Behavioral Health Professional 1

About the role

The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Division of State-Operated Specialty Care, Bureau of Civil Commitment Unit for Sex Offenders (CCUSO) is seeking a dedicated Behavioral Health Professional 1 to provide clinical services within a secure treatment environment. This position delivers sex offender–specific treatment, case management, and psycho-educational programming to individuals civilly committed to CCUSO. This is a full-time position with a 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday-Friday schedule.

The ideal Behavioral Health Professional demonstrates strong clinical judgment, excellent communication skills, and the ability to work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams in a treatment environment. The position requires graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a master’s degree in psychology, mental health counseling, applied behavior analysis, clinical social work, behavioral sciences, mental health, or a closely related field.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide sex offender–specific therapy. Facilitate group therapy, individual therapy, and develop Behavior Support Plans (BSPs).
• Conduct comprehensive intake evaluations, develop treatment plans, complete 90-day progress reviews, and establish measurable goals within individualized treatment plans.
• Coordinate case management for assigned patients, maintain organized clinical records, and ensure treatment activities follow CCUSO policy and professional standards.
• Complete all required documentation, including patient contact notes, assessments, and treatment plans.
• Assist with crisis intervention, de-escalation, and participate in assessing patients at risk for suicide, self-harm, or harm to others.
• Prepare and facilitate psycho-educational groups, demonstrating knowledge of developmental principles, responsivity considerations, and group therapy methods specific to sex offenders.

Special Requirement

• Must obtain IBTSA SOTP 1 or SOTP 2 certification within three (3) years of appointment.

Applicants will be required to complete a background check to be considered for this position.

CCUSO provides a secure, long-term, and highly structured setting to treat sexual offenders who have served their prison terms, but, in a separate civil trial, have been found likely to reoffend. The facility provides state-of-the-art treatment to patients to lower their risk of re-offending and to release them from confinement as quickly as possible. There is a full range of diagnostic, treatment, and rehabilitative services focused on addressing the conditions impacting a patient’s likelihood of re-offending. For more CCUSO info:

Benefits of Joining CCUSO

Working for the State of Iowa comes with its perks. In addition to a competitive salary, you'll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your well-being and professional growth.

• Health, Dental, and Vision Coverage: Health and dental insurance packages to keep you and your family healthy at a low cost with outstanding coverage!
• Paid Time Off: Take time to recharge with paid time off, including vacation (96 hours/year to begin, increasing with years of service), sick leave (144 hours/year), and paid holidays (9 days/year).
• Retirement Plans: Participate in retirement plans such as IPERS (employees contribute 6.29% and the State of Iowa contributes 9.44%) as well as our Retirement Investors Club (RIC), Employer Sponsored Retirement Plan (the State of Iowa matches dollar for dollar up to $75/month).
• Flexible Spending Accounts: Take advantage of flexible spending accounts for medical and dependent care expenses.
• Insurance Coverage: Benefit from life insurance and free long-term disability insurance for added peace of mind.
• Employee Assistance Program: Access resources and support through our Employee Assistance Program for personal and professional challenges.
• Employee Discount Programs: Enjoy discounts on a variety of goods and services through our employee discount programs.

For additional information on benefits

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Cherokee Highlights

• CCUSO is located in Cherokee, a city of approximately 5,000 set in the beautiful Little Sioux River Valley in Northwest Iowa.
• Residents enjoy fishing and canoeing on the Little Sioux River which winds through town providing a backdrop to a well-developed parks and trails system.
• In addition, Cherokee has over 1,000 acres of land devoted to parks and outdoor activities like camping, hiking, and horseback riding.

• Cherokee is the home of the first accredited museum and planetarium in Iowa, Sandford Museum and Planetarium, established in 1951.
• Cherokee may be the smallest town in the world to have its own symphony orchestra!
• This 60-member orchestra has been referred to as the “best kept secret in Northwest Iowa.”

Cherokee is home to Western Iowa Tech Community College and 1 hour or less from other educational institutions including Morningside College, Northwestern College, Buena Vista University, and Dordt College. This quintessential Iowa town is 1 hour from Sioux City and 2 hours from Omaha. Check out these 10 Reasons to Move to Iowa.