REGIONAL COMMUNITY CIVIL LIAISON
The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) is the state of Florida’s social services agency. The agency oversees services for child safety, fostering, adoption, domestic violence, adult protective services, refugees, homelessness, mental health, substance abuse, childcare providers, human trafficking and public assistance. The agency’s mission is to work in partnership with local communities to protect the vulnerable, promote strong and economically self-sufficient families, and advance personal and family recovery and resiliency.
Within DCF, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health (SAMH) Program office is recognized as the single state authority for substance abuse and mental health services. The Office of SAMH is statutorily responsible for the planning, evaluation, and implementation of a comprehensive statewide system of care for the prevention, treatment, and recovery of children and adults with serious mental illnesses or substance use disorders.
TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION RESPONSES TO THE QUALIFYING QUESTIONS ARE REQUIRED AND MUST BE VERIFIABLE BASED ON YOUR SUBMITTED APPLICATION.
THIS IS NOT A TELEWORK POSITION. CANDIDATE WILL BE REQUIRED TO WORK IN THE HEADQUARTERS OFFICE.
This is a highly responsible and professional position that will serve as the Regional Community Civil Liaison to circuit courts, the criminal justice and mental health partners, community mental health providers, managing entities, regional counsel and state mental health treatment facilities serving individuals with mental illnesses committed or at risk of being committed pursuant to Chapter 916, Florida Statutes. The position focuses on expanding Florida’s capacity and ability to serve individuals involved in both the mental health system and the criminal justice system who may have otherwise been traditionally served in a secure facility. This work requires the use of independent judgement and initiative in carrying out duties and responsibilities.
Specific Duties and Responsibilities include:
- This is a skilled position that will work with the State Mental Health Treatment Facilities (SMHTF) to improve discharge planning of residents back into the community. This will include coordinating between the SMHTF) Managing Entities (MEs) and other community partners as needed to conduct the discharge planning of civil and forensic residents returning to the community, consistent with state laws, rules, and Department policies and procedures. Provide consultation, technical assistance, and support to discharge staff at the SMHTF to effectuate timely and successful discharges.
- Facilitate in the monthly Seeking Placement List (SPL) call with headquarters.
- Participate in SPL calls with the SMHTF’s and the ME’s
- Work with the SMHTF’s and ME’s on diverting individuals from admission to the Civil SMHTF as appropriate.
- Facilitate a weekly meeting with all the civil admission coordinators at each of the Civil SMHTF to check on waiting list status.
- Track all individuals waiting for admission to a Civil SMHTF: Anyone who has been waiting over 60 days contact the receiving facility for a status update every week.
- Ensure the receiving facilities are contacting the SMHTF’s or ME’s as soon as anyone is diverted on the waiting list for the Civil SMHTF.
- Provide education regarding community resources to all the receiving facilities in your area at least bi-annually to potentially increase civil diversions.
- Set up a process to work with the receiving facility prior to the petition being sent to the court to discuss anyone they have identified for potential admission to a Civil SMHTF to ensure a civil SMHTF is the least restrictive environment required to treat the individual.
- Work with the all the SMHTF regarding Civil and Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity Residents who have been at the facilities over 3 years. Set up calls as least monthly to discuss and work on solutions to assist the resident returning to the community.
- Participate in bi-weekly calls with Continuity of Care Coordinator at DCF SAMH Headquarters.
- Obtain projected bed availability / discharges weekly from the Baker Act facilities
- Create and maintain by circuit/ county/ name client packets for admission to facilities
- Maintain waitlist by facility catchment area
- Request and work civil packets for admission to the civil facility
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities required for the position:
- Knowledge of basic management principles and practices.
- Knowledge of the methods of data collection and analysis.
- Ability to coordinate a consultative program designed to ensure the resolution of managerial and operational problems.
- Ability to determine work priorities and ensure proper completion of work assignments.
- Ability to communicate effectively.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
- Ability to assess budgetary needs.
- Ability to formulate policies and procedures.
- Ability to understand and apply applicable rules, regulations, policies and procedures relating to operational and management analysis activities.
- Ability to organize data into logical format for presentation in reports, documents and other written materials.
- Ability to collect, evaluate and analyze data to develop alternative recommendations, solve problems, document work and other activities relating to the improvement of operational and management practices.
- Ability to conduct fact finding research.
- Ability to work independently.
- Ability to solve problems and make decisions.
Minimum Qualifications:
- A bachelor's degree from a college or university is preferred and four years of professional experience in criminal justice field.
- A master's degree from a college or university can substitute for one year of the required experience.
- Professional or nonprofessional experience as described above can substitute on a year-for-year basis for the required college education.
Preference will be given to applicants who have:
- Previous management/project oversight experience, with experience overseeing multiple tasks/priorities
- Experience providing training and technical assistance to individuals, agencies, communities and/or counties entities
- Experience with meeting planning/facilitation and use of innovative media/technology desired
- Excellent writing and oral communication skills required, experience with technical writing for professional audiences
- Experience in mental health treatment, particularly as related to justice-involved populations
Benefits of Working for the State of Florida:
- Health insurance
- Life insurance: $25,000 policy is free plus option to purchase additional life insurance
- Dental, vision and supplemental insurance
- Retirement plan options, including employer contributions
- (For more information, please click www.myfrs.com).
- Nine paid holidays and one Personal Holiday each year.
- Flexible Spending Accounts.
- Opportunities for career advancement
- Tuition waiver for public college courses
DCF EMPLOYMENT DISCLOSURES
US CITIZEN REQUIREMENT Only US citizens and lawfully authorized alien workers will be hired.
SELECTIVE SERVICE SYSTEM REGISTRATION All selected male candidates born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion into an authorized position unless they are registered with the Selective Service System (SSS). Verification of Selective Service registration will be conducted prior to hire. For more information, please visit the SSS website: http://www.sss.gov.
RETIREE NOTICE If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), please check with the FRS on how your current benefits will be affected if you are re-employed with the State of Florida. Your current retirement benefits may be suspended or voided, and you required to repay all benefits received depending upon the date of your retirement.
BACKGROUND SCREENING It is the policy of the Florida Department of Children and Families that any applicant being considered for employment must successfully complete a State and National criminal history check as a condition of employment before beginning employment, and, if applicable, also be screened in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 435, F.S., and Chapter 408, F.S. No applicant may begin employment until the background screening results are received, reviewed for any disqualifying offenses, and approved by the Agency. Background screening shall include, but not be limited to, fingerprinting for State and Federal criminal records checks through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and may include local criminal history checks through local law enforcement agencies.