Aspiranet is a one-of-a-kind social service agency dedicated to building a world where all children and youth are loved and cared for, and all families have the resources to thrive. Founded in 1975, our core mission is to help California kids and families. Aspiranet’s services include foster care and adoption family support, residential care, support for youth making the transition from foster care to adulthood, mental and behavioral health services, intensive home-based care, and community-based family resources. We provide services throughout California.

If you have any issues applying, please contact the Recruitment Department.

Mental Health Division Director - 14222

Regular Full Time
Hybrid

Santa Cruz, CA, USA

Posted within last 24 Hours

Mental Health Division Director
Santa Cruz, CA

 

šŸ“ Location: Hybrid – Santa Cruz, CA (Home Base) with Occasional Travel to Turlock, CA
šŸ“… Schedule: Full-Time | Exempt
šŸ’¼ Department: Residential
šŸ“ˆ Reports to: CEO/COO
šŸ’° Annual Salary Range: $185,000 – $200,000

 

✨ Make a Meaningful Impact

Aspiranet, a leading California-based nonprofit dedicated to supporting children, youth, and families, is seeking compassionate and committed Core Division Director professionals to join our Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU) and Children’s Crisis Psychiatric Program (CCPP). These specialized programs offer short-term, trauma-informed care for youth experiencing acute emotional and psychiatric crises, providing vital stabilization services to help them return safely to their homes, schools, or communities.

This position supports a brand-new location as we continue expanding our impact across Santa Cruz County, bringing much-needed crisis services closer to the youth and families who need them most. If you’re passionate about helping youth navigate moments of crisis with dignity, empathy, and expert support, we invite you to join our mission of healing, resilience, and hope.

 

ā¤ļø About Aspiranet

Aspiranet is a mission-driven social services agency with a proud legacy of supporting California communities since 1975. We are committed to ensuring that every child is loved, every family is supported, and every individual has the tools to succeed. Our services span the state and are delivered through six dedicated divisions: Foster Care and Adoption, providing support for children and families throughout the foster and adoption journey; Transitional Aged Youth (TAY), offering programs that guide young adults as they transition from foster care to independent living; Residential, delivering therapeutic care in structured, supportive environments to help youth thrive; Intensive Home-Based Services, focused on meeting individualized needs within the home, school, and community; Behavioral Health, delivering short-term, intensive mental health services for youth at risk; and Family and Community, emphasizing early intervention and family-strengthening supports. At Aspiranet, every role contributes to something greater—helping to create a future where opportunity, hope, and healing are within everyone’s reach.

 

šŸ“ļø Position Summary

The Core Division Director is responsible for overseeing the full operations of Aspiranet’s Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU) and Children’s Crisis Psychiatric Program (CCPP) in Santa Cruz, CA. This position ensures that both programs meet budget, practice, and operational standards while supervising Core Program Directors and providing oversight to Program Managers. Under the direction of the Chief Operating Officer, the Core Division Director leads program expansion, ensures quality implementation, and fosters alignment across residential program goals and practices.

 

šŸ” Key Responsibilities

Program Leadership & Development

  • Lead and oversee daily operations of the Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU) and Children’s Crisis Psychiatric Program (CCPP), ensuring delivery of trauma-informed, short-term crisis care.
  • Serve as senior leadership liaison with county, state, and community partners to advocate for and align program services with regulatory and funding requirements.
  • Develop, implement, and continuously improve program models specific to CSU and CCPP to meet the acute needs of youth experiencing psychiatric crises.
  • Guide program expansion and integration efforts within Santa Cruz County to increase access and effectiveness of crisis services.

Site Operations & Compliance

  • Ensure CSU and CCPP maintain compliance with all licensing, funding, and agency policy requirements.
  • Oversee incident reporting, grievance resolution, and risk management specific to crisis stabilization settings.
  • Monitor adherence to best practices in psychiatric crisis intervention, safety protocols, and trauma-informed care within both programs.
  • Manage staff performance, hiring, and training plans tailored to the unique needs of CSU and CCPP clinical and support teams.

Fiscal Oversight & Planning

  • Manage budgeting and financial planning specific to CSU and CCPP operations, ensuring fiscal responsibility and alignment with agency goals.
  • Oversee grant applications, funding proposals, and contract compliance related to crisis stabilization services.
  • Analyze program data and outcomes to inform continuous quality improvement and demonstrate impact to stakeholders.

Staff Development & Collaboration

  • Provide leadership, coaching, and professional development opportunities for CSU and CCPP program directors and staff.
  • Facilitate collaboration between CSU, CCPP, and other Aspiranet divisions to ensure integrated care approaches and resource sharing.
  • Coordinate cross-program training initiatives to build staff competencies in crisis intervention and psychiatric care.
  • Travel as needed to support staff, build community partnerships, and represent Aspiranet at key meetings and events.

āœ…  Qualifications

  • Master’s degree in a discipline approved by funder or licensing body.
  • Minimum of five years in a leadership role equivalent to a Director managing site operations and team leadership.
  • Must be a Licensed LCSW, LMFT, or Psychologist.
  • Valid California Driver’s License with clean driving record.
  • Fingerprint/DOJ clearance, Child Abuse Index, TB/Health clearance.
  • Preferred experience launching or managing 24/7 youth crisis or residential care settings.
  • Familiarity with Medi-Cal billing, DHCS regulations, and CCL requirements.
  • Preferred experience managing multi-disciplinary teams and working with public health/funder contracts.

 

šŸ’» Work Environment & Schedule

This is a hybrid position based in Santa Cruz, CA, with an expectation of on-site presence a minimum of 3 days per week, including oversight of evening and weekend coverage schedules as needed. Occasional travel to Turlock, CA, and other Aspiranet locations will be required.

 

ā¤ļø Why Aspiranet?

  • Competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits package, and a 403(b) retirement plan with employer matching.
  • Access to the free Aspiranet Employee Perks Program. Enjoy exclusive discounts on entertainment, travel, wellness, pet care, gym memberships, theme parks, and more
  • Flexible Hybrid Schedule. Enjoy the mix of remote and in-office work, supporting work-life balance
  • Flexible paid time off including 11 paid holidays, 10 vacation days, 10 sick leave days, two diversity days, and paid birthday time off.
  • Access to our employee assistance program including 24/7 crisis line; up to 6 counseling sessions per issue.
  • Training opportunities are available to support your ongoing development and career aspirations.
  • Collaborate in a supportive, inclusive, and mission-aligned culture.
  • Opportunity to lead meaningful initiatives that support employee wellbeing.

 

šŸ‹ļøPhysical Demands: The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

This position typically operates in a standard office environment. The noise level is generally quiet and remains within OSHA’s established safety levels at all times.

 

āš–ļø Equal Employment Opportunity

Aspiranet is an equal opportunity employer that recognizes the value of diversity. We believe a diverse workforce within a culture of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) increases creativity, innovation, problem-solving, and teamwork for the youth and families that we serve and the organization as a whole.  Aspiranet strives to provide our employees with a workplace that is welcoming, inclusive of differing world views, cultures, and lived experiences.

 

šŸ“  How to Apply

Join us in building brighter futures.

šŸ‘‰ Ready to Apply?

Join us in building brighter futures.

Apply today through our career portal:

✨ Click here to apply: www.aspiranet.org/careers

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