Social Worker (Program Coordinator) - RANGE Program

Program Coordinator

The Fargo VA Health Care System is recruiting for a full-time Program Coordinator for the Rural Access for Network Growth Enhancement (RANGE) program. This position will be filled by a Social Worker (Program Coordinator) or a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (Program Coordinator). This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP).

The Intensive Community Mental Health Recovery Services (ICMHR) services provide clinical community-based services to Veterans with severe mental illness (SMI), severe functional impairment, and high inpatient mental health unit utilization, in coordination with existing community and VA services. It has a high staff-to-veteran ratio with multiple visits per week needed, clinical services provided by an interdisciplinary team, interventions are occurring primarily in the community, and availability maintained for services over a prolonged period as clinically indicated. The Rural Access for Network Growth Enhancement RANGE programs serve Veterans who meet criteria for ICMHR services in rural areas or less densely populated locations. The RANGE Coordinator will remain knowledgeable about national, VISN, and facility level policies and trends related to ICMHR / RANGE Programing. The RANGE Coordinator will also serve as a point person and source of information and problem solving regarding ICMHR / RANGE issues for the facility. Other duties include providing intensive case management services, continuous quality improvement activities, evaluation / consultation, psychosocial assessments, veteran groups, individual therapy, placement services, and referrals to various community agencies and hospital services to ICMHR Veterans. This position will function independently to provide administrative leadership to plan, develop, implement, and oversee clinical services and programming for Veterans that have a high degree of clinical complexity. The incumbent has full supervisory responsibility for all case managers (exception of nursing) and administrative staff within the ICMHR / RANGE Program. Supervisory responsibilities include performance evaluations, time, and leave, hiring, and disciplinary decisions.

Duties include, but are not limited to :

• Complete consults and RANGE Evaluations using measurement-based care, bringing the findings to the team to determine acceptance into the RANGE program or to provide recommendations for an alternative level of care that is clinically indicated.
• Function as case manager for Veterans in the ICMHR program performing duties to facilitate independent community living by coordinating mental health and community care.
• Participate in the development of a treatment plan for each ICMHR Veteran with measurable goals outlined based on relevant psychological, medical, and psychiatric information with the principles of treatment matching.
• Assist ICMHR Veterans in the preparation of materials needed for applications to various agencies for entitlements, then, follow the process of the application until a determination has been made.
• Serve as the major consultant for information on negotiating the complex processes Veterans encounter when interacting with government and community agencies.
• Serve as therapist in treatment groups, individual psychotherapy, and family therapy as needed.
• Responsible to stay updated on current theory, treatment modalities, and best practices by reading professional journals, attending conferences, and among other approved methods.
• Assess the ICMHR Veterans learning needs regarding their substance use issues, psychiatric and medical disorders, and the treatments and medications required, incorporating teaching in the treatment.

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants are ineligible to apply.

Work Schedule : Monday-Friday, 8 : 00 a.m. - 4 : 30 p.m.

Pay : Competitive salary and regular salary increases.

Paid Time Off : 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid federal holidays per year)

Parental Leave : After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.

Child Care Subsidy : After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.

Retirement : Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA

Insurance : Federal health / vision / dental / term life / long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)

Requirements :

Conditions of Employment :

You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.

Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12 / 31 / 1959.

Must be proficient in written and spoken English.

Subject to background / security investigation.

Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.

Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements.

Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.

Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).

Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

A valid driver's license is required.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest.

In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider : your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications : Basic Requirements :

United States Citizenship : Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.

Education. Have a master's degree in social work from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Graduates of schools of social work that are in candidacy status do not meet this requirement until the School of Social Work is fully accredited. A doctoral degree in social work may not be substituted for the master's degree in social work. Verification of the degree can be made by going to to verify that the social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a masters of social work.

Licensure. Persons hired or reassigned to social worker positions in the GS-0185 series in VHA must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level. Current state requirements may be found by going to .

English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f).

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12.

Physical Requirements : You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

Education IMPORTANT : A transcript must be submitted with your application. Note : Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here : . If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit : .

Additional Information :

The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical