Early Diversion Outreach Specialist

CCC • Cape Girardeau, MO

2d

About The Position

The Early Diversion Outreach Specialist provides short-term outreach, engagement, and care coordination for adults living with mental illness and co-occurring substance use disorders who may be at risk of criminal justice involvement. The role helps individuals connect with behavioral health supports before crises escalate. Services generally last no more than three months and include community engagement, screening, motivational support, crisis stabilization, care coordination, and navigation to treatment and recovery resources.

The Specialist collaborates with behavioral health and healthcare providers, emergency responders, law enforcement, courts, and other community partners. The role also supports community education and training, local early diversion planning, program documentation, data collection, and evaluation. The position is based in Cape Girardeau, Missouri (Cape County), and is scheduled Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; times may vary, and occasional evening or weekend work may be required.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree, or any four-year combination of higher education and qualifying experience, or four years of qualifying experience.
• Must hold or obtain by the start date a Missouri Class E driver's license (Class D for Illinois residents).
• Must provide proof of continuous auto insurance.

Responsibilities

• Conduct community outreach and engagement to identify adults with mental illness and co-occurring substance use disorders who may be at risk of criminal justice involvement.
• Build collaborative relationships with law enforcement, EMS, fire departments, hospitals, behavioral health providers, courts, and other community partners to promote early diversion and improve referral pathways.
• Screen individuals for behavioral health needs and assist with early identification of mental health and substance use concerns.
• Provide brief engagement, motivational support, and crisis stabilization services to encourage participation in treatment and recovery.
• Coordinate care by connecting individuals with appropriate behavioral health, substance use treatment, healthcare, housing, employment, and other community support services.
• Provide follow-up and navigation until individuals are linked to long-term treatment and recovery supports; services generally last no more than three months.
• Educate individuals, families, and community partners about behavioral health services, evidence-based treatment options, and recovery resources.
• Assist with developing, coordinating, and delivering community education and training on behavioral health, substance use disorders, suicide prevention, trauma-informed care, crisis intervention, and early diversion practices.
• Participate in community system mapping, coalition meetings, and collaborative planning to strengthen local early diversion initiatives.
• When available and appropriate, respond alongside law enforcement officers and EMS personnel to behavioral health-related calls for service.
• Maintain timely, accurate, confidential documentation of outreach, referrals, service coordination, and client progress in accordance with agency policies and grant requirements.
• Document in the electronic health record and other required systems.
• Collect and report required program data and outcome measures to support grant compliance and program evaluation.
• Participate in required supervision, staff meetings, professional development, and ongoing training.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support the Early Diversion Program and Community Counseling Center.

Benefits

• 24 paid days off in the first year, plus a birthday off.
• Seven paid holidays.
• Health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Company-paid life and long-term disability insurance.
• Retirement plan with automatic enrollment.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time