Program Coordinator - Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion

Position Summary:

The Program Coordinator - Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) manages the implementation of the LEAD initiative in Chelan and Douglas counties. This position oversees, coordinates, and collaborates with local courts, law enforcement, attorneys, behavioral health providers, and other community partners.

The role of the Program Coordinator - LEAD is to bring stakeholders together to serve individuals with severe and chronic behavioral health disorders who are recurrently being contacted by law enforcement and at risk of or facing criminal charges, to connect them to appropriate resources and navigate them away from the criminal court system.

Responsibilities:

Engagement and Coordination with Community Partners

• Facilitation of the biweekly operational workgroup (OWG) meeting with key operational partners in LEAD to share information about program participants' situation and progress, discuss referral criteria, program capacity and compliance with the LEAD protocol, and to focus the attention of LEAD program staff and law enforcement in particular areas viewed with concern by neighborhood representatives.
• Coordinates with stakeholders to design and implement LEAD within Chelan and Douglas County jurisdictions as coordinated by the Policy Coordinating Group (PCG).

Consultation and Training Activities

• Designs, conducts and/or oversees training activities for LEAD staff to stay current on LEAD Core Principles, substance use disorders, motivational interviewing, mental health, and harm reduction.
• Collaboratively works with community partners, jail, attorneys, law enforcement, housing providers, behavioral health providers, elected officials, and court system, as indicated.
• Models team approach for team members that facilitates positive communication and cooperation between all staff.
• Communicates in a professional manner that promotes teamwork, dignity, positive relationships, trust and respect among team members.
• Monitors staff efforts in linking and coordinating with internal and external interdisciplinary team members and other activities that demonstrate good clinical management of individuals with serious mental illness.
• Creates structures, systems and processes that encourage successful innovation in connecting social services to individuals with serious mental illness who are at risk for decompensation, Law Enforcement contact, and criminal offenses.

Safety and Security

• Ensures LEAD services meet the safety needs of the individuals served.
• Participates in verbal de-escalation and intervention in emergent situations as indicated to maintain a safe and secure environment in the diversion program locations.
• Refers individuals to internal and external programs to meet their behavioral health and social service need, including housing, case management, substance use, medication management, PACT, income support, state assistance, etc.
• Escalates safety concerns appropriately in emergent and urgent situations to the Mobile Crisis Teams and Designated Crisis Responders.

Community Education

• Works with Crisis Leadership Team to educate community members (including individuals, businesses community groups, and social service providers) on how LEAD works and the benefits of utilizing LEAD to improve community cohesion regarding behavioral health.
• Works with community groups to understand current public health and public safety needs within their community.
• Coordinates, supports the development of, and submits grants to Federal, State, and/or local sources and private charitable foundations to secure future funding for LEAD, and other grant-related activities, as agreed by the PCG.
• Collaborates with community providers, the PCG, and the OWG to ensure that community representatives understand LEAD's objectives and methods.
• Maintains and complies with LEAD State funders reporting deadlines and data requirements.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Job Requirements:

The following requirements are those that are normally required for performance of this position. Any disabled applicant or incumbent who does not meet one or more of the physical requirements, but who can perform the essential function of the job (with or without reasonable accommodations) shall be deemed to meet these requirements.

Physical Requirements:

This position normally requires the physical demands of standing, walking, bending, lifting or performing other work requiring low physical exertion, talking and hearing on a regular basis to perform the job requirements. These physical demands are required up to 80% of the time. Position also requires ability to drive with adequate vision.

Non-Physical Requirements:

Education

• Bachelor's degree in a social science field required

Experience

• Minimum of 2 years' experience providing behavioral health treatment, facilitating treatment, care coordination or related.
• Experience facilitating meetings, trainings, or consultations preferred.
• Experience and knowledge of local homeless services and housing systems is preferred.
• Experience or familiarity with community and human services dynamics and public safety/order issues in local communities required.

Special Skills

• Demonstrated interest in criminal justice, homelessness, and/or drug policy reform and a willingness to approach these issues with a racial justice analysis.
• Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to LEAD's core principles.
• Ability to clearly communicate core principles and support and advise others with less experience in harm reduction-based social work and in police-social work partnership.
• Deep understanding of substance use disorder, motivational interviewing and harm reduction strategies.
• Knowledge of the diversion system and diversion intervention methodologies.
• Experience conducting ITA evaluations or intimate knowledge of the related laws and clinical procedures needed.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Effective computer skills.

Licensure, Registration, Certification

• Registered Agency Affiliated Counselor credential with the WA Dept. of Health
• First Aid/CPR Certification within 60 days of hire
• Valid WA driver's license, access to vehicle and minimum agency required liability insurance for WA State
• Must be deemed insurable as determined by Catholic Charities' liability insurance provider

Employment is conditional upon:

• Being cleared by criminal background check and fingerprinting when required
  
  

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am - 5:00pm

Wage Range: $29.00-$37.00 per hour, depending on experience

Benefits:

• 13 paid holidays, 12 days of vacation, 12 days of sick leave per year
• Health insurance including medical & prescription coverage, with optional dental and vision insurance plans. Majority of premiums paid by Catholic Charities
• Retirement 403(b) Plan: employee contributions commence upon employment; Catholic Charities contributes 2% of monthly income and matches up to 4% of employee contributions following 6 months of employment
• Basic Life Insurance paid 100% by Catholic Charities
• Flexible Spending Account eligibility following 6 months of employment
• Education Assistance Program reimbursing up to $5,250 per year for approved continuing education after 6 months of employment
• Additional voluntary insurances including supplemental life, accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D), critical illness, long term disability, accident, and ID theft
• Employee Assistance Program includes 3 counseling sessions per year, legal consultations, financial coaching, and other wellbeing tools
• Annual longevity awards begin at 5 years of employment

It is the practice of Catholic Charities to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, citizenship status, marital status, creed, genetic predisposition or carrier status, sexual orientation, gender expression, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Applicants from underrepresented backgrounds are encouraged to apply. We gladly offer reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities to support participation in the hiring process and employment.