Jail Diversion Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

Saginaw County Community Mental Health Authority is seeking a Jail Diversion Specialist and Mental Health Clinician to provide mental health services, crisis intervention, and intensive case management for individuals with severe mental illness and co-occurring substance use disorders. This position serves as a clinical liaison to the Saginaw County Mental Health Court and partners with law enforcement agencies, judges, prosecutors, probation officers, and correctional facilities to create pre-booking and post-booking diversion plans as an alternative to incarceration. Operating within an Integrated Dual Disorder Treatment team, the clinician conducts clinical assessments, provides trauma-informed care, supports person-centered planning, and manages crisis stabilization services to help consumers successfully achieve recovery goals and reduce recidivism.

Responsibilities

• Act as primary liaison and champion to the Saginaw County Mental Health Court while collaborating with law enforcement, judges, prosecutors, and probation officers.
• Provide intensive individual counseling, crisis intervention, and crisis stabilization services to high-risk mental health consumers.
• Screen, assess, and diagnose individuals using clinical assessment tools including ASI, MAST, and LOCUS.
• Conduct and document comprehensive mental status exams, diagnostic evaluations, and consumer histories in the electronic medical record.
• Facilitate person-centered planning with consumers, family members, courts, law enforcement, and probation services to prevent re-arrest and probation violations.
• Participate as a clinical team member within the Integrated Dual Disorder Treatment team serving adults with serious mental illness and dual diagnosis.
• Provide community outreach and daily monitoring across residential settings, client homes, jails, hospitals, and homeless shelters.
• Monitor court-ordered diversion plans, coordinate inpatient care and discharge planning, and prepare written progress reports for probation, parole, and courts.
• Coordinate inter-program crisis stabilization, support groups, self-help programs, faith-based organizations, and natural community support networks.
• Maintain clinical documentation, keep accurate tracking databases, and prepare compliance reports for quality committees and state guidelines.
• Safely transport consumers to clinical appointments, treatment programs, or community resources as required.
• Deliver community training to law enforcement officers and corrections personnel to improve cross-system coordination.

Qualifications

• Master degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or a related mental health field from an accredited university.
• Active Michigan clinical license or limited license including LMSW, LLMSW, LPC, LLPC, LMFT, LLMFT, LP, or LLP.
• Valid Michigan Driver License with a good driving record.
• Minimum of three years of professional experience working with individuals with severe and persistent mental illness.
• Experience working within or alongside the criminal justice system including courts, probation, parole, law enforcement, or community corrections.
• Knowledge of Integrated Dual Disorder Treatment, addiction assessment tools, trauma-informed care, and person-centered planning.
• Ability to pass security background screening for staff access to the Saginaw County Jail.
• Strong skills in clinical assessment, crisis management, electronic medical records documentation, and inter-agency collaboration.

Working Conditions

• Clinical and case management duties performed in clinic, jail, hospital, shelter, and community environments.
• Community outreach requiring personal safety awareness during home visits and community contact.
• Direct contact with consumers who may have communicable diseases or complex behavioral health needs.
• Physical capability to lift and carry up to 20 pounds and operate standard office equipment.

Saginaw County Community Mental Health (SCCMHA) is a local, independent, governmental unit serving the greater Saginaw County area, a Community Mental Health Services Program and has been a mental health authority under contract with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services since October 1, 1997.

In 2021, it was named a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. As a CCBHC, SCCMHA is a “one stop wellness center” and offers a full range of services that create access to care, stabilizes individuals in crisis and provides the necessary treatment for those with mental illnesses, intellectual/developmental disorders, children/youth with emotional disorders and substance use disorders regardless of their insurance coverage.

SCCMHA is a behavioral health provider but also a specialty network. The network is comprised of organizations that provide professional services, but also housing and other support services and interventions in both office and sitebased locations as well as in the homes of consumers and their families.

Company Description

Saginaw County Community Mental Health (SCCMHA) is a local, independent, governmental unit serving the greater Saginaw County area, a Community Mental Health Services Program and has been a mental health authority under contract with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services since October 1, 1997.\r\n\r\nIn 2021, it was named a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. As a CCBHC, SCCMHA is a “one stop wellness center” and offers a full range of services that create access to care, stabilizes individuals in crisis and provides the necessary treatment for those with mental illnesses, intellectual/developmental disorders, children/youth with emotional disorders and substance use disorders regardless of their insurance coverage. \r\n\r\nSCCMHA is a behavioral health provider but also a specialty network. The network is comprised of organizations that provide professional services, but also housing and other support services and interventions in both office and sitebased locations as well as in the homes of consumers and their families.