Behavioral Health Manager Careers
Healthcare teams are integrating behavioral health models with increasing frequency. This approach helps a variety of clients, including those who experience crises, substance use disorders, and physical symptoms related to stress. Demand for behavioral health managers is growing.
Students can complete the accelerated B.S. in Healthcare Management program at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota in one year. Designed for those who currently work in healthcare, as well as students who want to enter the field, this program can be the beginning of a career journey for behavioral health managers.
Choose
from seven bachelor completion degree programs
B.S. in Accounting
B.S. in Applied Psychology
B.S. in Business Administration
B.S. in Criminal Justice Leadership
B.S. in Healthcare Management
B.S. in Human Resource Management
B.S. in Information Technology
Behavioral Health Managers Enhance Care Options
Using behavioral health strategies yields many benefits for both clients and healthcare professionals. With the assistance and coordination of behavioral health managers, healthcare teams can more easily adapt treatment methods for better outcomes. Behavior health managers facilitate communication among specialties and keep everyone on target with treatment goals. Medications, counseling services, and other treatments can be scheduled with better efficiency. According to the American Medical Association (AMA), the benefits of behavioral health integration include:
- Improved quality of life with less burnout for physicians and other members of healthcare teams
- Better access to long-term monitoring and services with whole-person care models
- Reduced gaps in medical treatment and risks for self-harming behaviors
- Greater convenience and satisfaction for clients
- Enhanced value for practices and organizations with cost-effective care
Behavioral Health Manager Duties and Responsibilities
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects a high job growth rate of 28% for all medical and health services managers through 2032. This isn’t surprising, since healthcare is a fast-growing sector of the U.S. and global economy. In addition, mental health services are in high demand. Behavioral health professionals focus on how thought patterns, internal narratives, and emotional reactions can intensify mental health issues and individual behaviors. These patterns also can affect how well clients and patients accept treatment for conditions related to their mental and physical health.
Behavioral health managers may initially work as behavioral health counselors or therapists. Through this experience, combined with organizational and management skills, they help manage client progress. They may work in hospitals, clinics, private practices, or nursing homes, and their duties may vary by the size and scope of the organization.
Here are a few tasks often performed by behavioral health managers:
- Meet with healthcare teams to discuss and plan client treatments
- Oversee documentation of client care
- Recruit, hire, and train counselors and assistants
- Manage behavioral health counselors and other members of the mental health team
- Assure organizational compliance with regulations and laws
- Develop plans and goals for healthcare services
- Oversee departmental or practice budgets related to mental and behavioral health
The average reported salary for behavioral health managers in Minnesota was $99,389 as of November 2023, with a range of $86,526 to $117,615, depending on the city of employment, education, certifications, experience level, and skills.
Healthcare Manager Degree Completion Program
The B.S. in Healthcare Management degree completion program at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota is designed for adult learners who are working in the field, or who want to start working in healthcare. Students must transfer at least 30 previously earned semester credits and are allowed to transfer up to 90 credits. An admissions counselor assists each applicant.
Credits from community colleges and technical colleges are accepted, as well as College Level Examination Programs (CLEP), Dantes Subject Standardized Tests (DSST), and American Council on Education (ACE) credits resulting from industry and military training. In addition, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota accepts most former educational credits, regardless of how long ago they were earned.
Online Degrees for Adult Learners
The bachelor’s degree completion programs at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota help students whose educational progress experienced an interruption. With our generous transfer policy and engaging practical courses, students can take the fast track to finish their degree. The B.S. in Healthcare Management provides online learning with courses that include:
- Health policy and ethics
- Quality and performance improvement for service providers
- Writing and communication in the health professions
- Human resource management
- Cultural competency for health professionals
Students interact with faculty and other students in dynamic virtual classroom experiences. The program also includes a healthcare capstone experience that reflects a chosen specialization and helps develop analytic skills and presentation abilities. Our staff is also available to assist with questions about tuition and fees.
Advance Your Career With Our Online Degree Completion Program
If you are interested in pursuing a career as a behavioral health manager, the B.S. in Healthcare Management degree completion program at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota is an excellent choice. Adult learners can continue to work while finishing their bachelor’s degree in healthcare management in as little as one year. For more information, contact us today.