Youth Diversion Specialist

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION

• Monroe Community Mental Health Authority is a community based mental health service organization dedicated to consumers living in Monroe County. We provide individual health services for people with any type of behavioral health concerns such as substance abuse, emotional issues, and intellectual and developmental disabilities.
• Our mission is to enrich lives and promote wellness. We live out that mission by being an inviting resource that offers in-house, referral, and emergency services, as well as support within the community for those in need.

BENEFITS

• Bi-weekly pay
• Vacation, sick, and personal time
• Four medical plans to choose from, eligible first day of hire
• Dental
• Vision
• Aflac
• Disability and life insurance provided by the Agency, optional buy-ups
• 401a Money Purchase Pension Plan, 401a Defined Contribution, and 457 Deferred Compensation retirement plans
• YMCA corporate discount

DESCRIPTION

• This position is responsible for implementing the objectives identified in the Promoting Access to Continuity of Care (PACC) and Mental Health/Juvenile Justice Diversion (MH/JJD) grants received from MDHHS.
  • The goal of PACC is to pilot a Youth Diversion Specialist in the Monroe County Youth Center (MCYC) to promote increased access to behavioral health services for children and youth with SED diagnoses, who are not currently involved with CMHSP/PIHP services, but are eligible for said services, when placed in a juvenile detention center.
  • Responsibilities include; promoting continuity of care for behavioral health service delivery to children and youth with SED who are involved in CMHSP/PIHP services and placed in a juvenile detention center; coordinating behavioral health service delivery for children and youth with SED that promote successful transition from juvenile detention center placement to community-based settings as soon as possible; and providing behavioral health services and coordination that will assist parents/caregivers/families with successfully transitioning the youth/young adult from juvenile detention center placement to community-based services and settings as soon as possible
  • The goal of MH/JDD is to promote access for children and youth with SED to behavioral health services and increase the opportunity to promote juvenile justice diversion of those children and youth whenever possible.
  • Primary responsibilities are identifying children and youth with SED who are at risk of being introduced to the juvenile justice system in order to promote increased access to behavioral health services and supports regardless of insurance type.
  • Additional responsibilities include; providing follow up contact with children, youth, families, and system partners involved in the project to promote continuity of care and successful connection to community based resources to meet the current needs; collecting data relating to the project as well as data that may already exist from other communities that could relate to the project objectives/goals; participating in MDHHS learning collaborative, coaching calls and site visits; evaluate individual and community impact and effectiveness of project; and promoting increased access to youth/families who are eligible for SED waiver services.

Performance Standards: 

• Complete CAFAS/PECFAS with every consenting lodged youth and complete appropriate linkage for MCMHA intake or with current treatment team. 
• Offer/provide short-term services (i.e. Wraparound or case management) with detained children/youth with SED. 
• Promptly promote re-entry/community based placement.  
• Work with the youth and family to identify re-entry needs and resources.  
• Work with key system partners/stakeholders, such as MCYC, Juvenile Court, Prosecutor’s Office, current treatment team members, etc. to identify re-entry needs and resources. 
• Engage parents/caregivers and families in the re-entry process and help connect them to services and supports that can assist in transitioning the youth out of the juvenile detention center and back to community-based settings successfully. 
• Discharge planning, resource linkage, and re-entry planning for youth with SED will occur as part of the youth’s discharge from MCYC. 
• Promote program awareness to stakeholders/members and referrals. 
• Assist in developing program materials for community distribution for further community awareness of program. 
• Receive referrals from system partners who have identified youth who may fall in to the categories outlined as the target population. 
• Respond to referrals from system partners and attempt contact with identified youth/family within 24 business hours. 
• Provide screening using MAYSI/MAYSI-2, PSC, and/or SDQ as approved by MDHHS. 
• CAFAS/PECFAS will be used, as needed to assist with appropriate service linkage. 
• Based on screening results, make referrals to services and supports that will assist in meeting individualized youth and family needs. 
• Create and update a resource guide to be utilized in connecting youth and families to community resources. 
• Identify and attend community meeting, activities, and events that will help to promote program referrals and individualized service linkage for the youth and families served. 
• Reach out to the youth/family to collect follow up data required for this project within the timelines identified by MDHHS. 
• Reach out to referral sources/system partners, as appropriate and with the appropriate release forms, as necessary to collect data related to this project. 
• Collect information and track all data elements outlined by MDHHS for all youth/families served by this project. 
• Attend quarterly meetings with stakeholders and referral sources to discuss program improvements and/or gaps in services. 
• Explore additional opportunities to gain input from youth, families, referral sources and community partners around this project. 
• Utilize CRAFFT Screening Tool for Adolescent Substance Use, collect and compile data. 
• Identify community resources with capabilities to serve youth with COD/SUD disorders that could be provided to youth/families as part of the service linkage provided through this project. 
• Meet with a representative from the community schools/ISD to gather data. 
• Connect with Juvenile Court to gather data on trends. 
• Explore SED waiver eligibility, based upon screening results and service linkage needs. 
• Link eligible referrals to MCMHA for SED waiver application when appropriate. 
• Check voicemails daily and ensure timely return of calls, within 24 business hours.  
• In conjunction with the Program Supervisor, develops annual training plan. Completes all mandatory training and certifications by their due date and maintains provider qualifications for population served.  
• Fosters, demonstrates, and promotes the agency’s mission, vision, and values.  
• Follows oral and written direction completing tasks as assigned by due dates.  
• Understands, complies with, and maintains competence with all applicable laws, regulations, standards and rules governed under Medicaid, Medicare, MDHHS, Joint Commission, HIPAA, Michigan Mental Health Code, CMHPSM, and MCMHA policies and procedures. 
• Interacts appropriately with managers and peers, understanding agency structures and systems in place to provide feedback and express concerns.  
• Makes presentations to the public including school, civic and community agencies and relevant meetings, as needed. 
• Works as a Team Player within the entire Authority Structure. 

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the occupant of the position.  The statements are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed.    

Education, Training and Licensing Credentials: 

• Bachelors level Pay Grade 7 ($25.46-31.83/hr)
  • Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work with State of Michigan Licensure. 
    • Bachelors level such as: Licensed Bachelors of Social Work (LBSW, LLBSW) 
• Masters level Pay Grade 9 ($30.80-38.49/hr)
  • Master’s Degree in Social Work, Psychology, or Counseling with State of Michigan Licensure. 
    • Masters level such as: Licensed Masters Social Work (LMSW, LLMSW), Limited License Psychology (LLP, TLLP),  Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) 

Preferred Experience:

• CAFAS training preferred and is a requirement of this position.
• Work experience within the Wraparound process preferred/desired and/or work experience with the Juvenile Justice System.  
• Demonstrated knowledge and skills necessary to provide the appropriate care for the specific clinical needs and ages of the individuals served. 
• Demonstrated knowledge of the clinical needs, symptoms, and behaviors of individuals served, as well as understanding the principles of growth and development over the life span; have the ability to assess data reflecting each individual’s requirements in relation to his/her age-specific/population specific needs; to provide the care needed by the appropriate age group (child, adolescent and adult). 

Other Competencies and Abilities: 

• Ability to work in a complex, detail-oriented, deadline structured, busy organization.
• The following physical and mental abilities are required:  frequent lifting or carrying up to 15 pounds, must be able to hear, frequent sitting/standing/walking, ability to communicated effectively in person and/or phone, the ability to read, analyze and interpret information, ability to write correspondence and procedures, ability to maintain records, ability to remain impartial during investigative procedures, ability to solve practical problems, ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions, ability to influence others.
•  Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Office and such other applications if/when required.
• Ability to be trained and successfully complete other computer training as required.
•  Valid driver’s license, proof of current automobile insurance and driving record determined by the Authority’s insurance carrier to be eligible for coverage if required as part of positions duties.