Court Navigator

Ascend Mental Wellness•Town of Kingsbury, NY

3d•Onsite

About The Position

ASCEND Mental Wellness is seeking a Court Navigator to join their Outreach/LEAMHRS program within the Supportive Residential Services. The Court Navigator will connect with individuals referred by various agencies, assess their needs for mental health or substance abuse services, and address their social determinants of health. The Outreach Program aims to connect individuals in the community with the support and guidance they need, while the LEAMHRS program specifically allows law enforcement to refer individuals for assistance in obtaining appropriate services. ASCEND collaborates with multiple local law enforcement agencies, county sheriff's offices, jails, and social services departments. Referrals can also come from social services, care management, and medical services. Assistance with health insurance and emergency housing is available.

Requirements

A Bachelor's degree in the human services field/Psychology.
At least 3 years of professional experience in both community mental health and criminal justice.
Must be of good character and background and display an affinity for working with people with mental illness and/or co-occurring disorders.
Must have the ability to work independently, have good problem-solving skills and can work as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
Valid NYS driver's license acceptable to Agency insurance standards.

Responsibilities

Receive referrals through various agencies for individuals in need of support/assistance in accessing services for mental health, substance use, housing, legal, and/or basic other needs such as food and clothing. This could include referrals from law enforcement entities, Probation, Parole, Public Defenders office, Corrections, community partners, as well as various court systems.
Contact individuals to discuss services needed/requested and begin referral processes as necessary
Maintain appropriate follow-up with individuals and perform warm handoffs to providers once services are established
Work alongside residential staff to seek pathways to permanent housing options.
Participate in ongoing case reviews and staff meetings, including meetings with stakeholders across the behavioral health and criminal justice systems.
Collaborate with various community entities, including psychiatric facilities, substance use facilities, medical centers, law enforcement, public defenders, court systems, district attorneys, social services, parole and probation, and other federal, state and county entities as necessary.
Possess ability to navigate multiple online platforms and take detailed notes on daily encounters (platforms include but are not limited to Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), Coordinated Entry (CE), Cerner, and JotForm).
Maintain a safe environment for all clients and staff.
Maintain effective communication with other staff members and supervisors.
Preserve human dignity and confidentiality of all clients and act in the best interest of those served through the Agency's programs and services.