REGIONAL COMMUNITY FORENSIC LIAISON - 60007008

Salary: $53,917.08 - $65,000 annually

About the role

The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) is the state of Florida’s social services agency, overseeing 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.

This is a highly responsible and professional position serving as a Regional Community Forensic Liaison within the Forensic/Civil Service unit. The ideal candidate will be a collaborative team player who works seamlessly across all sections within the program office. This role requires the use of independent judgment, a proactive approach to responsibilities, and exceptional attention to detail. This is not a telework position; the candidate will be required to work in the Tallahassee (HQ) office.

Responsibilities

• Provide regional oversight of the Department’s community-based system of care for persons committed, or at risk of commitment, under Chapter 916, Florida Statutes.
• Serve as a regional liaison to circuit courts, 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.
• Expand 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.
• Provide education and training on forensic statutes and rules, the forensic system of care, best practices, evidence-based practices, community-based services, diversion opportunities, mental illness, and other pertinent areas related to least restrictive community treatment.
• Participate in program development and assessment, data analysis, community liaison, verbal presentations, and quality projects.
• Work with the State Community Forensic Liaison and other Department staff to ensure that the goals and objectives of the team’s strategy are monitored and obtained.
• Provide technical assistance to circuit liaisons, forensic case managers, managing entities, court and jail staff, criminal justice partners, and treatment facility staff.
• Coordinate presentations and training sessions for community partners including judges, attorneys, staff of circuit courts, DCF region and facility staff, managing entity staff, forensic evaluators, and educators on complex issues and needs facing individuals involved in the forensic system, as well as diversion best practices.
• Work with regional stakeholders and managing entities to identify trends and performance improvement opportunities regarding diversions, conditional release, and continuity of care.
• Identify systematic barriers impairing opportunities for individuals at risk for commitment.
• Assist circuit courts with cases involving individuals with mental illnesses committed or at risk of being committed pursuant to Chapter 916, Florida Statutes.
• Ensure continuity and maintain close working relationships with community service providers, State Attorneys, Public Defenders, Circuit Judges, jails, local law enforcement, forensic evaluators, state mental health treatment facilities, and managing entities.
• Collect, compile, verify, and enter regional data into data systems and run ad-hoc reports; interpret data, develop written reports for leadership, and recommend improvement opportunities/strategies.
• Assist with the development of standards, policies and procedures, correspondence, and other written documents or reports.
• Use multimedia techniques and innovative technology to deliver training and technical assistance virtually.
• Research best practices for potential implementation to improve outcomes for forensic individuals.
• Perform other duties as required to meet program and departmental goals and objectives.

Ideal Candidate Abilities

• Engage cooperatively and professionally with both internal and external stakeholders.
• Manage multiple high-priority projects simultaneously with agility and precision.
• Demonstrate flexibility and the ability to succeed both independently and with minimal direction.
• Understand and align with the vision of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health (SAMH) Program, executing projects, assignments, and policy updates accurately and on time in a fast-paced environment.
• Collaborate effectively within a team while also excelling when working independently.
• Analyze challenges and propose thoughtful, practical solutions to complex problems.
• Conduct thorough research to identify and recommend the most strategic and effective course of action.

Requirements

• 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.

Qualifications

A bachelor's degree from a college or university in psychology, social work, or criminal justice is preferred, along with four years of criminal justice experience. A master's degree in the above-referenced fields can substitute for one year of the required experience. Professional experience as described above can substitute on a year-for-year basis for the preferred 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 county entities.
• Experience with meeting planning/facilitation and use of innovative media/technology.
• Excellent writing and oral communication skills, including experience with technical writing for professional audiences.
• Experience in mental health treatment, particularly as related to justice-involved populations.

Benefits

Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck. The State’s total compensation package for employees features a highly competitive set of employee benefits. For a more complete list of benefits, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com.