Youth Behavioral Health Liaison

Job Description:

Job Title: Community Behavioral Health Liaison

Location: Independence, MO

Department: Crisis Services

Employment Type: Full-time

Job Summary:
Join our compassionate and collaborative team as a Community Behavioral Health Liaison (CBHL), where you will help improve outcomes for individuals with behavioral health needs in the criminal justice system. In this role, you’ll facilitate communication and coordination among diverse partners, ensuring individuals receive the care they need. Your outreach efforts will contribute to reducing barriers and enhancing access to essential services, ultimately making a significant difference in our community. We’re looking for strong collaborators with a passion for serving the youth populations in a person-centered environment.

The CBHL serves as a vital link between law enforcement (Independence Police Department), courts, jails, and behavioral health providers. You’ll engage in meaningful outreach and educational initiatives aimed at diverting individuals from incarceration when clinically appropriate.

This position offers…

• Employee Assistance Program – 24/7 counseling services, legal assistance, & financial consultation for you and your household at no cost
• Mileage Reimbursement – Company paid for work functions requiring travel
• Employee Discounts – Hotels, Theme Parks & Attractions, College Tuition
• Workplace Culture - An environment cultivating employee wellbeing, valuing each individual's humanity, and actively promoting a healthy, joyful workforce
• Additional Perks & Benefits – Scroll down to the bottom of this post to learn more

Key Responsibilities:

• Receive and respond to referrals from authorized sources, completing screenings and connecting individuals to appropriate behavioral health and community resources.
• Maintain relationships with local law enforcement agencies, assisting in wellness checks and providing behavioral health education and support for officers.
• Coordinate with local courts and treatment court teams to facilitate service linkages and system improvement efforts.
• Collaborate with jail staff to develop re-entry and discharge plans, ensuring continuity of care for individuals returning to the community.
• Deliver training to law enforcement, courts, and community stakeholders on behavioral health topics and crisis intervention.
• Work in alignment with crisis teams and other diversion initiatives for effective crisis management.
• Track and submit referral and engagement data to support continuous quality improvement.
• Participate in state and regional projects, contributing to initiatives like the Sequential Intercept Model (SIM) Mapping.
• Attend required trainings and meetings to maintain skills and program compliance.
• Perform additional tasks as needed to support program goals and organizational needs.

Education, Experience, and/or Credential Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, criminal justice, or a related field; or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Minimum one year of experience in behavioral health or a criminal justice setting.

Additional Qualifications:

• Completion of 40-hour Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training within six months of hire (or as required by funding source).
• Knowledge of behavioral health systems, crisis intervention, and local community resources.
• Strong skills in collaboration, conflict resolution, public speaking, and documentation.

Physical Requirements:

• ADA Consideration - Sedentary work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally (exists up to 1/3 of the time) and/or a negligible amount of force frequently (exists 1/3 to 2/3 of the time) to lift, carry, push, or pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body.
• Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time but may involve walking or standing for brief periods.

Position Perks & Benefits:

Paid time off: full-time employees receive an attractive time off package to balance your work and personal life

Employee benefits package: full-time employees receive health, dental, vision, retirement, life, & more

Top-notch training: initial, ongoing, comprehensive, and supportive

Career mobility: advancement opportunities/promoting from within

Welcoming, wa