Discharge Planner- Juvenile Detention

Job Description

Job Description

About Correctional Healthcare Partners:  

Correctional Healthcare Partners (CHP Health) is a company dedicated to providing healthcare services to the incarcerated, and we're growing. We exist because the people inside county jails still deserve real healthcare — and the counties that serve them deserve a partner who shows up, owns the outcome, and gets the work right. We deliver medical, mental health, and dental care across jails and detention facilities in California and Washington, and we do it with clinicians who chose this setting and a leadership team that supports the mission. 

Position Summary  

Discharge Planner is responsible for coordinating comprehensive pre-release care management services for youth residing in juvenile detention facilities who are eligible for California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) Justice-Involved services. This position facilitates successful transitions from custody to the community by developing individualized transition plans, coordinating healthcare and social services, and ensuring continuity of care before and after release. 

The Discharge Planner works collaboratively with facility staff, Medi-Cal Managed Care Plans, behavioral health providers, probation officers, community-based organizations, schools, and family members to address each youth's medical, behavioral health, educational, housing, and social support needs. 

Pay Rate: $27-$30/hr

Location:  San Diego Juvenile Detention Facility 

Classification: Full-Time

Status: Non-Exempt 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities  

Care Coordination  

• Identify and engage youth eligible for CalAIM Justice-Involved pre-release services. 

• Conduct comprehensive biopsychosocial, medical, behavioral health, and social needs assessments. 

• Develop individualized transition and care plans that support successful community reintegration. 

• Coordinate pre-release services in accordance with CalAIM Justice-Involved Initiative requirements. 

• Ensure continuity of physical health, behavioral health, dental, substance use treatment, and specialty care services upon release. 

• Schedule post-release medical, behavioral health, and specialty appointments prior to release whenever possible. 

Discharge Planning  

• Collaborate with multidisciplinary treatment teams to develop comprehensive discharge plans. 

• Coordinate medication continuity, including prescriptions and medication access upon release. 

• Assist youth with obtaining identification documents, Medi-Cal activation or reinstatement, and other benefits as appropriate. 

• Coordinate referrals for housing, educational services, employment supports, vocational programs, mentoring, and community resources. 

• Facilitate warm handoffs to community providers and Enhanced Care Management (ECM) providers when applicable. 

Collaboration  

• Serve as the primary liaison between the juvenile detention facility, Managed Care Plans, community providers, probation, behavioral health agencies, schools, and family members. 

• Participate in multidisciplinary case conferences and discharge planning meetings. 

• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with community-based organizations serving justice-involved youth. 

• Educate youth and families regarding available CalAIM services and community resources. 

Documentation and Compliance  

• Maintain timely, accurate, and complete documentation in electronic health records and required databases. 

• Ensure compliance with CalAIM Justice-Involved Initiative requirements, Medi-Cal regulations, HIPAA, state confidentiality laws, and organizational policies. 

• Track outcomes, referrals, service utilization, and required performance metrics. 

• Complete documentation necessary for quality improvement, audits, and reporting. 

Advocacy  

• Advocate for youth to reduce barriers to healthcare, behavioral health treatment, housing, education, and community services. 

• Promote youth-centered, family-centered, culturally responsive, and trauma-informed care. 

• Support youth in developing self-management skills and understanding available community supports. 

Minimum Qualifications  

• Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Psychology, Human Services, Public Health, Nursing, Counseling, Criminal Justice, or a related field. 

• Minimum of two years of experience in case management, care coordination, discharge planning, behavioral health, juvenile justice, child welfare, or community health. 

• Experience working with adolescents and transitional-age youth. 

• Knowledge of Medi-Cal, CalAIM, Enhanced Care Management (ECM), Community Supports, and Justice-Involved Initiative services preferred. 

• Valid California driver's license and ability to travel locally as required. 

Preferred Qualifications  

• Experience working within juvenile detention facilities, probation, behavioral health, or community-based organizations. 

• Bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish  

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities  

• Knowledge of adolescent development, trauma-informed care, restorative practices, and positive youth development. 

• Understanding juvenile justice systems, child-serving systems, and community resources. 

• Strong care coordination and interdisciplinary collaboration skills. 

• Ability to build rapport with youth and families from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. 

• Excellent communication, motivational interviewing, conflict resolution, and documentation skills. 

• Strong organizational and time management abilities. 

• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound professional judgment. 

• Proficiency with electronic health records and Microsoft Office applications. 

Working Conditions  

• Work is performed within juvenile detention facilities with regular interaction with youth, facility staff, healthcare providers, probation personnel, and community partners. 

• Occasional travel to meetings and training sessions may be required. 

• Position may require flexibility to accommodate release schedules and multidisciplinary meetings. 

Performance Measures  

• Timely completion of comprehensive assessments and transition plans. 

• Successful completion of pre-release care coordination activities.