DHW Careers

The Division of Behavioral Health helps children, adults, and families address and manage personal challenges that result from mental illnesses and/or substance use disorders. The division recognizes that many people suffer from both a mental illness and substance use disorder, and is engaged in a process to integrate services for co-occurring disorders to improve outcomes. Services accessed through the division are consumer-driven and prevention-oriented.  

The division is comprised of Children's Mental Health Services, Youth Empowerment Services, Adult Mental Health Services, the Substance Use Disorders Program, and the Idaho Tobacco Project. The division also administers the state's two psychiatric hospitals, State Hospital North and State Hospital South, for people who have been court-ordered into the state's custody, as well as State Hospital West in Nampa for adolescents.

CAREER POSSIBILITIES

• Clinical Specialist
• Clinical Supervisor
• Clinician
• Licensed Practical Nurse
• Registered Nurse, Senior
• Human Services Program Specialist
• Peer Specialist
• Program Manager
• Program Specialist DHW
• Program Supervisor
• Program System Specialist – Automated
• Project Coordinator
• Project Manager 1 & 2
• Psychosocial Rehabilitation Specialist
• Social Worker
• Training Specialist

SUPPORT POSITIONS

• Administrative Assistant 1 & 2
• Management Assistant
• Technical Records Specialist 1 & 2

EXAMPLES OF EDUCATION/LICENSING THAT MIGHT BE REQUIRED
Education: 

Bachelor’s/Master’s in Social Work, Psychology, Counseling, Psychosocial Rehabilitation Counseling, Marriage and Family Counseling, Behavioral/Social Science, Applied Behavioral Analysis or closely related field.

Licensing/Certification & Registration:

• Licensed Clinical Social Worker
• Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor
• Marriage and Family Therapist
• Licensed Master Social Worker
• Licensed Professional Counselor
• Registered Nurse
• Practical Nurse
• Eligibility for registration as a Physician Assistant or Nurse Practitioner with the State Board of Nursing
• Certified Peer Recovery Coach
• Certified Peer Support Specialist

Family and Community Services (FACS) provides a collaborative leadership directing many of the department's social service programs that focus on the entire family, building on family strengths while supporting and empowering them. Those programs include child protection, adoption, foster care, service integration, 211, developmental disabilities, and early intervention screening for infants and toddlers.

FACS is involved in recruiting and training new child welfare social workers through its Scholars and Academy Programs.
 
FACS also administers the Southwest Idaho Treatment Center in Nampa. This facility provides residential care for people with developmental disabilities who experience severe behavioral or significant medical complications.

CAREER POSSIBILITIES

• Child Welfare Social Worker 1, 2 & 3
• Client Services Technician
• Child Welfare Supervisor
• Child Welfare Regional Program Specialist
• Clinician
• Clinical Supervisor
• Community Resource Development Specialist
• Developmental Disabilities Program Manager
• Developmental Disabilities Supervisor
• Developmental Specialist (& Senior)
• Developmental Specialist, Children’s Programs
• Human Services Field Program Manager
• Human Services Program Specialist
• Human Services Regional Program Specialist
• Human Services Project Manager
• Human Services Supervisor
• Program Manager
• Program Specialist DHW
• Program Supervisor
• Program System Specialist – Automated
• Psychosocial Rehabilitation Specialist
• Resources and Services Navigator
• Social Worker
• Therapist, Early Intervention
• Training & Development Manager
• Training Specialist

SUPPORT POSITIONS

• Administrative Assistant 1 & 2
• Customer Service Representative 1 & 2
• Management Assistant
• Business Analyst
• Business Operations Specialist
• Management Analyst Senior
• Research Analyst Supervisor
• Research Analyst Principal
• Office Services Supervisor 1
• Office Specialist 2
• Technical Records Specialist 1 & 2

EXAMPLES OF EDUCATION/LICENSING THAT MIGHT BE REQUIRED
Education:  
Bachelor’s/Master’s in Social Work, Human Services, Social Services, Special Education, Speech/Language Pathology, Early Childhood Education, Psychology, Communication Disorders, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Counseling or Applied Behavioral Analysis

Licensing/Certification & Registration:

• Licensed Social Worker
• Licensed Master Social Worker
• Exceptional Child Certificate with Special Education Endorsement
   

Southwest Idaho Treatment Center (SWITC) in Nampa is administered by the Division of Family and Community Services. This facility provides residential care for people with developmental disabilities who experience severe behavioral or significant medical complications.

State Hospital South (SHS) in Blackfoot is a psychiatric facility in southeast Idaho that provides mental health services for all seven regions in Idaho. The hospital operates under the Department of Health and Welfare and is administered by the Division of Behavioral Health. State Hospital South is dedicated to the effective treatment and recovery of Idaho's most severe mentally ill residents to enable their return to community living.

State Hospital North (SHN) in Orofino strives to be at the forefront of mental health in innovations, providing sustainable, cost-effective, evidence-based, recovery-oriented, and co-occurring capable mental health services in partnership with other statewide mental health services, for those Idahoans who temporarily need this most restrictive environment. The hospital operates under the Department of Health and Welfare and is administered by the Division of Behavioral Health.

State Hospital West (SHW) in Nampa provides treatment to 16 adolescents between 11 and 18 years old in a secure setting in which youth receive more intensive comprehensive behavioral health services than they can receive in a community hospital environment. Youth are referred to SHW through community hospitals when a need for more intensive care becomes apparent. The hospital operates under the Department of Health and Welfare and is administered by the Division of Behavioral Health.

CAREER POSSIBILITIES

• Building Facility Maintenance Foreman
• Client Services Manager
• Clinician
• Clinical Dietitian
• Clinical Specialist
• Cook & Cook Senior
• Custodian
• Developmental Disabilities Program Manager
• Developmental Specialist Senior
• Dietary Aide Senior
• Dietary Services Manager
• Food Services Supervisor
• Investigator
• Health Information Specialist (& Manager)
• HVAC Specialist
• Landscape Technician Senior & Foreman
• Maintenance Craftsman Senior
• Medical Doctor
• Medical Assistant, Registered
• Licensed Practical Nurse
• Registered Nurse (Senior & Manager)
• Clinical Pharmacist
• Patient Account Specialist
• Pharmacy Assistant Senior
• Program Specialist
• Psychiatric Technician (Trainee & Senior)
• Psychiatrist
• Psychologist
• Recreation Specialist, Therapeutic
• Therapist (& Therapist Technician)

SUPPORT POSITIONS

• Administrative Assistant 1 & 2
• Technical Records Specialist 1 & 2
• Office Services Supervisor 1
• Office Specialist 2
• Financial Technician
• Security Officer Senior
• Storekeeper
• Training Specialist

EXAMPLES OF EDUCATION/LICENSING THAT MIGHT BE REQUIRED
Education:  
Bachelor’s/Master’s in Human Services Field, Social Work, Psychology, Counseling, Recreation Therapy, Special Education, Adaptive Physical Education, Communication Disorders, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Medicine

Licensing/Certification & Registration:

• RN, LPN
• Therapeutic Recreational Therapist
• HVAC
• Medical Doctor
• Physician Assistant, Nurse Practitioner
• Physical Therapist, Occupational Therapist, Speech-Language Pathologist
• Pharmacy Technician
• Psychiatrist
• Psychologist

Management Services provides the vision, management, and technical support for carrying out the department’s mission. Indirect Support includes Financial Services, Operational Services, and Audits and Investigations.

Financial Services provides administrative and financial support for the department.

The Bureau of Compliance conducts internal audits and external fraud investigations for department benefit programs.

CAREER POSSIBILITIES

• Administrative Services Manager
• Buildings Operations Manager
• Business Operations Specialist
• Buyer (Senior)
• Deputy Director
• EBT Operations Supervisor
• EBT Specialist
• Financial Executive Officer
• Financial Manager
• Financial Specialist (Principal & Senior)
• Financial Technician
• Financial Unit Supervisor
• Fraud Investigator
• Grants/Contracts Management Supervisor
• Grants/Contracts Officer
• Grants/Contracts Operations Analyst
• Human Resource Specialist (Senior)
• Human Resource Manager
• Human Resources Unit Supervisor
• Investigations Supervisor
• Medicaid Utilization Review Analyst
• Program Manager
• Program Specialist (DHW)
• Program Supervisor
• Project Manager 2 & 3
• Public Information Manager
• Public Information Specialist
• Research Analyst (& Principal)
• Technical Writer
• Training Specialist

SUPPORT POSITIONS

• Administrative Assistant 1 & 2
• Management Assistant
• Technical Records Specialist 1, 2 & 3

EXAMPLES OF EDUCATION/LICENSING THAT MIGHT BE REQUIRED
Education:  
Bachelor’s/Master’s Business, Accounting, Communications, Marketing, Art/Design, Technical Writing, Journalism, Instructional Technology, Adult Education, Educational Technology, Public Health Administration, Public Policy, Human Resources, and Statistics

Licensing/Certification & Registration:

• CPA
• CGMF
• CPM
• CPPO
• CPPB
• APP

The Division of Information Technology provides office automation, information processing, and local, wide area, unified communications and internet connectivity for the department statewide. The division provides leadership and direction in the use of information technology to support our mission to promote the social, economic, mental, and physical health of Idahoans.

CAREER POSSIBILITIES

• IT Database Admin Analyst
• IT Information Security Engineer
• IT Information Systems and Infrastructure Engineer
• IT Manager
• IT Operations & Support Analyst
• IT Operations & Support Technician Senior
• IT Software Engineer

SUPPORT POSITIONS

• Management Analyst Senior
• Administrative Assistant 1
• Management Assistant
• Technical Records Specialist 2

EXAMPLES OF EDUCATION/CERTIFICATION THAT MIGHT BE REQUIRED
Education:  
Associate/Bachelor’s/Master’s in applicable degree or advanced IT certifications.

The Division of Licensing and Certification licenses and inspects 18 distinct healthcare facility and agency types in Idaho including hospitals, nursing homes, rural health clinics, ambulatory surgery centers, dialysis centers, residential care/assisted living facilities, developmental disabilities agencies, and residential habilitation agencies. The division also manages the certification program for certified family homes as well as Idaho's certified nurse aide registry. This process includes healthcare, management, building construction, and life safety oversight. Inspections help to ensure Idaho residents receive safe and high-quality care.

Division survey teams are responsible for more than 3,000 health care and/or residential facilities and more than 22,000 treatment beds across the state. Each team also performs investigations of allegations of non-compliance with regulatory requirements, also known as complaint investigations. The teams work closely with partners in the respective industries, with advocates, with other government agencies, and with stakeholders to ensure safe and effective care in a variety of settings. The division is also involved in the promulgation of rules for the licensed and certified entities. It also provides both formal and informal educational opportunities relating to regulatory requirements and industry best-practices for the providers and the public.

CAREER POSSIBILITIES

• Health Facility Surveyor
• Human Services Program Specialist
• Licensing & Certification Program Supervisor
• Medical Program Specialist
• Program Manager

SUPPORT POSITIONS

• Administrative Assistant 1
• Management Assistant
• Technical Records Specialist 1 & 2

EXAMPLES OF EDUCATION/LICENSING THAT MIGHT BE REQUIRED
Education:  
Bachelor’s/Master’s in Social Work, Dietetics/Nutrition, Nursing, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physiology, Diet Therapy, Pathology, Health Assessment Disease Conditions, or Residential Care Administration

Licensing/Certification & Registration:

• Registered Nurse
• Registered Dietitian
• Licensed Social Worker
• Residential Care Administrator
• Physical Therapist
• Occupational Therapist

The Division of Medicaid provides comprehensive medical coverage for eligible Idahoans. The division does not provide direct medical services, but it contracts and pays for services through providers similar to health insurance companies. Medicaid also licenses and inspects health facilities, including nursing homes, hospitals, and residential and assisted living facilities. Medicaid has different programs available that provide health coverage for:  

• Children under age 19
• Parents or other related adults with children under age 19
• Pregnant women
• Women diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer or pre-cancer
• People aged 65 or older
• People who are blind or disabled (using Social Security criteria)

CAREER POSSIBILITIES

• Business Analyst
• Clinical Supervisor
• Financial Specialist Principal
• Financial Specialist Senior
• Medicaid Program Policy Analyst
• Medicaid Recovery Officer
• Medical Program Specialist
• Registered Nurse Manager
• Registered Nurse Senior
• Pharmacy Services Specialist
• Pharmacy Services Supervisor
• Pharmacy Data Inventory Specialist
• Policy Analyst
• Program/Research Development Analyst
• Program Manager
• Program Specialist DHW
• Program Specialist
• Program Supervisor
• Program System Specialist – Automated
• Project Coordinator
• Project Manager 1, 2 & 3
• Research Analyst Principal
• Research Analyst Supervisor
• Technical Writer

SUPPORT POSITIONS

• Administrative Assistant 1 & 2
• Management Assistant
• Technical Records Specialist 1 & 2

EXAMPLES OF EDUCATION/LICENSING THAT MIGHT BE REQUIRED
Education:  
Bachelor’s/Master’s in Nursing, Business, Accounting, Public Health Administration, Public Policy, Health Education, Developmental Disabilities, Psychology, Special Education, Social Work, Counseling, college courses covering health care delivery systems, college courses covering statistics in modeling-trend analysis and simulation techniques.

Licensing/Certification & Registration:

• Registered Nurse
• CPA
• Pharmacy Technician
• Pharmacist
   

The Division of Public Health protects the health and safety of Idahoans through a range of services, including immunizations, nutrition services, chronic and communicable diseases surveillance and intervention, food safety regulation, emergency medical personnel licensing, vital records administration, health statistics compilation, rural healthcare provider recruitment, laboratory services, and bioterrorism preparedness. The division’s programs and services promote healthy lifestyles and prevention activities while monitoring and intervening in disease transmission and health risks as a safeguard for Idahoans. The division contracts and coordinates with local public health districts and other local providers to deliver many of these services throughout the state.

The division includes the bureaus of Clinical and Preventive Services, Community and Environmental Health, Emergency Medical Services and Preparedness, Vital Records and Health Statistics, Laboratories, Rural Health and Primary Care, Communicable Disease Prevention, Public Health Business Operations, and the Center for Drug Overdose and Suicide Prevention.

CAREER POSSIBILITIES

• Analyst 3
• Automated System Manger
• Chemist Principal & Senior
• Clinical Lab Inspector
• Chemistry Laboratory Manager
• Communications Supervisor
• Data Coordinator
• Data Scientist
• Emergency Communications Officer
• State Epidemiologist
• Health Education Specialist Senior
• Health Operations Field Coordinator
• Health Program Manager
• Health Program Specialist
• Laboratory Improvement Manager
• Laboratory Technician
• Microbiologist Principal (& Senior)
• Microbiology Serology Laboratory Manager
• Register Nurse Senior
• Nutrition Specialist, WIC
• Planner & Planner Senior
• Program Manager
• Program Specialist DHW
• Program Specialist
• Radiation Physicist &  Radiation Physicist Senior
• Research Analyst Principal (& Senior)
• Scientist 2 & 3
• Toxicologist/Assessor

SUPPORT POSITIONS

• Administrative Assistant 1 & 2
• Customer Service Representative 1 & 2
• Management Assistant
• Office Services Supervisor 2
• Office Specialist 2
• Technical Records Specialist 1 & 2
• Building Facility Foreman
• HVAC Specialist
• Business Analyst
• Business Operations Specialist
• Financial Specialist
• Storekeeper

EXAMPLES OF EDUCATION/LICENSING THAT MIGHT BE REQUIRED
Education: 

Bachelor’s/Master’s in Public Health, Chemistry, Microbiology, Biology, Medical Technology, Data Analytics, Statistics, Math, Computer Science, Life Science, Business, Accounting, Physical Sciences, Biological Sciences, Environmental Health, Toxicology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Environmental Epidemiology, Nutrition (RD)

Licensing/Certification & Registration:

• Emergency Medical Services
• RN
• Registered Dietitian
• Emergency Communications Officer
• CPA

The Division of Welfare promotes stable, healthy families through program access and support services. The division manages state and federal programs including Child Support, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP, also called Food Stamps), Child Care Assistance, Temporary Assistance for Families in Idaho (TAFI), Aid to the Aged, Blind, & Disabled (AABD), Employment and Training Program, health coverage assistance programs, and community action programs. The programs, also called Self-Reliance programs, provide food, cash, and other assistance programs for low-income families and individuals, while encouraging participants to become more self-reliant.

CAREER POSSIBILITIES
CAREER POSSIBILITIES

• Business Analyst
• Customer Service Representative 2-Self-Reliance
• Grants/Contracts Officer
• Management Analyst Senior
• Program Manager
• Program Specialist DHW
• Program System Specialist – Automated
• Research Analyst Supervisor
• Self-Reliance Program Evaluation Manager
• Self-Reliance Specialist (& Principal)
• Self-Reliance Supervisor
• Training & Development Manager
• Welfare Training Specialist

SUPPORT POSITIONS

• Administrative Assistant 2
• Customer Service Representative 1 & 2
• Management Assistant
• Technical Records Specialist 1
   

EXAMPLES OF EDUCATION/LICENSING THAT MIGHT BE REQUIRED
Education: 

Bachelor’s/Master’s in Business, Management, Organization Development, Public Administration, Finance, Instructional Technology, Training & Development, Adult Education, Education Technology