Mental Health Court Coordinator

Reporting to the Manager of the Mental Health & AODA and working closely with the court system and community resources, the Mental Health Court Coordinator performs administrative work and plans, organizes, coordinates, and monitors activities of the Outagamie County Mental Health Court (MHC).  Work involves providing services in office, at clients' homes and in the community and may require work outside of standard hours and occasional travel.
 The following duties are most critical for this position. These are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. Other duties may be required and assigned. 

• Coordinates the activities of the Outagamie County Mental Health Court including screenings, referrals, assisting in determining eligibility, leading and coordinating staffing and activities, making referrals, providing direct case management and coordinating treatment services.

• Reports all necessary Mental Health Court data to Health and Human Services, the State Office of Justice Assistance, and other stakeholders as required.

• Obtains information from clients, family members, and other agencies to assess needs or degree of dysfunction, establishes goals, develops and coordinates individual case plans; and monitors established service plans.

• Conducts face-to-face assessments with individuals in their homes or in the community or other locations.

• Identifies, through case management and/or intake services, individual needs which include medical, psychological, vocational, social, familial and daily living spheres.

• Develops and implements a case management system to ensure compliance with program guidelines, administers urine analysis tests and treatment compliance and progress toward participants' goals.

• Makes psychosocial assessments of clients, family dynamics, environment, medical and psychological history, and formulates individualized outcome based treatment plans.  Completes the Long-Term Functional Screen for individuals seeking services through the Mental Health Court as needed.

• Makes home, office and community contacts with clients as required to monitor participant's progress, adjustment, medication compliance and general stability.

• Manages individuals who may have a severe and persistent mental illness and co-occurring disorders within a recovery team model with a focus on long term supportive therapy, symptom management, medical management, daily living skills training and community integration, providing ongoing coordination with established outcome based treatment plans.

• Observes and evaluates emotional and physical needs of clients, providing ongoing symptom and medication side effect assessments, and confers with medical staff regarding observations.

• Assists in the development, implementation and monitoring of service plans for individuals.

• Transports and escorts consumers to meetings, services, appointments and other activities as needed.

• Provides protection and advocacy services.

• Refers participants to contracted treatment agencies best suited for their needs.  Collaborates with treatment providers to ensure community resources and service needs match desired program outcomes.

• Maintains knowledge of vocational, housing and other community resources.

• Maintains cooperative relationships with treatment agencies, community organizations, probation departments and other agencies represented on the Mental Health Court team.

• Documents contacts and services, prepares reports and other written materials and complies with all recordkeeping requirements.

• Maintains accurate records and prepares reports and documentation for court proceedings.

• Maintains readiness to assist colleagues in managing psychiatric and/or medical emergencies experienced by a client.

• Provides support as necessary for individuals and/or family or significant others in individual, conjoint and group formats.

• Provides individuals and family members with information regarding services available from county, state and federal agencies, provides intervention for patients by directly administering therapeutic activities, making referrals or requesting additional services as appropriate.

• Provides individuals and family members with information regarding services which best meet their needs and desires.

• Provides presentations to the county, various committees, to other agencies and to the general public.

• Stays abreast of current research with treatment courts and organizes and coordinates training for the Mental Health Court team.

• Facilitates Mental Health Court program processes and operations while being responsible for program efficiency.

• Reviews and prepares grants and other funding applications to support the Mental Health Court.

• Consults with court judge(s) on a wide range of organizational and managerial issues including but not limited to Mental Health Court efficiency and internal and external quality assurance.

• Researches the best evidence-based approach in the implementation of treatment services of Mental Health Court participants.

• Identifies needs in the service delivery system and participates in program development initiatives.

• Attends unit and other meetings as required.

• Maintains regular and predictable attendance, works overtime/extra hours as required.

• Performs other duties as assigned or required.

• Master's Degree in behavioral science or a related field.  

• 3 - 5 years experience diagnosing and providing therapy; experience developing and facilitating treatment groups, knowledge of Evidence Based Treatments, and knowledge of cultural issues relating to Mental Health concerns. 

• Knowledge and experience in assessing and treatment of alcohol and other drug abuse issues beneficial to this position. 

• Must have demonstrated abilities to be an effective team member and work in a multi-disciplinary team within an Integrated Services model, to be aware of and use community resources, community relations skills, organizational skills, time management skills and have experience managing the demands of crisis intervention.

• Knowledge of and ability to provide case management and coordination for individuals with severe and persistent mental illness and dual diagnoses

• Knowledge, skill and ability to provide crisis intervention service.

• Knowledge of available community resources for the consumer groups.

• Knowledge of and experience in the clinical area of alcohol and other drugs.

• Knowledge of and experience in urine analysis collection and testing.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, other employees, representatives from community resource groups, contract agencies and the general public.

• Ability to manage treatment within the continuum of services available for mentally ill and chemically dependent clients with an emphasis on provision of services in the least restrictive setting and objectively evaluate progress towards goals and timetables.

• Ability to work cooperatively in a system-wide program setting.

• Ability to speak effectively in public settings and prepare written reports.

• Ability to work independently.

• Ability to adhere to professional ethics and standards.

• Ability to use and interpret medical, legal and counseling terminology.

• Ability to work the allocated hours of the position.

• Knowledge of and demonstrated ability to conform to goals, policies and procedures of the department as well as the Outagamie County Work Rules and Terms of Employment.

• Ability to operate a variety of office equipment including personal computer, photocopier, calculator and telephone.

• Ability to transport oneself from location to location in an efficient and expedient manner.

• Skill in organization including paperwork, time management and prioritization of crisis demands.

• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, divide, calculate decimals and percents, and make use of the principles of descriptive statistics.

• Ability to comprehend and interpret a variety of documents including client charts, medical, accident, and other reports; psychological evaluations and other assessment reports, school records, professional literature, policy and procedure manuals, diagnostic manuals, etc.

• Ability to prepare a variety of documents including client records, referrals, court reports, intake and assessment records, case notes, individual treatment plans, letters and other correspondence, etc.

• Ability to communicate effectively with clients and family members, community agencies and service providers, psychiatrists, physicians and other medical professionals, attorneys, human services personnel, school personnel and others verbally and in writing.

• Knowledge of the service delivery system.

• Knowledge of drug and alcohol diseases and mental illnesses, dependent on assignment, the effects on individuals and families and the resources available within the community.

OUTAGAMIE COUNTY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, THE COUNTY WILL PROVIDE REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS TO QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES AND ENCOURAGES BOTH PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYEES AND INCUMBENTS TO DISCUSS POTENTIAL ACCOMMODATIONS WITH THE EMPLOYER.