Director of Mental Health

Location:KlamathFalls OR (local candidates strongly preferred)

Role Type:In-person

Anticipated Start Date:June 2026

Employment Type:Full-timesalary non-exempt

Compensation:$90000- $115000/year DOE

Benefits:Medical & Dental/IRA match/Robust PTO

Application Review: Starts May 15th 2026

About Friends of the Children

Friends of the Childrenserveschildren and familiesimpactedby trauma systemic inequities and generational adversity. We partner with youth facing significant risk factorsincluding exposure to ACEs economic instability and limited access to essential resourcesand provide transformational long-term support to help buffer the impacts of toxic stress.

Each child is paired with a salaried professional mentor (Friend) for 12 years from kindergarten through high school graduation. Friends support youth in building emotional regulation resilience school readiness and prosocial parallel we work with caregivers through case management resource navigation and parenting support to strengthen the entire family system.

Position Overview

The Director of Mental Health (DMH)is a foundational leadership role responsible for building and overseeing Friends of the Children-KlamathBasins new behavioral health program which willalignbehavioral health skill-building and mentoring work.

This position is supervised by theExecutiveDirector andworks in close partnership withthe Program Director. TheDMHwill lead clinical program development ensure compliance with Medicaid and OHA/CCO requirements supervise staff delivering services and integrate mental health services into the organizations long-standing mentorship model.

While this role primarily focuses on program development clinical oversight supervision and system-building it also includes meaningful direct service responsibilities. These include conducting regular assessments for each child and when capacity allows providing direct therapy to youth who are not currently connected to an external provider.

Core Responsibilities

Clinical Leadership & Supervision

• Provide clinical supervision to staff serving as QMHAs and peer support specialists
• Lead transition into primary clinical supervision responsibilities as eligible and approved
• Support development and adherence to each childs Roadmap or Transition Plan
• Ensure coordinated care across providers families and systems

Program Development & Clinical Administration

• Lead the development of a compliant Behavioral Health program aligned with OHA CCO and Medicaid requirements
• Oversee clinical documentation systems including review of service notes claims and billing alignment
• Ensure organizational compliance with all federal state and local behavioral health regulations
• Support credentialing contracting and relationships with CCOs and community partners
• Participate in audits and ensure readiness for Medicaid billing and regulatory review
• Collaborate with staff to ensureaccurateandtimelyinvoicing for services
• Serve as a member of the Crisis Response Team and support emergency response planning
• Ensuretimelyandappropriate responsefor clients at risk of harm to self or others

Staff Development & Training

• Oversee staff credentialing (QMHA and related roles) onboarding and professional development
• Identifyand coordinate internal and external training opportunities aligned with OARs and CCO requirements
• Monitor licensure and certification compliance for all clinical staff
• Support development of trauma-informed culturally responsive practices across the organization
• Identifyopportunities for program growth and innovation (e.g. ACEs-informed care neurofeedback pilot interventions)

Direct Service

• Lead mental health intakes foryouth in current program
• Complete assessments treatment plans and service documentation in alignment with regulatory standards
• Deliver services within scope of licensure and expertise
• Support families caregivers and community partners in strengthening protective factors and long-term outcomes

Community & Systems Integration

• Build andmaintainrelationships with local providers agencies and community organizations
• Support referral pathways and service coordination across the Klamath Basin
• Provide insight and guidance to leadership on local behavioral health needs and system gaps
• Collaborate across all Friends of the Children staff to ensure integrated holistic care

Minimum Qualifications

• Active unrestricted LCSW LPC or LMFT license in Oregon
• Experience providing clinical supervision and overseeing non-licensed staff
• Strong knowledge of Medicaid billing OHA regulations and community mental health systems
• Demonstrated experience in trauma-informed care
• Ability to work toward ormaintaineligibility to provide clinical supervision in Oregon
• No felony convictions or misdemeanors related to behavioral health service provision

Essential Skills & Abilities

• Strong leadership and clinical decision-making skills
• Ability to provide evidence-based trauma-informed and culturally responsive services
• Ability to manage multiple priorities andoperateeffectively in a developing program environment
• Ability to build trusting relationships with children families and community partners
• Ability tomaintainstrict confidentiality andcomply withHIPAA requirements
• Strong interpersonal communication and colaboration skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team
• Strong problem solving skills and sound professional judgement

Why This Role Matters

This is a unique opportunity to build a mental health program from the ground up within a nationally recognized evidence-based mentorship model. The Director of Mental Health will play a critical role in expanding access to care for youth and families while ensuring clinical excellence compliance and long-term sustainability.

How to Apply

Pleasesubmit:

• Resume or CV
• Brief statement of interestor Cover Letter
• Relevant experience in clinical supervision trauma-informed care and/or program development