Rapid Response to Recovery EmPATH Implementation Specialist

The CDC Foundation is seeking a highly skilled individual to serve as the Emergency Psychiatric Assessment, Treatment and Healing (EmPATH) Implementation Specialist for the Kentucky Rural Health Transformation Program. The EmPATH Implementation Specialist will guide the launch of new EmPATH units in rural Kentucky, while coordinating closely with EMS/paramedicine teams and a centralized telebehavioral health hub to integrate all components of the Rapid Response to Recovery (RRR) crisis continuum into a seamless system of care.

· Bachelor’s degree in public health, health administration, health information management, nursing, social work, or a related field.

· Minimum 3 years of experience coordinating or managing health programs in behavioral health, hospital operations, or crisis services.

· Knowledge of behavioral health crisis systems and clinical workflows, such as psychiatric emergency services and emergency department operations.

· Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.

· Experience with telemedicine platforms and rural healthcare delivery.

· Understanding of Kentucky’s behavioral health system.

· Familiarity with Kentucky’s regulatory and funding landscape for crisis services.

· Expertise in data security and HIPAA compliance in telehealth settings.

Program Implementation & EmPATH Expansion – 35%

· Lead identification of high-need rural hospitals for new EmPATH units and ensure each pilot site is committed and ready for implementation.

· Guide each pilot hospital through EmPATH unit design and launch, including facility preparations, staffing plans, and workflow to set up a safe unit in line with the EmPATH model.

· Support standardized clinical protocols/operations for EmPATH units, maintaining fidelity to evidence-based practices while complying with behavioral health regulations and safety standards.

· Oversee the RFA, application, and selection process, as well as contract management with participating hospitals.

· Develop referral and transfer workflows to support seamless handoffs from first responders and community paramedicine teams into EmPATH units.

· Partner with the Telebehavioral Health Hub Implementation Specialist to connect EmPATH units with the Telebehavioral Health Hub for coordinated, on-demand access to remote behavioral health providers across crisis response settings.

· Align EmPATH unit operations with CMHCs to support post-crisis care, so stabilized patients have warm hand-offs to ongoing care.

· Partner with experienced EmPATH providers to deliver coordinated training for new unit teams, covering psychiatric emergency assessment, de‑escalation, workflows, and data/reporting tools.

· Organize on-site coaching peer observation opportunities at established EmPATH units and connect sites with EmPATH experts for best practices.

· Share key updates, challenges, and input on implementation strategies with the broader EmPATH Consortium, a cross-sector advisory group to guide statewide EmPATH expansion.

· Serve as the primary liaison between RRR leadership and local communities by coordinating with state agencies (i.e., Department for Public Health, Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental, and Intellectual Disabilities) to align EmPATH implementation with statewide crisis initiatives such as 988.

· Define and monitor key performance metrics for EmPATH. Tracking data should include stabilization/transfer rates in EmPATH units, follow-up care engagement, etc.

· Analyze performance data to identify trends, gaps, and success stories to evaluate whether EmPATH units are decreasing ED boarding and increasing connection to community care.

This role is involved in a dynamic public health program. As such, roles and responsibilities are subject to change as situations evolve. Roles and responsibilities listed above may be expanded upon or updated to match priorities and needs, once written approval is received by both the

CDC Foundation and Kentucky Department for Public Health in order to best support the Kentucky Department for Public Health in their public health programming.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, mental or physical disabilities, veteran status, and all other characteristics protected by law. We comply with all applicable laws including E.O. 11246 and the Vietnam Era Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 governing employment practices and do not discriminate on the basis of any unlawful criteria in accordance with 41 C.F.R. §§ 60-300.5(a)(12) and 60-741.5(a)(7). As a federal government contractor, we take affirmative action on behalf of protected veterans.