OBH - Disaster Response and Outreach Supervisor (Closes 6/16/2025)

Summary

The DHS Disaster Response and Outreach Supervisor acts as DHS’s primary liaison to the community for disaster response. This position also is responsible for overseeing behavioral health disaster response and behavioral health outreach, education and training, including supervising the staff person(s) that perform those duties. The DHS Disaster Response and Outreach Supervisor works under the supervision of the Assistant Deputy Director for Behavioral Health Operations  . 
The Supervisor acts as the primary behavioral health disaster response liaison in the event of a significant emergency or disaster affecting Allegheny County residents—coordinating DHS’s response, which includes social services and other assistance. To prepare for and respond to county emergencies or disasters, the incumbent works closely with the administrator responsible for DHS Safety in the Office of Administration, as well as other DHS Offices and the Allegheny County Emergency Operations Center, the Pennsylvania Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services(OMHSAS), Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, Center for Victims and other relevant local, State and Federal organizations, as appropriate and necessary. The Supervisor also leads the emergency/disaster response of the Office of Behavioral Health (OBH) and directs the work of the Emergency Behavioral Health Disaster Response Assistant.
These are professional responsibilities of an administrative nature involving planning, training facilitating, review, analysis and evaluation, as well as the ability to respond in an emergency 24/7.

Essential Duties  and Responsibilities 

Disaster Response
- Coordinates continuity efforts before, during and after a disruption event for DHS. Responsible for all internal and external planning for response in the event of a community emergency.
 - Participates in the planning, conducting and debriefing of regular mock-disaster exercises to test adequacy of existing plans and strategies and recommends modifications as identified.
- Assists in the effective and timely response to and recovery after a significant emergency or crisis event, as required, including:
o    Annually updates training requirements for emergency responders.
o    Ensures DHS and provider staff are current in required trainings and/or certifications.
o    Staffs the Human Services section of the Emergency Operations Center (OEC), as required.
o    Provides behavioral health leadership to the DHS Disaster Response Team.
o    Participates in the PA Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) and PA Western Region Disaster and Crisis Outreach and Response Team (DCORT) trainings and meetings; and ensures other staff in DHS participate, as appropriate.
o    Enrolls with ServPA, Pennsylvania’s disaster response staffing, participates in trainings and drills and approves active Allegheny County members.
o    Participates with Region 13 meetings including Western Region meetings, 13 County Mental Health Disaster Response and Recovery (DCORT) meetings and Region 13 Health and Medical Meetings.
o    Coordinates with other County Government and communications offices for activation of the Public Information Line and other services.
o    Coordinates with the ARC to plan, train and respond for mental health staff support at the Family Assistance Center, when created.
o    Participates in Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (VOAD) meetings for Western Region VOAD and Pennsylvania VOAD; and uses this information to improve DHS’s response.
o    Participates in organizations/meetings involving disaster response, including, but not limited to: Local Emergency Planning Committee, Three Rivers Contingency Planning, FEMA Region III and Minority Emergency Preparedness Task Force; and uses this information to improve DHS’s response.
o    Provides knowledge of above to DHS for the purpose of evaluation policies, provisions and programs and makes recommendations for changes/.additions to such policies and programs and assists in the development of new policies, procedures and programs.
o    As required, represents DHS and/or OBH on various Task Forces, Advisory Committees or State or County sponsored meetings related to the disaster, emergency or crisis response and recovery.
o    Assists with the coordination and setup of PODS (Points of Distribution) for distribution of medication and medical supplies from the Strategic National Stockpile that may be needed during certain emergencies/disasters.
o    Prepares updates/reports on activities and other correspondence as needed/requested.

EBH Response, outreach and training:

o    Oversees staff who:
       - Act as the behavioral health liaison to the American Red Cross (ARC) and Center for Victims (CVC) during any disaster or emergency situations; and who develop, implement and/or coordinate supportive services for individuals experiencing an emergency/crisis, such as Community Health Afternoons for communities, multiple residents or families.
       - Are responsible for developing, maintaining and implementing business continuity processes and procedures for OBH, including risk assessments, business impact analyses, strategy selection and documentation of Business Continuity Program performance.

o    In collaboration with the corresponding organization(s), is the primary liaison and facilitator for the Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) with police and correctional officers.
o    Ensures the development, expansion and availability of Mental Health First Aid to Allegheny County while maintaining knowledge of current requirements and training curriculum.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This job supervises a person responsible for behavioral health response to the community in a disaster (including recruiting and training a diverse array of staff and volunteers) and who will support the overall training and outreach functions for OBH 

Additional Responsibilities

From time to time the employee will be required to perform additional tasks and duties as required by the employer.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

- Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple, simultaneous projects.
- Considerable knowledge of overall operational policies and established procedures in the community, institutional or facility-based programs.
- Ability to develop and maintain an understanding attitude toward individuals who have been involved in a disaster or emergency crisis and recovery from those incidents.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of state and local public and private agencies.
- Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing. Must be enthusiastic and persuasive.
- Ability to maintain necessary records and prepare reports.
- Ability to maintain diplomacy and tact to problem solve in a constructive and collaborative manner.
- Ability to make quick and sound decisions in response to changing conditions.
- Ability to work independently with minimal direction.
- Ability to maintain an authoritative leadership with delegation of details as necessary,
- Ability to work with various IT systems
- Ability to response immediately, when necessary, for significant incidents or disasters.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions, consistent with applicable law.

Education/Experience Requirements

Master’s degree in human services or related field, plus at least 3 years’ related experience.
-OR-
Bachelor’s degree in human services or related field, plus at least 5 years’ related experience.
-OR-
Any equivalent combination of education and experience that meets the required knowledge, skills and abilities.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

Act 33 & 34 clearances.
-AND-
Valid driver’s license and access to a reliable vehicle are required.

Why DHS?

·       It is innovative. Most recently, the national attention and awards we’ve gotten are for how DHS integrates data and uses them to improve the safety and well-being of children through tools that support front-line staff in making decisions (using predictive analytics).

·       DHS is diverse, but we strive to be even more inclusive. Our director has made it her top priority that DHS is “the kind of place where a diverse group of talented people want to come, grow, and do their best work.” This includes equity in hiring and advancement, as well as in unleashing the creativity and ideas of staff at every level of DHS.

·        It has strong, assertive leaders. We do not hire yes-people.

 You can make a big impact here. We stand out as one of the best human services organizations in the country. But we need problem-solvers, innovators, and terrific leaders to make sure we are smart in how we use our funding so that we reach the people who most need our help to make their lives better. 

 DHS strives to be the kind of place where a diverse mix of talented people want to come to grow and do their best work.