TAP assignments are a great way to learn about working for the County while working on a temporary, at-will basis. Click here to learn more about TAP: https://rc-hr.com/temporary-medical-assignment-program-tapmap
TAP Benefits:
https://rc-hr.com/files/users/user116/COR_2026_TAP_Guide_FINAL.pdf
Essential Duties:
• 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 clients 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.
Minimum Qualifications:
Option I:
Experience: 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 II:
Certificate: Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Counselor Certification.
Knowledge and Ability:
Knowledge 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.
Supplemental Information
For specific questions regarding this position, please contact Cindy Mendez at cmendez@rivco.org or 951-955-3528
Application Information
Veterans Preference
The County has a Veterans Preference Policy applicable to new hires. To qualify, upload a copy of your (or your spouses) Member-4 Form DD-214 indicating dates of service, and a copy of your spouses letter of disability (if applicable) with your application. For privacy reasons, it is recommended that you remove your social security information from the document(s). A Human Resources Representative will review the materials and determine if you qualify for veterans preference. The Veterans Preference Policy, C-3 is available here: https://rivcocob.org/board-policies
Reasonable Accommodations
The County of Riverside is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should contact the recruiter for the position noted above. For additional information and/or to obtain the appropriate form for requesting a reasonable accommodation, please visit the Disability Access Office web page located at: https://rc-hr.com/disability
Proof of Education
If using education to