A BHSS can work in settings where mental and behavioral health services are offered under supervision. Examples include community behavioral health services, crisis services, integrated/primary care, college counseling centers and adult corrections services.
Community Behavioral Health Center
- A BHSS is hired to manage a caseload of clients providing care management and brief therapy services. The BHSS may be supervised by a licensed mental health counselor or an associate obtaining post masters supervision hours.
- *Many community behavioral health centers employ agency affiliated counselors which is a designation specific to licensed behavioral health organizations. Due to a change in the law, it is currently unclear what the relationship will be between a BHSS and certified and/or licensed agency affiliated counselors. There is currently no barrier for a person with a BHSS education to apply for the agency affiliated counselor designation.
Crisis Services
- A BHSS is hired by a local hospital to work in the emergency room helping people in crisis. The BHSS may be supervised by a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who manages the behavioral health team.
Integrated Primary Care
- A BHSS is hired to join a primary care team in a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC), Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) or other integrated care clinic. The BHSS delivers interventions for mental and behavioral health conditions that are concurrent with physical health diagnoses. The BHSS may be supervised by licensed psychologist with a specialization in integrated behavioral health.
Other Settings
- There are many settings where mental and behavioral health services may be offered, such as senior centers, housing communities, community corrections, colleges, and other educational settings. It will be essential for an approved supervisor to be available to oversee BHSS services in compliance with DOH rules.
*The Health Care Authority is currently examining appropriate billing codes for the BHSS applicable to Medicaid. These decisions will impact third party insurance in helping to make BHSS services available to the public.
To see more detailed examples of what a BHSS could be doing in these settings, please see our BHSS employment case examples.
Compensation for a BHSS will range between a non-credentialed behavioral healthcare provider such as a bachelor level case manager and an Associate level provider with a Master’s degree such as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate. Many factors will impact the compensation range including, but not limited to the location of a job, type of organization, funding sources for the organization, services provided, experience level of the BHSS, additional skill sets (such as languages spoken), and need within a geographic area. One source for exploring pay range is the Bureau of Labor and Statistics averages for specific professions.