Youth Mental Health Liaison

Job Summary:

In collaboration with the 6th Oakland County Circuit Court – Family Division, Youth Mental Health / Court Liaison provides information, referrals, screening, and assessment of eligibility for public mental health services in Oakland County for children with serious emotional disturbances, young adults with mental illness, children/young adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities, and co-occurring diagnoses. Provide coordination and collaboration with other entities that can support individuals in meeting their immediate needs.

Essential Functions:

• Primary point of contact for Juvenile Mental Health Court (JMHC), as well as greater 6th Circuit Court for youth related services. Conduct in – person / virtual mental health screenings, as well as any appropriate assessments. This may include meeting a child in a juvenile detention facility.
• Coordinate with the Access Department for potential SED-Waiver screenings and Substance Use Disorder Screenings. Liaison may complete Substance Use Disorder Screenings for children in detention.
• Arranges services for treatment, and assists with employment and/or education, housing, and any other ancillary services.
• Identify primary agencies for participants to be referred to for mental health services and/or co-occurring disorders services.
• Provide on-going case management for each JMHC participant, specifically by monitoring compliance and progress with the treatment plan. Coordinate with treatment provider, as needed.
• May provide group therapy for participants.
• Provide regular progress and compliance information in coordination with the treatment provider.
• Develop preferred methods, forms, and timetables for exchanging information between agency and court personnel regarding agency related progress and compliance of program participants, including appointment attendance, medication compliance, drug and alcohol test results, individualized treatment plan status, progress, changes, agency discharge plans, and recommendations for continuing care or additional service needs.
• Participate in treatment team meetings, status review hearings, and committees related to youth who are at risk for adjudication or adjudicated.
• Arrange and coordinate with substance use agency for substance use disorder treatment services for persons with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders.
• Provide education to court team members on how to screen for individuals exhibiting symptoms of mental illness and/or co-occurring disorders.
• Provide information to the specialty court team on relevant mental health/substance use confidentiality and recipient rights laws.
• Comply with all Specialty Court policies and procedures that have been previously agreed upon by the parties.
• Participate in training related to mental health / substance use, and specialty court.
• Other duties as assigned.

Job Requirements and Qualifications:

Education:

• Individual must possess a Master’s degree in a mental health field.

Training Requirements (licenses, programs, or certificates):

• LLP, LP, LMSW, LPC, LMFT - limited license will be considered with appropriate experience.
• CAADC, preferred.

Experience Requirements:

• Three (3) years of experience in social work, human services, criminology, psychology, or related field.

Preferred Experience:

• None

Job Specific Competencies/Skills:

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Be able to articulate a complex service system while establishing positive rapport with individuals in need.
• Create a welcoming environment that demonstrates empathy and non-judgment.
• Demonstrates a high level of proficiency with Word, Excel, database, and other relevant software programs.
• Demonstrates a high level of interpersonal skills both in direct personal interactions and on the telephone.
• Demonstrates high level of oral and written communication skills.
• Demonstrates ability to handle a high volume of relatively complex assignments accurately and timely.
• Demonstrates organizational skills needed to establish office procedures and maintain files and records.

Knowledge Requirements:

• Knowledge of the OCHN system, providers, eligibility criteria, and community referral resources
• Knowledge of OCHN provider network, and how to access additional community services.
• Knowledge and understanding of admission and discharge criteria for each treatment program and be able to determine and designate appropriate levels of care.
• Knowledge of DSM-IV TR and DSM-V criteria.
• Knowledge of Michigan Mental Health Code.
• Understanding of recipient rights policies.
• Understanding of trauma informed principles.
• Knowledge of Children’s SED Waiver requirements.
• Knowledge of LOCUS, CAFAS, and ASAM requirements.
• Knowledge of substantial functional limitations.
• Ability to use basic intervention skills.

Oakland Community Health Network’s Core Competencies:

• Interacting with others in a way that gives them confidence in one’s intentions and those of the organization; demonstrating loyalty to the organization and its mission and values; maintaining social, ethical, and organizational norms; firmly adhering to codes of conduct and ethical principles. (Integrity/Building Trust)
• Making customers and their needs a primary focus of one’s actions; developing and sustaining productive customer relationships, recognizing that the ultimate customer is the person served. (Customer Focus)
• Actively identifying new areas for learning; regularly creating and taking advantage of learning opportunities; using newly gained knowledge and skill on the job and learning through their application. (Continuous Learning)
• Setting high standards of performance for self and others; assuming responsibility and accountability for successfully completing assignments or tasks; self-imposing standards of excellence in addition to consciously adopting organizational standards of excellence. (Work Standards)
• Clearly conveying information and ideas through a variety of media to individuals or groups in a manner that engages the audience and helps them understand and retain the message. (Communication)

Additional Information:

(Travel required, physical requirements, on-call schedules, etc.):

• Hybrid (onsite/remote) work schedule available for the Pontiac, MI location.
• The position is based at the 6th Oakland County Circuit Court, 1200 N. Telegraph, Pontiac, MI 48341. Work performed at other locations throughout the community, as needed.
• Must have available means of transportation to and from OCHN and for required offsite meetings or site visits.
• Must be available for meetings and events which may occur outside of standard office hours.
• Work performed primarily in an office environment.
• The ideal candidate must be able to complete all physical requirements of the job with or without a reasonable accommodation

OCHN is committed to building a diverse team and fostering an inclusive and equitable culture. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer that embraces and encourages our employees’ differences. This includes (but is not limited to) ability, age, color, family type, gender expression and identity, individual expression, medical conditions, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, and all other diverse and wonderful characteristics.