Opportunities

 

 

PDA Let Everyone Advance with Dignity (formerly Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) is hiring for a CoLEAD Program Director, a position employed by the Seattle/King County local LEAD Project Manager, the Public Defender Association. CoLEAD enables communities to redirect individuals engaged in law violations arising primarily from behavioral health conditions such as substance use or mental health issues to community-based services instead of using legal sanctions like arrest and jail. CoLEAD enables communities to redirect individuals engaged in law violations arising primarily from behavioral health conditions such as substance use or mental health issues to community-based services instead of using legal sanctions like arrest and jail. “Co” stands for COVID, Community and Co-Responder.

 

The CoLEAD team is responsible for providing outreach, engagement and intensive case management services to adults. Outreach Responder/Case Manager staff carry low (1:12) caseloads, and provides companion-based services to ensure people are identified and assessed, supported in navigating the current shelter in place landscape with limited employment opportunities, and accompanied to any services or appointments that are indicated. This position is involved in all aspects of referral, outreach and engagement, intensive case management services, as well as coordination with other providers to assure successful transition of participants to on-going care once the COVID emergency resolves or is more fully managed, and during a post COVID-19 time.

 

The CoLEAD Program Director will work directly under the PDA Deputy Director to forward this innovative approach to jail diversion and the building out of healthcare/social services response to ending mass incarceration, homelessness and the criminalization of mental health disability and drug use. The CoLEAD leadership team reports directly to the CoLEAD Program Director (with the exception of the PDA Medical Director, who also reports to the CoLEAD Deputy Director).

 

The CoLEAD Program Director is responsible for the day-to-day operations oversight of the following key areas of the program:

 

1. Deploy a team of intensive outreach responders (case managers, on-site responders and shift leads) along with medical care providers to a variety of hotel locations in King County to individuals who experience significant barriers to accessing resources because they are committing crimes,  experiencing homelessness and are drug users and may have mental health disabilities.

 

2. Provide leadership alongside the CoLEAD leadership team (CoLEAD Operations Manager, CoLEAD Entry & Services Manager, CoLEAD Medical Provider/PDA Medical Director, and CoLEAD South Program Coordinator) to a growing staff of 20+ shift leads and outreach responders providing temporary lodging-based supports at four or more hotels in King County.

 

3. Set direction and policy for the provision of support in temporary lodging, the use of a harm reduction case management approach, use of other best practices (Motivational Interviewing, Trauma Responsive care, Complex Healthcare Coordination) all grounded in addressing system

racism, bias and stigma related to race, homelessness and behavioral health status. This program is grounded in jail diversion and operates to provide an alternative response to harmful  and punitive criminal legal system responses (arrest, jail, court, prison and probation) and also promotes a more person-centered and low barrier healthcare reform paradigm to traditional publicly-funded social services.

 

4. Oversee all CoLEAD operations related to the JustCARE coalition, including coordination with other JustCARE providers (ETS REACH Program, Asian Counseling and Referral Services, Chief Seattle Club, several Business Improvement Associations in the neighborhoods of focus, business partners, public partners and neighborhood groups).

 

5. PDA operates a CARES (Coronavirus Relief Funds) funded project in the Pioneer Square/Chinatown International District to outreach and engage individuals using substances who also may have mental health conditions who are living outside during the Covid-19 pandemic. This response will include use of temporary lodging and on-site supports similar to CoLEAD. The CoLEAD Program Director will launch this expansion and oversee the implementation of services.

 

JustCARE is a multi-agency, hotel-based intensive case management program actively responding to COVID conditions for the unhoused in support of individuals with complex behavioral health needs who commonly commit law violations or exhibit problematic behavior related to behavioral health conditions. The hotel-based model of care, developed by the PDA CoLEAD team, uses hotels as a temporary lodging component with intensive case management and residential on-site support.

 

This position requires a high degree of coordination and collaboration with LEAD Project Managers as well as outside agencies also providing COVID-19 response services (local social services such as behavioral health providers, including Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT), food banks, healthcare facilities, etc.). The CoLEAD Program Director will oversee all resource skill building for CoLEAD staff to best assist CoLEAD participant in accessing healthcare, behavioral healthcare, employment, education, housing, entitlements, community connections and family supports and reconnections.

 

Employee safety for this position will include training and guidance on how to work with individuals who are in crisis during the COVID 19 outbreak. This position requires interacting with other individuals; PDA will provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to all staff performing any field based work, which includes, but is not limited to: masks, latex/nitrile gloves, and hand sanitizer. In addition to wearing face masks and gloves, all staff are expected to follow CDC guidance/best practices to limit possible exposure, e.g. maintaining 6-foot distance from all other individuals, including co-workers. Covid-19 vaccine access is provided as part of this position and will be paramount to operating this essential service. PDA has access to Covid-19 vaccine for all direct services staff and the successful candidate will be required to be vaccinated within two months of hire (if not previously vaccinated) to be eligible for continued employment.

 

PDA holds employee safety as a core feature of this position and will adhere to local public health guidance to ensure safety for employees and the communities they serve. It must be recognized that the entire landscape poses a risk of COVID-19 infection, and that performing the duties of this position with complete adherence to social distancing and sanitation recommendations from public health authorities is the best strategy for safety and health on the job under present conditions. Cell phone/tablet and communication devices that support field-based work will also be included for this position.

 

• Mentor, coach and support the CoLEAD management team, suggest strategies, and provide feedback to supervisors on needed program modifications, additional resources, and obstacles

• Assist supervisors and other PDA staff in describing the CoLEAD effort in a variety of forums

• Oversee outreach and engagement services, oversee shift leads, who supervise all shifts and team members

• Oversee a variety of care coordination activities focused on linkages to care to enhance participants stabilization, including clinical oversight, along with the PDA Medical Director, of all direct services

• Oversight and training of field response as needed. This may include training on de-escalation, going to Emergency Departments, and/or making referrals to the existing crisis system, which may be compromised during the time of COVID-19, as necessary

• Train and audit the provision of intake evaluations and assess behavioral/physical health/economic survival needs in order to develop support and client centered care plans

• Oversight of coordinating the following: access to food, clothing, shelter, physical/behavioral healthcare, housing stabilization, financial assistance, criminal justice coordination, and public benefit benefits

• Oversight and supervision of advocating for participants access to community resources and services, ensuring that participants' needs are met and rights maintained; consult and collaborate with community providers to ensure continuity of care

• Assist PDA Deputy Director in creating relationship with all Washington State Apple Health Medicaid Management Care Organizations (MCOs) in order to best leverage Medicaid supports and resources for CoLEAD participants

• Ensure CoLEAD is accessing homelessness housing resources (Coordinated Entry for All) as much as possible and advocating this system to respond to CoLEAD participant needs

• Help CoLEAD staff to develop and maintain strong collaborative relationships with PDA, ETS REACH, LEAD prosecutorial liaisons, law enforcement, and other relevant social services and resource organizations to ensure full continuity of care for participants

• Provide oversight, training and supervision of services consistent with CoLEAD/PDA program policies and procedures.

 

 

• Participate in psychiatric consultation, supervision, program meetings and in-service trainings; participate in clinical reviews and case conferences for participants on caseload.

• Comply with the agency's clinical accountability policies and procedures; maintain timely and complete participants records; comply with all applicable laws.

• Comply with applicable program data collection, as needed.

• Other duties as assigned.

 

CoLEAD services are currently provided in Seattle and Burien areas, and may be provided elsewhere in King County. The main office location where this position is based out of is downtown Seattle, and there is an office in Burien where some of the staff are based out of. Travel to the various temporary lodging sites is required. PDA will cover mileage to and from home and to intervening destinations at IRS rates.

 

• Five or more years of experience working in programs that serve individuals with mental health disabilities and drug users

•  Clinical training and expertise in behavioral health

• Two or more years in a leadership and supervisorial role in a social services program at the manager or director level

• Interest or experience in working with program participants who have difficulty engaging with traditional programs and have exposure/involvement with the criminal legal system

• Ability to implement harm reduction techniques within a participant-centered framework, e.g. motivational interviewing, trauma informed care and low-barrier assistance

• Ability to communicate and work effectively with staff from various backgrounds

• Ability to work effectively with participants displaying a wide range of behaviors

• Subscribe to the philosophy of cooperation and continuity across programs and of consideration and respect for participants

• Ability to oversee and train staff to utilize and track participant progress and information in an electronic case management system, including chart audits for continuous quality improvement efforts

• Current Washington State Driver’s License, current auto insurance, and access to a reliable vehicle

 

 

• Lived experience with criminal legal systems, including jails, law enforcement and courts

• Mental Health Professional (LiCSW, LMHC, etc.) Substance Use Disorder Professional (SUDP) or related work/experience

• Three years of experience in work related to residential programs, outreach programs or in an institutional setting

• Academic training and graduate degree in the social service field and in the area of substance use disorder and mental health treatment

• Experience providing services from a harm reduction perspective to individuals experiencing behavioral health disabilities

• Experience overseeing a multi-cultural work force with a variety of lived, professional and academic experiences

 

 

PDA is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without unlawful discrimination based on race, color, creed, national origin, sex, gender identity age, disability, marital or relationship status, sexual orientation, military status, prior record of arrest or conviction, citizenship status, current employment status, or caregiver status. PDA works to advance justice, particularly racial justice, in an increasingly multicultural country. We value diverse experiences, including with regard to educational background and criminal legal system contact, and depend on a diverse staff to carry out our mission.

 

Starting salary: $102,544 + DOE

Generous health benefits for all employees at .5 FTE or higher

Cell phone and laptop provided for work use

 

Please send your resume and cover letter before April 30, 2021 to careers@defender.org and list the position title (i.e. CoLEAD Program Director) in the email subject line.  Please note: only candidates being considered for the position will be contacted.  No phone calls, please.