REGIONAL COMMUNITY FORENSIC LIAISON - 60011096

Agency: Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF), Substance Abuse and Mental Health (SAMH) Program Office

Salary: $53,917.08 - $65,000.00 Annually

About the role

This is a highly responsible and professional position serving as a Regional Community Forensic Liaison within Forensic and Civil Services. 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. The position provides regional oversight of the Department’s community-based system of care for individuals committed, or at risk of commitment, under Chapter 916, Florida Statutes. It serves as a regional liaison to circuit courts, criminal justice and mental health partners, community providers, managing entities, regional counsel, and state treatment facilities.

Responsibilities

• Expand Florida’s capacity to support individuals involved in both the mental health and criminal justice systems who may otherwise require secure facility placement.
• Deliver training on forensic statutes and practices, promote evidence-based and community-based services, support diversion opportunities, and advance least restrictive treatment options.
• Provide targeted technical assistance to circuit liaisons, forensic case managers, managing entities, court and jail staff, criminal justice partners, and treatment facility staff to strengthen regional forensic operations.
• Deliver coordinated presentations and training sessions to judges, attorneys, circuit court staff, DCF regional and facility teams, managing entity staff, forensic evaluators, and educators to enhance understanding of forensic needs and promote diversion best practices.
• Monitor regional trends and performance data with state mental health treatment facilities, managing entities, and stakeholders to identify gaps, drive improvement strategies, and support effective diversion, conditional release, discharge planning, and continuity-of-care processes.
• Assist circuit courts and agency legal counsel by providing expert guidance on cases involving individuals committed, or at risk of commitment, under Chapter 916, Florida Statutes.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with community providers, Managing Entities, State Attorneys, Public Defenders, Circuit Judges, jails, law enforcement, forensic evaluators, and state facilities to ensure coordinated, least restrictive pathways for individuals in the forensic system.
• Collect, validate, and analyze regional forensic data into required systems; develop ad hoc reports, interpret trends, and prepare written analyses and recommendations for leadership.
• Support development of standards, policies, procedures, correspondence, and official reports that strengthen regional forensic operations.
• Conduct research on evidence-based and emerging best practices to inform program enhancements and assist with the implementation of strategies that improve outcomes for individuals in the forensic system.
• Perform other duties as required to meet program and departmental goals and objectives.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree from a college or university in psychology, social work, criminal justice, or a related field; a master's degree in one of these fields can substitute for one year of the required experience.
• Four years of criminal justice experience; professional experience can substitute on a year-for-year basis for the preferred college education.
• Ability to engage cooperatively and professionally with both internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to manage multiple high-priority projects simultaneously with agility and precision.
• Demonstrated flexibility and ability to succeed both independently and with minimal direction.
• Understanding and alignment with the vision of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health (SAMH) Program.
• Ability to collaborate effectively within a team while excelling in independent work.
• Ability to analyze challenges and propose thoughtful, practical solutions to complex problems.
• Ability to conduct thorough research to identify and recommend strategic and effective courses of action.

Qualifications

• 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, both orally and in writing.
• 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 formats 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 improve operational and management practices.
• Ability to conduct fact-finding research.
• Ability to work independently and solve problems.

Preferred Qualifications

• 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, 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.

Additional Information

• This is not a telework position. The candidate will be required to work in the Orlando or Broward regional office.
• Only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized alien workers will be hired.
• All selected male candidates born on or after October 1, 1962, will be required to be registered with the Selective Service System (SSS).
• Applicants being considered for employment must successfully complete a State and National criminal history check as a condition of employment.
• The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing.
• Veterans’ Preference will be given to eligible candidates pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes.