Treatment Engagement Specilist

Department: Behavioral Health / Criminal Justice Services 

Reports To: V.P of community engagement

Position Summary

The Jail Diversion Liaison serves as the primary point of contact between the criminal justice system, treatment providers, and individuals eligible for jail diversion. This position coordinates Screening for Restore program and other jail diversion programs designed to redirect eligible individuals — particularly those with mental health, substance use, or Co -occurring — away from incarceration and into appropriate community-based treatment and support services. Liaison monitors compliance with court orders, tracks criminal background information, coordinates transportation, and ensures all court hearing deadlines and requirements are met.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Screening and Assessment

• Conduct and coordinate Screening evaluations for individuals referred through the jail diversion process
• Review referrals to determine eligibility for diversion programs based on clinical, legal, and risk criteria
• Collaborate with clinicians, case managers, and jail medical/mental health staff to gather relevant history

Criminal Background and Records Management

• Review and interpret criminal background checks, arrest records, and case histories to inform eligibility determinations and program placement
• Maintain accurate, confidential records of criminal history in compliance with applicable privacy laws (e.g., HIPAA, CJIS)
• Flag disqualifying offenses or risk factors per program guidelines and communicate findings to the appropriate treatment team and court

Court Order and Legal Compliance

• Track, interpret, and ensure compliance with court orders related to diversion, competency restoration, probation, or conditional release
• Serve as liaison between the court, public defender/prosecutor offices, probation, and treatment providers
• Prepare and submit required status reports, compliance updates, and progress documentation to the court in a timely manner
• Monitor deadlines and other legally mandated benchmarks

Court Hearing Coordination

• Maintain a master calendar of client court hearings, review dates, and filing deadlines
• Attend court hearings as needed to represent program status and provide updates to the judge, attorneys, or court liaison
• Coordinate continuances or scheduling changes with court staff when necessary

Transportation Coordination

• Arrange and coordinate transportation with Sarasota County jail
• Maintain transportation logs and troubleshoot scheduling conflicts

General Program and Case Coordination

• Serve as the central point of contact among jail staff, courts, attorneys, treatment providers, and families
• Maintain case files and enter data into program tracking/database systems accurately and on schedule
• Participate in interagency meetings, staffing, and case conferences
• Ensure compliance with agency policies, funding requirements, and applicable state/federal regulations

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree (or equivalent combination of education and experience)
• 2 years behavioral health, case management, or diversion program services 
• Strong understanding of confidentiality requirements (HIPAA, 42 CFR Part 2, CJIS)
• Excellent organizational skills with ability to manage multiple deadlines and court schedules simultaneously
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including report writing for court submission
• Ability to build effective working relationships with judges, attorneys, jail staff, and clinical teams
• Crisis de-escalation and trauma-informed care skills
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office