Corrections Specialist 3 - Reentry Navigator

State of Washington•King County - Seattle – Other, WA

17h•Onsite

About The Position

The Washington State Department of Corrections is hiring two permanent Corrections Specialist 3s for its Reentry Navigator Team within the Reentry Division. The positions are based at the Seattle Community Justice Center in Seattle, Washington, and work Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. A 5% premium pay applies to employees whose permanent duty station is in King County. The positions also support reentry care teams and collaborate with institution and community supervision staff, community organizations, families, mentors, housing providers, and health and human services providers. The Reentry Navigator supports people who are incarcerated or transitioning to the community by helping them develop and carry out Individual Reentry Plans (IRPs), connect with programs and services, and prepare for release or transfer. The role coordinates Reentry Team Meetings, supports reentry planning workshops and resource events, and provides individualized resource navigation based on participants’ needs, risk, and goals. This work supports successful community reintegration, reduces recidivism, and advances public safety. The Department of Corrections’ mission is to improve public safety by positively changing lives. The agency describes its vision as working together for safer communities and its commitment as operating a safe and humane corrections system while partnering with others to transform lives for a better Washington.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED and five years of experience providing reentry or transition support to justice-involved people; the experience must include three years working with system and community-based resources for reentry needs, or three years using participant-driven reentry strategies in adult or juvenile corrections, social services, or a closely related field.
Alternatively, an associate degree and four years of experience providing reentry or transition support to justice-involved people.
Alternatively, a bachelor’s degree and three years of experience providing reentry or transition support to justice-involved people.
Alternatively, a master’s degree and two years of experience providing reentry or transition support to justice-involved people.
Ability to communicate clearly and concisely orally and in writing with participants, agency staff, and external system- and community-based stakeholders.
Ability to build rapport with justice-involved individuals and use engagement strategies to maintain communication, assess competencies, discuss needs and goals, collaborate on problem-solving, and support participants in prioritizing action steps.
Ability to develop proficient group-facilitation skills.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively with system- and community-based stakeholders.
Willingness to receive, internalize, and learn from feedback to support professional growth.
Knowledge of prison, jail, and community-corrections standards and rules, and ability to analyze information, identify problems, and develop action and strategic plans.
Good interpersonal skills, ability to work without direct supervision, and a high degree of motivation.

Nice To Haves

Expertise in the Washington State criminal justice system, including law enforcement, prosecution, courts, correctional facilities, and community correction supervision from arrest through release from jurisdictional custody.
Working knowledge of key transition decision points for people released from prison or jail to the community, and the intent and desired outcomes of those transitions.

Responsibilities

Assist individuals in completing Individual Reentry Plans and Essential Needs Checklists, and provide resource navigation based on identified needs and Scorecard items.
Coordinate Reentry Team Meetings and participate in wraparound meetings to support stabilization, goal achievement, and execution of reentry plans.
Identify evidence-based programs and services that address criminogenic needs identified through the Washington ONE assessment, in coordination with correctional staff.
Provide referrals and connect individuals with appropriate programs, services, resources, and support systems.
Meet with incarcerated individuals, correctional staff, pro-social supporters, and health services or treatment staff to identify resources addressing needs during confinement, partial confinement, and after release or transfer.
Identify community resources that match each individual's IRP and Scorecard needs and can provide long-term benefits.
Develop an Essential Needs Checklist with each individual to plan for the critical first 72 hours after release or transfer.
Maintain regular participant contact through workshops, facility visits, email, telephone, or office visits.
Attend facility and community Reentry Resource Events and support engagement with community partners.
Request and process essential-needs funds for transfer-day support, and provide transfer-day support as needed.
Support development of IRPs through workshops, groups, or individual work, in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.
Identify reentry programs and services in assigned coverage areas and coordinate with correctional staff to ensure appropriate referrals.
Recruit, schedule, and facilitate community-based partners to present workshops and resource information in institutions and communities.
Provide effective communication, documentation, collaboration, and community outreach.
Collect and track reentry outcomes, including IRP completion, planning activities, Essential Needs Checklist completion, transfer-day support, Reentry Team Meetings, and regular participant contact.
Record, access, update, and retrieve participant-related information from agency systems.
Represent the agency on community groups and develop partnerships that leverage resources for sustainable reentry.
Connect incarcerated individuals with the community justice center or community transition coordination network serving the area where they will reside after release.
Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

Free ORCA card for employees whose permanent duty station is in King, Pierce, or Snohomish County.
Flexible schedules.
Comprehensive compensation packages.
Training and development opportunities.
Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
Up to 25 paid vacation days per year.
Eight hours of paid sick leave per month.
Twelve paid holidays per year.
Retirement plan through the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS), with new employees able to choose between two employer-contributed retirement programs.
Flexible Spending Accounts.
Dependent Care Assistance.
Deferred Compensation.