Diversion and Reentry Services Program Specialist (PPM II)

King County's Department of Community and Human Services DCHS) provides equitable opportunities for people to be healthy, happy, and connected to community. At DCHS, we believe in working as one team that solves problems—striving to be customer-focused and drive for the best results. We envision a welcoming community that is racially just. We believe the field of human services exists to undo and mitigate unfair structures. We seek to lead the way by working as respectful and responsible stewards for our community.

The Diversion and Reentry Services section, within King County’s Behavioral Health and Recovery Division (BHRD), administers programs at the intersection of behavioral health and criminal legal systems to support people in pursuing recovery and thriving in their communities. Our team directly manages multiple diversion programs for people with serious mental health and substance use conditions to avoid legal competency services and the State forensic mental health system. Additionally, we assist the State in local coordination for an array of programs implemented due to Trueblood et al vs. State of WA DSHS class action lawsuit and subsequent Contempt Settlement Agreement.

Diversion and Reentry Services (DRS) seeks a candidate with a combination of project management skills and knowledge of behavioral health and/or criminal legal systems to support diversion and service programs and provide system-level care coordination for individuals who have had multiple encounters with the forensic mental health system.

The DRS Program Specialist position will administer behavioral health and legal diversion program contracts, coordinate with an array of system partners, connect individuals to care, and assist behavioral health providers and legal partners in navigating each other’s systems and accessing homeless housing, healthcare, and other community resources for people who can avoid incarceration and hospitalization through robust support in the community.

To be considered minimally qualified, applicants must demonstrate a background that provides the knowledge, skill and ability to:

Oversee legal diversion contracts and program activities while utilizing data to disseminate information. 

• Monitor contracts including conducting site visits, managing contract amendments, processing invoices, and continuous quality improvement activities.
• Provide technical assistance to providers and remove barriers to support the delivery of high quality and effective services and access to resources.
• Manage projects including budget monitoring, tracking deliverables, and coordinating multiple project elements such as sub-contracts, data reporting and analysis, fiscal oversight, etc.
• Assist in data management and report development, including drafting external and internal reports and correspondence.

Coordinate care for individuals across multiple systems and collaborate with various stakeholders and service providers.

• Provide care coordination for individuals on priority lists or enrolled in contracted services, across a behavioral health continuum of care and with the state Health Care Authority, Managed Care Organizations (MCOs), jail health services, and other service providers.
• Participate in Coordinated Entry processes in the homeless services system and assist behavioral health providers in navigating homelessness resources.
• Navigate multiple databases and develop custom reporting and notification/tracking systems. 
• Assist in coordination with stakeholders with lived experience, jurisdictional court partners and law enforcement, tribal entities, behavioral health and homeless service and housing providers, and other concerned partners, including regional support for Trueblood contempt settlement agreement programs.

Develop and present behavioral health and diversion program materials while centering equity and social justice. 

• Work with program partners to develop trainings, materials, and presentations representing behavioral health services and diversion programs, including public speaking.
• Integrate an equity and social justice framework into program duties and communications.
• Perform other related duties as assigned, including tasks supporting the overall work of the Diversion and Reentry Services (DRS) section.

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field with at least three years of experience in program management, grant management, or direct service in behavioral health, homelessness, or other social services; OR equivalent combination of education/training and professional experience in program management, grant management, or direct service in behavioral health, homelessness, or other social services
• Demonstrated commitment to Equity and Social Justice principles and practices
• Demonstrated strong organizational skills, ability to manage multiple projects and stakeholders, ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines, strong attention to detail
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, strong interpersonal skills
• Demonstrated experience with care coordination and engaging multiple systems to support clients’ needs
• Demonstrated experience in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook and other applications
• Strategic problem-solving skills: ability to anticipate future challenges/opportunities and integrate into analysis, design, and implementation when addressing current problems
• Knowledge of behavioral health recovery principles and practices
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision
• Ability to attend meetings at various locations throughout the county in a timely fashion

DESIRED EXPERIENCE, QUALIFICATIONS, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS:

• Lived experience of behavioral health conditions and/or involvement in criminal legal systems.
• Familiarity with King County’s complex criminal legal system.
• Knowledge of local behavioral health and social service continuums.
• Passion for system reform, racial justice, and helping people access resources to lead healthy and meaningful lives.

ADDITIONAL POSITION INFORMATION:

• This position has been designated Non-Mission Critical. Unless otherwise directed by the County Executive, department director or agency head, all employees, regardless of designation, are expected to report to work or request leave during an emergency or inclement weather. For more detailed information, please visit HR Policy County Operations During Emergency Situations and the King County Guidelines for Workforce Management in an Emergency.
• This position is scheduled to work 40 hours per week, Monday - Friday, 8am - 5pm. This position meets the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is overtime eligible with supervisory pre-approval.
• This position is not represented by a union.
• The work associated with this position will be performed or conducted through a combination of teleworking and onsite work and meetings. Employees will have access to shared workspaces at various King County facilities. Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.

WHO MAY APPLY: This position is open to all qualified candidates that meet the minimum qualifications. Interviews for this selection process will take place on or around May 5, 2025. Candidates who wish to be considered for this position must submit an online King County application, respond to the supplemental questions, and attach a resume. Your application may be rejected as incomplete if you do not include the requested and relevant information in the online application, supplemental questionnaire, or submit a resume. Applications and/or supplemental questionnaires that state, “see my resume” are considered incomplete and will not be considered to be competitive. If you have any questions, please contact Kjerstin Richards, krichards@kingcounty.gov. 

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Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ , people living with disabilities, and veterans.

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No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

To Apply

If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.

Salary : $45 - $57