Community Linkage Worker (Correctional Program Coordinator) Bureau Of Criminal Justice - PN 20075596

Please note: Effective October 1, 2025, the Ohio Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services has transitioned to its new name-the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health. This change reflects our continued commitment to providing comprehensive, person-centered care that addresses the full range of behavioral health needs for Ohioans. All positions and services now fall under the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health as we move forward in serving individuals, families, and communities across the state.

What you'll do at DBH:

Under the direction of a Mental Health Administrator 4, the Correctional Program Coordinator develops appropriate Community Behavioral Health Reentry (CBHR) interventions for offenders with severe and persistent mental illness and/or significant substance abuse issues who are leaving the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation & Correction (ODRC) or the Ohio Department of Youth Services (ODYS). This role ensures continuity of behavioral health services to enhance adult and youth offenders' abilities to successfully function within society. The Coordinator works with offenders' families and community supports as needed to aid in reentry efforts.

Duties of the Correctional Program Coordinator include:

• Review offender information and interview offenders and/or ODRC/ODYS treatment teams to develop comprehensive community reentry plans.

• Assess needs in areas such as mental health, substance use, financial and housing assistance, and other community reentry supports.

• Assist offenders in meeting identified needs through education, linkages, referrals, housing attainment support, and submitting required paperwork for SSI/Medicaid eligibility determination.

• Provide small group interventions as needed to address behavioral-health-related reentry needs.

• Offer expertise on community reentry for offenders with behavioral health disorders to ODRC/ODYS institutional staff, parole staff, and community providers.

• Establish and maintain knowledge of community treatment systems and resources focused on adults and youth with behavioral health disorders and/or serious emotional disturbance (SED).

• Review CBHR program data with supervisor and respond appropriately to findings.

• Represent the Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) in meetings and conferences focused on the CBHR program.

• Serve as liaison between the Department and stakeholders including adult and youth prisons, Adult and Youth Parole Authority, ADAMH boards, providers, schools, and community organizations (COS's).

• Maintain necessary data documents to satisfy requirements of federal, state, and local agencies.

• Prepare social histories, admission/aftercare summaries, and complete forms required by law or department policy.

• Secure releases of information as required for duties.

• Serve on committees and workgroups related to community behavioral health reentry efforts.

• Participate in department meetings including quality improvement sessions, joint agency meetings, monthly staff meetings, procedure reviews, mandatory trainings, and related activities.

• Maintain effective working relationships with facilities, agencies, and support services to coordinate referrals and conduct follow-up services as needed.

This is an hourly position covered by the Ohio Health Care SEIU/1199 bargaining unit (union), with a pay range of 11 on the Ohio Health Care SEIU/1199 Pay Range Schedule. Normal working hours are Monday through Friday. This position is located within our Bureau of Criminal Justice with report in location being Trumbull Correctional Institution, 5701 Burnett St., Leavittsburg, Ohio 44430, and coverage to include, but not limited to Lake Erie Correctional, Ohio State Penitentiary, and Northeast Ohio Correctional Complex.

Unless required by any applicable union contract and/or requirements of the Ohio Revised Code, the selected candidate will begin at Step 1 of the pay range schedule listed above, with an opportunity for pay increase after six months of satisfactory performance and then a yearly raise thereafter.

Selected applicant(s) will be required to complete the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation & Correction's training at the Corrections Training Academy located in Orient, OH. This training is approximately 4 weeks in length.

Position Qualifications

Must hold current certification or credentials in one of following:

• Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor II (LCDC II)
• Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor III (LCDC III)
• Licensed Independent Chemical Dependency Counselor (LICDC)
• Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW) by State of Ohio Counselor & Social Worker Board.
• Professional Clinical Counselor (PCC) by State of Ohio Counselor & Social Worker Board.
• Professional Counselor (PC) by State of Ohio Counselor & Social Worker Board.
• Licensed Social Worker (LSW) by State of Ohio Counselor & Social Worker Board.
• Licensed Physician by State of Ohio Medical Board.
• Licensed Psychologist by State of Ohio Board of Psychology.
• Registered Nurse by Ohio Board of Nursing.
• Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist by State of Ohio Counselor, Social Worker & Marriage & Family Therapist Board.
• Licensed Independent Marriage & Family Therapist licensed by State of Ohio Counselor, Social Worker & Marriage & Family Therapist Board.

All eligible applications shall be reviewed considering the following criteria: qualifications, experience, education, active disciplinary record, and work record.

UNUSUAL WORKING CONDITIONS

May require unusual work schedules or arrangements; may be exposed to clients who may be potentially violent; may be exposed to unusual noise, odors or contagious diseases; may require travel to community site under contract with Department of Behavioral Health.

Primary Job Skills: Counseling and Rehabilitation

Technical Skills: Counseling and Rehabilitation

Professional Skills: Critical Thinking, Building Trust, Situational Awareness, Verbal Communication, Confidentiality, Developing Others

Required Educational Transcripts

Official transcripts are required for all post-secondary education, coursework, or degrees listed on the application. Applicants must submit an official transcript before receiving a formal employment offer. Failure to provide transcripts within five (5) business days of the request will result in disqualification from further consideration. Transcripts printed from the institution's website will not be accepted. DBH reserves the right to evaluate the academic validity of the degree-granting institution.

All final applicants tentatively selected for this class will be required to submit to urinalysis to test for illegal drug use prior to appointments. An applicant with a positive test shall not be offered employment.