MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS SPECIALIST (co-response) - ISRS

About the role

Welcome to La Crosse County — Where Your Work Truly Matters Every day, our unique teams contribute to our vision of a community that is vibrant, safe, and resilient. Whether you're supporting families, safeguarding natural resources, maintaining infrastructure, or delivering essential services, your work here creates real impact for the people who live, work, and visit our county.

We believe our workforce should reflect the community we serve. We’re committed to fostering a culture of respect, inclusion, and belonging—because diverse perspectives lead to better outcomes for everyone.

Responsibilities

• Act with Integrity and Build Trust: Demonstrate mutual respect, humility, and honesty in all interactions; speak up appropriately, even when expressing unpopular viewpoints; actively listen and remain open-minded to diverse perspectives.
• Drive for Results: Set clear goals and objectives to motivate self and others to achieve outcomes; seek new opportunities to improve processes and drive sustainable results; hold self and others accountable through consistent evaluation and monitoring.
• Develop Talent and Effective Teams: Foster a collaborative environment that encourages knowledge sharing and growth; provide mentorship and support to help self and others reach full potential; recognize and leverage diverse strengths within self and team.
• Lead with Vision and Strategy: Understand and communicate a compelling vision that aligns with organizational goals; develop and execute comprehensive strategies to achieve long-term objectives; connect daily work to the bigger picture, inspiring self and others to contribute meaningfully.
• Lead with Paradoxical, Critical, and Agile Thinking: Navigate complex situations by considering multiple perspectives; adapt quickly to changes and uncertainties in the work environment; make critical decisions using analytical skills, experience, and input from others.
• Build and Maintain Effective Relationships: Communicate and collaborate effectively with stakeholders across the organization; influence others through coaching, consulting, and team‑minded thinking; develop and sustain partnerships that create positive outcomes for all stakeholders.
• Cultivate Community Engagement and Provide Excellent Service: Understand and address the needs and concerns of the community; incorporate community perspectives into decision‑making processes; drive initiatives that create positive impacts beyond the organization.
• Demonstrate Emotional Intelligence: Show self‑awareness and manage emotions effectively in challenging situations; seek and respond constructively to feedback, even in the face of setbacks; balance empathy with accountability when leading self and working with others.
• Demonstrates self‑leadership, seeks out opportunities for personal growth and development, accepts feedback and demonstrates ability to learn and apply.
• Shares ideas and demonstrates respect, humility, honesty, and open‑minded thinking.
• Demonstrates flexibility, acceptance of change and emotional intelligence.
• Takes initiative and demonstrates the ability to think critically and strategically.
• Participates as a contributing member of the team and brings authentic self to discussions regarding all aspects of the work.
• Demonstrates ability to build and maintain effective relationships.
• Partners with community providers such as schools, Western Region Adolescent Shelter, Child Protection Services and nursing homes to assist with crisis planning, provide suggestions for de‑escalation or resources, and for family care members in developing crisis plans.
• Responds both by phone and in‑person to evaluate adults/adolescents/children/families who are experiencing mental health crises.
• Works closely with law enforcement agency staff, hospital emergency room staff and other mental health professionals, as well as support persons, to determine the needs of the individual and develop ways to meet the needs while also providing for safety and stabilization of the individual and community.
• Responds to calls by phone and also performs on‑site, face‑to‑face crisis intervention and mental health assessment services at various locations, within La Crosse County, including hospital emergency rooms, residences, and other locations in conjunction with law enforcement and other program staff.
• Assesses adults/adolescents/children for risk of harm to self and others, using standardized clinical tools.
• Assesses nature of presenting problem and makes care recommendations to emergency room physicians.
• Arranges for stabilization services in residential and/or outpatient settings.
• Develops Assessment and Response Plans for persons experiencing crisis.
• Participates in multidisciplinary dispositional staff meetings, regular supervisory/training sessions, and conferences and in‑service training as required.
• Uses laptop computer database to perform data entry into an electronic health record.
• Completes up to 40* hours of initial training on crisis assessment and response within the first ninety (90) days of employment (*20 hours for experienced mental health professionals).
• In this public service position, employee is required to be courteous, cooperative, respectful and non‑judgmental at all times, with the public and clients; also establishes and maintains a courteous, cooperative and respectful working relationship with other employees, supervisors and public officials.
• Physical demands: Large percentage of time is spent talking and hearing. A smaller portion of time is spent sitting, using near and far vision, typing, and carrying equipment weighing approximately 15 lbs. A limited amount of time is spent standing, walking, and climbing (using feet and legs). There is the threat of physical attack or injury from clients in unusual situations. Uses automobile, laptop, and cell phone. Uses independent judgment and coping skills and works under pressure and duress. Drives vehicle in all weather conditions.

Requirements

• Ability to relate effectively to individual persons with mental illness and/or family members; ability to relate positively and constructively to difficult clients and to clients who do not organize their thoughts well.
• Ability to relate positively to other community service agencies in the provision of service to persons with mental illness, family members and persons experiencing crisis situations.
• Familiarity with federal, state and local laws related to services for the treatment of persons with mental illness and the special confidentiality concerns related to emergency situations.
• Ability to operate a computer and update an electronic health record.
• Ability to be non‑judgmental, empathic and provide comfort to persons with mental illness.
• Ability to prioritize and problem‑solve efficiently and effectively in high‑stress situations.
• Knowledge in family dynamics, including the out of home care system.
• Knowledge in Children's service system.
• Knowledge and skills in defusing behavioral challenges.
• Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Psychology or Counseling, or closely related field. With appropriate related work experience, may consider another degree or high school diploma.
• Previous experience working with persons with problems of mental illness or persons experiencing mental health crises.
• Demonstrated skill in relationship building with community