Veterans' Court Coordinator

Okaloosa County•Fort Walton Beach, FL

About The Position

Provides administrative, human services, and case management support for veteran court cases in the Veterans’ Treatment Court (VTC) program. The coordinator serves as the primary liaison among the court, treatment providers, and the Veterans’ Administration, and helps ensure the program meets State certification requirements. The role includes participant screening and assessment, treatment coordination, ongoing case monitoring, court reporting, program data and records management, and coordination with community and veteran-service resources. The position also supports program operations by maintaining policies, procedures, statistics, and participant files; coordinating team training, meetings, site visits, and graduations; and monitoring program expenditures and invoices. The coordinator assists the Veterans’ Court Judge and Director, attends court proceedings and training, and performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Criminal Justice, Social Science, or a closely related field, plus at least three years of experience in mental health, social services, or a closely related field; or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience providing the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.
Experience with Microsoft Word and Excel.
Valid driver license.
Ability to communicate effectively in English, convey and exchange information, explain procedures, and give, receive, and follow oral and written instructions.
Ability to read and interpret technical data, policy and procedure manuals, codes, and professional journals; prepare forms and reports using prescribed formats and correct grammar, spelling, diction, and punctuation.
Ability to communicate effectively with people from varied professional backgrounds and use technical or professional language relevant to the job.
Ability to apply logical or scientific thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions; interpret technical instructions; learn complex principles and techniques; make independent judgments; and acquire job-related knowledge.
Ability to manage challenging situations effectively, if required.
Ability to perform arithmetic operations and calculate weight, decimals, percentages, discounts, profit and loss, ratios, and proportions.
Ability to work with people beyond receiving instructions, adapt to moderate stress from deadlines, peak workloads, or public contact, and exercise tact and courtesy in frequent contact with professionals, county staff, and the public.
Ability to operate modern office equipment, including computers and copy machines.
Ability to exert 25 to 50 pounds of force occasionally and negligible force frequently to move objects; periodic walking and standing; occasional bending and stooping.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree.
Experience with Veteran Service Organizations or Veteran Court programs.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary liaison among the court, treatment providers, and Veterans’ Administration for the VTC program, and help ensure the program meets State certification requirements.
Maintain and monitor VTC statistics and outcomes, and enter client information into the Drug Court Case Management (DCCM) database and system.
Review processes and procedures, recommend changes or new policies, support application of best practices, maintain the policy and procedure manual and participant handbook, and identify and add referral sources to the resource database.
Help ensure the Veterans’ Court team follows program policies, protocols, HIPAA requirements, confidentiality laws, and other state and local privacy regulations; obtain releases for parties contacted on participants’ behalf.
Assist with coordination of team training and maintain records of completed training sessions.
Assist in identifying and screening veteran defendants to determine eligibility for the VTC program.
Facilitate orientation for incoming participants, including distribution and explanation of the participant handbook.
Assist in developing individualized client service plans with criminal justice representatives, treatment facilities, and community veterans’ services.
Conduct initial needs assessments; coordinate referrals, admission, intake screening, and discharge planning; and involve participants in individualized treatment planning through the Veterans’ Justice Outreach Officer and community providers.
Maintain contact with assigned participants and conduct weekly individual monitoring sessions; report treatment progress and non-adherence issues to the court.
Attend pre-court staff meetings and court proceedings and provide accurate, up-to-date information at staffing and court appearances.
Monitor participant progress through communication with treatment providers, probation officers, the Veterans’ Justice Outreach Officer, and other team members.
Connect participants with community resources, including mental health and trauma services, housing assistance, vocational counseling, public assistance, and educational services.
Develop cooperative working relationships with veteran offices and supporting activities; liaise with Veterans’ Service Organizations and the VA Vet Center and VJO.
Maintain participant files and progress reports, and prepare and submit timely reports to the Judge and team.
Coordinate, schedule, and attend quarterly team meetings; schedule site visits and court graduations.
Monitor office and program expenditures and audit invoices and travel reimbursement requests.
Assist the Veterans’ Court Judge and attend assigned in-service and educational training.
Provide the Director with current reports on participant outcomes, treatment agency performance, and other requested matters; report program issues or concerns.
Perform other duties as assigned.