Job Summary

The mission of Clark County Jail Services is to promote and maintain public safety through effective correctional and reentry practices. The purpose of the Clark County Jail Reentry Program is to connect incarcerated people releasing or who are likely to release to the local Clark County community with resources to increase desistance behaviors and reduce recidivism.

This position will not begin until 2025 and is subject to final approval of grant funding. This is a 2-year project position.

The role of the Mental Health Implementation Coordinator (MHIC) is to develop and implement a standalone licensed behavioral health agency within Clark County Jail Services to provide direct, clinical mental health care and services to incarcerated persons. The MHIC will design and implement administrative and operational aspects including policies, processes and staffing recommendations to prepare for state licensure, federal accreditation and ongoing compliance as well as reflecting best practices for corrections mental health care. The MHIC will coordinate funding applications, staffing recommendations and presentations regarding the proposed program.

Once licensed, the future mental health program will provide in-custody clinical mental health services for Clark County Jail such as mental health assessments, risk assessments, suicide watch assessments, segregation checks, release planning, brief therapeutic interventions, staff training and more. Additional collaboration with corrections officers, medical staff and external partners such as Western State Hospital, Designated Crisis Responders and other crisis programs will be required. As the jail is a 24/7 facility, the clinical mental health program will need to plan for coverage during day shift, swing shift, weekends, holidays with 24/7 responsivity. The MHIC would be tasked with developing the program and staffing recommendations to provide care beyond crisis management to align with national best practices.

A high level of self-direction, organization and work efficiency is a requirement for this classification. The position is exempt, non-represented and may require periodic nontraditional work hours.

Closing Date: Open eligibility list until filled. First review on December 20, 2024.

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

• Master’s degree in social work, counseling, mental health, behavioral sciences, or a related field from an accredited institution is required plus at least one (1) year of experience working with persons with legal system involvement OR

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, counseling, mental health, behavioral sciences, or a related field plus at least two (2) years of experience working with persons with legal system involvement

• Proof of credentials will be required

The degree must have been conferred by an institution of higher education and have National Recognition of Accrediting Agencies by the U.S. Secretary of Education, and official transcripts will be required at the time of hire.  A degree is preferred or some combination of coursework and experience, or else extensive related professional experience, is acceptable for consideration for this position.  Proof of credentials required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience providing clinical behavioral health care in a correctional facility

• Experience with behavioral health program management, licensure and accreditation

• Experience with preparing written proposals, presentations and funding applications

Knowledge of: currently accepted principles and best practices in the treatment of mental health and substance use disorder services, normal and abnormal human development, development disabilities, abuse and neglect; quality assurance and safety procedures relating to mental health care; outpatient resources available through other allied providers; knowledge of inmate privacy rights including HIPPA, WAC 388 and 865 as well as community mental health and involuntary treatment programs; federal, state and local laws, rules, regulations and policies and procedures regarding mental health care including voluntary admissions and involuntary commitments, restraints and confidentiality; budget development and monitoring, skilled in communicating effectively both orally and in writing sufficient to exchange or convey information and to give and receive work direction; establish and maintaining effective working relationships with mental health staff, physicians, departments, supervisors and inmate population; assessment of mental health needs and development of appropriate treatment plans; use of independent judgement and effective decision making in the application of a wide variety of laws, policies an