Health Program Associate

Are you ready to make a direct impact on improving access to behavioral health care, while serving as the vital link between consumers, providers, and resources at the Office of Behavioral Health?

If so, we encourage you to read below and apply today

The State of Connecticut is recruiting for a Health Program Associate position for a new independent state agency, the Office of the Behavioral Health Advocate (OBH).

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

• Visit our newState Employee Benefits Overview page
• A healthy work-life balance to all employees
• Professional growth and development opportunities

THE ROLE

The Health Program Associate is responsible for communicating and screening all members of the public who contact the OBH. In consultation with the Program Manager, the Associate will be accountable for:

• Initial assessment of consumer/provider needs.
• Accessing mental health and behavioral health care resources.
• Supporting behavioral health providers with receiving timely payments from health insurance carriers for services provided.
• Advocating for greater access behavioral health care and resources with the overarching goal of improving consumer outcomes. This may require meeting with consumers and providers when necessary.
• Additional responsibilities may include assisting in the maintenance of the agency website and its computerized case management system.

POSITION HIGHLIGHTS

• Monday - Friday
• Full time (40 hours/week)
• First Shift, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
• Location: 153 Market Street in Downtown Hartford, easily accessible for all commuters.
• Hybrid opportunity, combination of in-office and telework

OUR MISSION

The mission of the Behavioral Health Advocate (OBH) will be to provide the residents of our state with an advocate to help break down the barriers that still stand in the way of accessing the appropriate level of care in a timely manner close to where you live. We do this by assisting providers who are having issues with insurance carriers resulting in them withdrawing from networks. We are also advocates for individuals and families who are having difficulty navigating the behavioral health system resulting in their inability to access care.

The Office of the Behavioral Health Advocate is also charged with engaging in public education and offering the legislature recommendations about policies that will improve the behavioral health system of care.

Watch the video below to see what it's like to be a State of CT employee

Check out our Applicant Tips on How to Apply Need more resources? Visit our Applicant Toolkit for additional support throughout the recruitment process.

BEFORE YOU APPLY:

• Meet Minimum Qualifications: Ensure you meet the Minimum Qualifications listed on the job opening by the job closing date. You must specify your qualifications on your application. The minimum experience and training requirements listed must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
• Educational Credits: List your earned credits and degrees from accredited institutions accurately on your application. To receive educational credits towards qualification, the institution must be accredited. If the institution of higher learning is located outside of the U.S., you are responsible for providing documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service which specializes in determining foreign education equivalencies to the contact listed below by the closing date on the job posting.
• Resume Policy: Per Public Act 21-69, resumes are not accepted during the initial application process. As the recruitment process progresses, candidates may be required to submit additional documentation to support their qualification(s) for this position. This documentation may include: a cover letter, resume, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the request and discretion of the hiring agency.
• Preferred Shift/Location: Select all location(s) and shift(s) you are willing to work on your application. Failure to do so may result in not being considered for vacancies in that specific location or shift.
• Timely Submission: All application materials must be received by the job posting deadline. You will be unable to make revisions once you officially submit your application to the State. Late submissions are rarely accepted, with exceptions only for documented events that incapacitate individuals during the entire duration of the job posting. Request exceptions by emailing
• Salary Calculations: For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from one of the three branches of state government (i.e., Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other.
• Note: The only way to apply to this posting is via the 'Apply' or 'Apply Online' buttons on the official State of Connecticut Online Employment Center job posting.

AFTER YOU APPLY:

• Referral Questions: This posting may require completion of additional Referral Questions (RQs), which must be completed by the questionnaire's expiration date. If requested, RQs can be accessed via an email sent to you after the job close date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section).
• Prepare For An Interview: Interviews are limited to those whose experience and training are most aligned with the role. To prepare, review this helpful Interview Preparation Guide to make the best impression
• Stay connected Log in daily to your JobAps Personal Status Board to track your status and check email (including spam/junk folders) for updates and tasks.
• The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
• Note: This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC,