Reentry Specialist

Douglas County (NE); Nebraska; On-site; USD 43,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Douglas County (NE) seeks a dedicated professional to support detainees in obtaining services and planning for successful reentry. You will perform case management, conduct informational interviews, and tailor plans for mental health, employment, and public assistance.

The role requires a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice, Social Work, or Human Services, and at least one year of counseling or case management experience.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice, Social Work, or Human Services.
• One year of counseling, case management, or social services experience.
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license and own transportation.
• Equivalent work experience may be substituted for educational requirements.

Responsibilities

• Provide case management services for inmates including assessment of behavioral health, material needs, referring for services and support, and enhancing successful reentry after release.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, supervisors, County employees, elected officials, attorneys, law enforcement, judges, other agencies, and the public.
• Comply with Civil Service policies and regulations, collective bargaining agreements, County policies, and laws to create a cooperative, safe, respectful and quality work environment.
• Make initial contact and interview clients determining the need and eligibility for facility-based or community-based services.
• Create individual reentry plans for obtaining services in an effort to reduce future recidivism.
• Coordinate services among providers as dictated by client plan and need.
• Work with client’s family, attorney, and community resources to plan for future needs and any required assistance.
• Ensure all client data is collected and documented appropriately, developing reports as needed.
• Report compliance of clients to appropriate party as needed, providing additional information.
• Facilitate group programming and education for clients.
• Safely operate a motor vehicle when required to travel on County business.
• Report to work at assigned location with regular, consistent attendance.
• Perform other duties as directed and assigned.

Skills

Case management

Interagency coordination

Documentation

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in CJ/SW/HS

Job description

Incumbent works under the direction of the Reentry Services Manager or designee, performing a variety of tasks associated with assisting detainees of the Douglas County Department of Corrections in obtaining services appropriate to their situation based on informational interviews and individual circumstances.

• Provide case management services for inmates including assessment of behavioral health, material needs, referring for services and support, and enhancing successful reentry after release.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, supervisors, County employees, elected officials, attorneys, law enforcement, judges, other agencies, and the public.
• Comply with Civil Service policies and regulations, collective bargaining agreements, County policies, and laws to create a cooperative, safe, respectful and quality work environment.
• Make initial contact and interview clients determining the need and eligibility for facility-based or community-based services.
• Create individual reentry plans for obtaining services (e.g. mental health, job search, substance treatment, public assistance) in an effort to reduce future recidivism.
• Coordinate services among providers as dictated by client plan and need.
• Work with client’s family, attorney, and community resources to plan for future needs and any required assistance.
• Ensure all client data is collected and documented appropriately, developing reports as needed.
• Report compliance of clients to appropriate party as needed, providing additional information.
• Facilitate group programming and education for clients.
• Safely operate a motor vehicle when required to travel on County business.
• Report to work at assigned location with regular, consistent attendance.
• Perform other duties as directed and assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Criminal Justice, Social Work, or Human Services required.*
• One (1) year of counseling, case management, or social services experience required.
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license and own mode of transportation at the time of hire and throughout employment.
• *Equivalent work experience may be substituted for educational requirements beyond high school on a year-for-year basis.

• The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Work is frequently performed in a locked correctional facility. Noise level is frequently moderate and occasionally loud. Work hours are typically standard day-shift hours; however, schedule will occasionally vary (e.g. evening, weekend, emergency call-in, and overtime). Work may be stressful when dealing with multiple priorities, competing needs, time constraints, limited resources and uncooperative/irate individuals.
• Work requires occasional physical activity including extended periods of sitting and standing, frequent walking, and occasional balancing, kneeling, bending, and reaching. Work also requires the ability to frequently lift/carry objects weighing up to 10 pounds and occasionally up to 25 pounds.
• Required sensory abilities include vision, hearing and touch. Visual abilities, correctable to normal ranges, include close, distance and color vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Communication abilities include the ability to talk and hear within normal ranges. Incumbent must possess the hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate computers and other equipment.