REGIONAL COMMUNITY FORENSIC LIAISON - 60007008

State of Florida•Tallahassee, FL

1d•$53,917 - $70,000•Onsite

About The Position

This is a highly responsible and professional position serving as the Lead - Regional Community Forensic Liaison within Forensic and Civil Services. The ideal candidate will be a collaborative team player who works seamlessly across all sections within the program office. This role requires the use of independent judgment, a proactive approach to responsibilities, and exceptional attention to detail. If you are driven, organized, and thrive in a fast-paced environment, we encourage you to apply. This position provides regional oversight of the Department’s community-based system of care for individuals committed, or at risk of commitment, under Chapter 916, Florida Statutes. It serves as a regional liaison to circuit courts, criminal justice and mental health partners, community providers, managing entities, regional counsel, and state treatment facilities. The role focuses on expanding Florida’s capacity to support individuals involved in both the mental health and criminal justice systems who may otherwise require secure facility placement. Key responsibilities include delivering training on forensic statutes and practices, promoting evidence-based and community-based services, supporting diversion opportunities, and advancing least restrictive treatment options. The position also contributes to program development, data analysis, community outreach, conducts community-based training, and leads quality improvement projects. Independent judgment and initiative are essential. The lead worker provides statewide and regional leadership for Florida’s community based forensic system of care. This position offers daily guidance and direction to unit staff, serves as a subject matter expert in community and forensic behavioral health, and ensures consistent application of policies, procedures, and best practices across all regions. The lead worker oversees coordination of diversion activities, pre commitment and post commitment processes, and seamless transitions to and from State Mental Health Treatment Facilities (SMHTFs). The role leverages community resources to support timely placements, facilitates cross system service coordination, and strengthens statewide continuity of care for individuals involved in the forensic system.

Requirements

A bachelor's degree from a college or university in the related field of psychology, social work, or criminal justice is preferred and four years of criminal justice experience.
A master's degree from a college or university in the above referenced related fields can substitute for one year of the required experience.
Professional experience as described above can substitute on a year-for-year basis for the preferred college education.
Knowledge of basic management principles and practices.
Knowledge of the methods of data collection and analysis.
Ability to coordinate a consultative program designed to ensure the resolution of managerial and operational problems.
Ability to determine work priorities and ensure proper completion of work assignments.
Ability to communicate effectively.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
Ability to assess budgetary needs.
Ability to formulate policies and procedures.
Ability to understand and apply applicable rules, regulations, policies and procedures relating to operational and management analysis activities.
Ability to organize data into logical format for presentation in reports, documents and other written materials.
Ability to collect, evaluate and analyze data to develop alternative recommendations, solve problems, document work and other activities relating to the improvement of operational and management practices.
Ability to conduct fact finding research.
Ability to work independently.
Ability to solve problems and make decisions.

Nice To Haves

Previous management/project oversight experience, with experience overseeing multiple tasks/priorities.
Experience providing training and technical assistance to individuals, agencies, communities and/or counties entities.
Experience with meeting planning/facilitation and use of innovative media/technology.
Excellent writing and oral communication skills, experience with technical writing for professional audiences.
Experience in mental health treatment, particularly as related to justice-involved populations.

Responsibilities

Develop and maintain effective working relationships with community providers, Managing Entities, State Attorneys, Public Defenders, Circuit Judges, jails, law enforcement, forensic evaluators, and state facilities to ensure coordinated, least restrictive pathways for individuals involved in the forensic system.
Work with region stakeholders and managing entity to identify trends and performance improvement opportunities regarding diversions, conditional release and continuity of care.
Provide targeted technical assistance to circuit liaisons, forensic case managers, managing entities, court and jail staff, criminal justice partners, and treatment facility staff to strengthen regional forensic operations.
Deliver coordinated presentations and training sessions to judges, attorneys, circuit court staff, DCF regional and facility teams, managing entity staff, forensic evaluators, and educators to enhance understanding of forensic needs and promote diversion best practices.
Monitor regional trends and performance data with the state mental health treatment facilities, managing entities and stakeholders to identify gaps, drive improvement strategies, and support effective diversion, conditional release, discharge planning and continuity-of-care processes.
Identify and address systemic barriers that limit diversion opportunities or impede timely community placements for individuals at risk of commitment.
Assist circuit courts and agency legal counsel by providing expert guidance on cases involving individuals committed, or at risk of commitment, under Chapter 916, Florida Statutes.
Collect, validate, and analyze regional forensic data into required systems; develop ad hoc reports, interpret trends, and prepare written analyses and recommendations for leadership.
Conduct research on evidence based and emerging best practices and assist with statewide implementation of strategies that improve outcomes for forensic individuals.
Serves in a lead capacity for statewide and regional forensic operations and provides operational coverage and continuity in the supervisor’s absence.
Provides guidance, consultation, and technical assistance CFL team and assists with resolving complex cases involving individuals committed to the Department.
Support administrative and operational unit functions, including leave coordination, workforce planning, and human resource related activities in the absence of the unit manager.
Leads or supports the development, implementation, and standardization of statewide forensic policies, procedures, protocols, correspondence, reports, and operational practices.
Provides statewide and regional technical assistance and consultation to strengthen forensic program operations and promote consistent application of statutory and program requirements.
Assists with standardizing discharge planning processes from SMHTFs to community providers, including development of protocols designed to support timely and appropriate placement, conditional release, continuity of care, and successful community transition.
Oversee the collection, validation, analysis, and monitoring of statewide and regional forensic program data and performance measures to ensure accuracy, consistency, and timely reporting.
Prepare ad hoc reports, written analyses, trend summaries, and recommendations for leadership. to support data-driven decision-making and strategic planning.
Develop and recommend improvement strategies related to forensic diversion, conditional release, discharge planning, community placement, continuity of care, and other areas affecting the efficiency and effectiveness of Florida’s forensic mental health system
Represent the Department at statewide meetings, trainings, workgroups, and external forums; facilitate collaboration among partners and support advancement of statewide initiatives.
Performs other duties as required to meet program and departmental goals and objectives.