Statewide Coordinator of Special Needs

South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice; Columbia (SC); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) seeks a qualified professional to develop and manage internal processes ensuring optimal treatment services for youth with Serious Mental Illness or Serious Qualifying Disability. The role interfaces with state and external agencies to coordinate admissions and placement in PRTFs.

Key duties include monitoring referrals, leading interagency staffings, preparing documentation, and advising leadership on best practices.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree plus professional experience in human or social services.
• Thorough knowledge of justice, mental health, and social services practices for juveniles.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills required.
• Able to advocate for interagency staffing to address youth health needs.
• Knowledge of Medicaid requirements for Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities.

Responsibilities

• Monitor and track youth with SMI/SQD and coordinate timely transfers.
• Facilitate interagency and court-ordered staffings for youth with special needs.
• Provide documentation of staffings, visits, and collaboration efforts.
• Serve as lead contact for DJJ youth referred to Byars PRTF.
• Coordinate referrals to Byars PRTF and other PRTFs.
• Liaise with Office of Mental Health, IDD, DSS, and Disability Rights SC.
• Provide insights to leadership on best practices for SMI/SQD youth.
• Prepare monthly reports on referrals, placement, and billing in PRTF.
• Participate in MOA and DJJ policy reviews related to SMI/SQD.
• Available during/after business hours for duties.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

Skills

Interagency collaboration

Effective communication

Advocacy for youth services

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Mission

It is the mission of the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) to impact and transform young lives, strengthen families, and support safer communities through targeted prevention and rehabilitation.

Job Purpose

Under limited supervision, appropriately and proficiently develop a succinct internal process for ensuring the optimal treatment services for youth identified as having a Serious Mental Illness (SMI) or Serious Qualifying Disability (SQD). Interfaces with various agencies involved with youth in order to ensure optimal functioning of juvenile. Serves as the agency's point of contact for juvenile admissions to the Byars Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility (PRTF) and other PRTFs in and out of state.

Job Responsibilities

• Monitors and tracks youth who may be identified as having a SMI or SQD and ensures appropriate transfers are made within time frames designated through MOA(s).
• Facilitates SMI/SQD staffings as well as other interagency and court-ordered staffings pertaining to youth with special needs in secured facilities.
• Provides written documentation of all staffings, visits, and collaborative efforts to meet the needs of youth.
• Serves as the lead point of contact for DJJ involved youth who meet criteria for a Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility (PRTF).
• Participates in staffing and collection of pertinent information needed to secure appropriate referrals to the Byars PRTF.
• Serves as a liaison with the Office of Mental Health, Office of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Department of Social Services, and Disability Rights South Carolina, related to youth with special needs.
• Provides insight to agency leadership on best practices concerning youth with a SMI/SQD.
• Coordinates and collaborates with the Byar’s PRTF, Office of Mental Health, and Office of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities for the care of youth who meet PRTF level of care.
• Monitors the referral process, service delivery, and outcomes of justice involved youth placed at the Byar’s PRTF and other PRTFs.
• Provides and coordinates training on the special needs population and how to understand the inclusion process for Facility staff quarterly.
• Provides training to external partners regarding the unique needs of SCDJJ youth who meet SMI/SQD criteria.
• Provides training to SCDJJ staff on admission criteria and referral process for access to the Byar’s PRTF. Follows up on inquiries and ensures appropriate referrals are expedited through the referral process.
• Provides prompt feedback to referral source on information needed, missing, and if referrals are not appropriate, or do not meet criteria, educate referral source on criteria.
• Prepares and maintains monthly reports summarizing justice involved youth’s referrals, placement, and billing in a PRTF.
• Monitors and processes cost share placements not covered by youth’s MCO.
• Must participate in the review and revision of mutual Memorandum of Agreements (MOA) and SCDJJ Policies and Procedures related to youth who meet criteria for Seriously Mentally Ill (SMI) and/or a Serious Qualifying Disability (SQD).
• Must be available, both during and after business hours, as needed, regarding justice involved youth placed in a PRTF.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Minimum And Additional Requirements

STATE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

A bachelor's degree and professional experience in human services or social services programs.

Additional Requirements

• Thorough knowledge of the justice, mental health, and social services practices for juveniles.
• Ability to communicate effectively with staff, juveniles and relevant agencies.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills required.
• Expertise in dealing with special needs cases preferred.
• Must be able to advocate for and facilitate interagency staffing to ensure a youth’s mental health needs are addressed at all aspects of a youth’s involvement in the juvenile justice system.
• Must be able to triage youth’s needs and hold self and others accountable for the development and delivery of service provision to youth.
• Must have a working knowledge of Medicaid requirements for Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities.

This position performs job duties relating to the custody, control, transportation, or recapture of youth within the jurisdiction of the Department of Juvenile Justice, and the employee may have direct and indirect contact with youth within the jurisdiction of the Department of Juvenile Justice. Training applicable to these duties will be provided.

Some overnight travel for training as needed.

Must be able to drive and travel throughout the state.

Must be able to physically lift up to 25 lbs.

Preferred Qualifications

PREFERRED AGENCY REQUIREMENTS:

A master's degree and at least five (5) years' experience working with the juvenile justice, mental health, or social service population. Must have experience with the coordination of multidisciplinary teams.

Additional Comments

The South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice offers an exceptional benefits package for FTE positions that includes:

• Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Health, dental, and life insurance
• 15 days annual (vacation) leave per year
• 15 days of sick leave per year
• 13 paid holidays
• State retirement plans and deferred compensation programs
• Discount Programs such as TicketatWork and WeSave