Correctional Program Coordinator - Community Linkage

State of Ohio; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 34,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

Ohio Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) seeks a Correctional Program Coordinator to develop community behavioral health reentry plans for offenders with serious mental illness or substance abuse issues.

The role ensures continuity of services as offenders transition from correctional settings to the community, coordinating with families, treatment teams, and community resources.

Qualifications

• Must hold one of the listed Ohio state behavioral health credentials.
• Experience in counseling and rehabilitation within behavioral health.
• Knowledge of community reentry and coordination with agencies is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop CBHR reentry plans for offenders with mental illness/substance use disorders.
• Assess needs in mental health, housing, SSI/Medicaid, and other supports.
• Coordinate with treatment teams, families, and community providers for successful reentry.

Skills

Counseling & Rehabilitation

Education

Licensed Professional credentials (see list)

Job description

All job postings will expire at 11:59 PM Eastern Time on the application deadline.

Organization: Behavioral Health

Work Location:
30 East Broad Street, 8th Floor
Columbus, Ohio, 43215
United States

Compensation: $29.95/hr.

Schedule: Permanent - Full Time

Work Hours: Monday- Friday hours may vary

Classified Indicator: Classified

Union: 1199

Primary Job Skill: Counseling and Rehabilitation

Who We Are

At the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health (DBH), we strive to exemplify The Heart of Hope for individuals and families affected by mental health and substance use disorders.

We proudly employ over 2,800 dedicated employees across our six inpatient behavioral health hospitals, Ohio Pharmacy Services, Ohio’s prison systems, and the central office located in the James A. Rhodes State Office Tower in Columbus, Ohio.

DBH Values:

• Service-Oriented (Person Centered, Solution Oriented, Customer Service Focused)
• Collaborative (Approachable, Reasonable, Transparent)
• Value Driven
• Innovative (Yes Before No)
• Strong Sense of Urgency

Our team of highly qualified professionals advances a critical system of behavioral healthcare in Ohio that helps people be well, get well, and stay well. Join our collaborative, service-oriented environment, where you will be respected and valued.

The Ohio Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) is proud to be an Ohio Recovery Friendly Workplace, committed to supporting the health and well-being of all employees, including those in recovery. We foster an inclusive, stigma-free environment where individuals impacted by mental health and substance use challenges are valued, supported, and empowered to thrive. Our workplace culture promotes wellness, second-chance hiring, and recovery-informed policies that reflect our mission to serve Ohioans with compassion and respect, both in the community and within our own team.

What You'll Do

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 11on the Ohio Health Care SEIU/1199Pay 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.

Additional Information

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.

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. The Ohio Department of Behavioral Health reserves the right to evaluate the academic validity of the degree-granting institution.

Background Check Notice

The final candidate selected for this position will be required to undergo a criminal background check. Criminal convictions do not necessarily preclude an applicant from consideration for a position. An individual assessment of an applicant’s prior criminal convictions will be made before excluding an applicant from consideration.

Rule 5122-7-21, Background check on applicants, outlines disqualifying offenses that will preclude an applicant from being employed by the Department of Behavioral Health.

If you require a reasonable accommodation for the application process, assessment & or interview, please contact Andrew Seifert, EEO/ADA Administrator at [e-mail] or 614-466-8884.

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.

Why Work for the State of Ohio

At the State of Ohio, we take care of the team that cares for Ohioans. We provide a variety of quality, competitive benefits to eligible full-time and part-time employees*. For a list of all the State of Ohio Benefits, visit our Total Rewards website! Our benefits package includes:

• Medical Coverage
• Free Dental, Vision and Basic Life Insurance premiums after completion of eligibility period
• Paid time off, including vacation, personal, sick leave and 11 paid holidays per year
• Childbirth, Adoption, and Foster Care leave
• Education and Development Opportunities (Employee Development Funds, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and more)
• Public Retirement Systems (such as OPERS, STRS, SERS, and HPRS) & Optional Deferred Compensation (Ohio Deferred Compensation)

*Benefits eligibility is dependent on a number of factors. The Agency Contact listed above will be able to provide specific benefits information for this 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.

Job Skills: Counseling and Rehabilitation

ADA Statement

Ohio is a Disability Inclusion State and strives to be a model employer of individuals with disabilities. The State of Ohio is committed to providing access and inclusion and reasonable accommodation in its services, activities, programs and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws.

Drug-Free Workplace

The State of Ohio is a drug-free workplace which prohibits the use of marijuana (recreational marijuana/non-medical cannabis). Please note, this position may be subject to additional restrictions pursuant to the State of Ohio Drug-Free Workplace Policy (HR-39), and as outlined in the posting.