Law Enforcement Community Based Crisis Navigator - Iowa Mental Health Crisis Response

At Heartland Family Service, we are committed to building a culture that is trauma informed, values, and celebrates diversity and inclusion. We believe this allows for better service delivery and innovation, as it encourages our employees to bring various experiences and uniqueness to the workplace.

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF WORK

The Law Enforcement Community Based Crisis Navigator is a frontline, community-based position that works in partnership with law enforcement to respond to individuals experiencing behavioral health, substance use, or other psychosocial crises.  This position serves as a behavioral health resource within a law-enforcement co-responder model, providing crisis assessment, intervention, stabilization, safety planning, resource connection, and short-term case navigation. The Law Enforcement Community Based Crisis Navigator responds alongside or in coordination with law enforcement when appropriate and works to identify alternatives to unnecessary emergency department visits, incarceration, or other restrictive interventions when clinically and operationally appropriate.

Compensation: between $20.72 and $24.70 per hour (wage is based on total years of relevant experience)

Work Schedule: 37.5 hours per week, Monday through Friday, 3:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.

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MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS (one or more of the following qualifications to be met):

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, human services, criminal justice, behavioral health, or a related field preferred.
• Associate degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience may be considered.
• 1–4 years of experience in behavioral health, crisis response, case management, social services, law enforcement, corrections, emergency services, or a related field preferred.
• Experience working in law enforcement or military backgrounds preferred.
• Experience working with individuals experiencing mental health or substance use crises preferred.
• Experience working collaboratively with law enforcement or other public-safety personnel preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to remain calm, professional, and effective in high-stress or unpredictable situations.
• Demonstrated understanding of trauma-informed care, crisis intervention, de-escalation, and behavioral health principles.
• Must possess a valid driver's license, reliable transportation, and the ability to travel throughout the assigned service area.
• Must successfully complete required background checks and agency onboarding requirements.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Responds with or in coordination with law enforcement to individuals experiencing behavioral health, substance use, or psychosocial crises.
• Provides crisis-focused assessment, intervention, de-escalation, stabilization, and support in community settings.
• Consults with clinical staff regarding appropriate levels of care, safety concerns, disposition, and recommendations when necessary.
• Develops collaborative safety and intervention plans with individuals, law enforcement, family members, and other involved supports when appropriate.
• Provides recommendations and referrals to appropriate levels of behavioral health care, substance use treatment, crisis services, emergency services, and community resources.
• Provides short-term case navigation and follow-up to individuals identified during law-enforcement contacts, including connection to community resources and behavioral health services.
• Provides follow-up after crisis encounters and assists individuals in establishing ongoing support and services.
• Maintains an active working knowledge of behavioral health, substance use, crisis, housing, medical, social service, and other community resources.
• Establishes and maintains effective professional relationships with law enforcement agencies, officers, dispatch personnel, hospitals, behavioral health providers, schools, and other community partners.
• Participates in law-enforcement briefings, meetings, trainings, and other outreach activities as appropriate.
• Provides education and consultation to law enforcement regarding behavioral health crises, crisis response, de-escalation, available resources, and appropriate referral options.
• Serves as a behavioral health liaison between law enforcement and Heartland Family Service crisis services.
• Communicates effectively with law enforcement while maintaining appropriate confidentiality, professional boundaries, and client-centered practices.
• Works collaboratively with crisis clinicians, crisis navigators, peer support staff, supervisors, and other members of the Community Based Crisis Services team.
• Maintains clinical and case management records in accordance with agency, CCBHC, and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Documents all crisis contacts, assessments, interventions, referrals, consultations, and follow-up activities with agency expectations.
• Participate in required supervision, consultation, staff meetings, training and continuing education.
• Conducts outreach activities with law enforcement and other community partners to strengthen awareness and utilization of crisis services.
• Promotes Heartland Family Service crisis services and assists community partners in understanding when and how to access services.
• Practices trauma-informed, person-centered, recovery-oriented, and culturally responsive approaches in all interactions.
• Maintains dependable attendance and punctuality and fulfills assigned work schedules and coverage responsibilities.
• Develops, maintains, and shares an appropriate and dynamic self-care plan.
• Abides by all specific program and Agency procedures, policies, and requirements.
• Develop personal and program-related skills through participation in internal and external training opportunities.
• Strives to make connections between the agency and the larger community whenever possible to contribute to the agency’s ongoing fundraising and friend-raising efforts.
• Performs other program-related duties as assigned.

Salary : $21 - $25