Community Liaison

Community Liaison performs complex (journey-level) consultative services and technical assistance work. Work involves planning, developing, and implementing an agency program and providing consultative services and technical assistance to program staff, government agencies, community organizations, or the general public.

May provide guidance to others.

Works under general supervision, with moderate latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

This position can be housed in ANY Region at any DFPS office.

Essential Job Functions

Community Liaison will reside in the four regions that have the highest number of children without placement, to build community capacity to prevent placements in unlicensed care and to transition children out of unlicensed care into safe settings. The community liaison position will work directly with the state lead, DFPS Director of Placement, DFPS Regional Director, Clinical Coordinators, courts, community stakeholders, hospital, other providers, and individuals with lived experience.

At the regional level, the Community Liaison position would work across sectors to educate caseworkers, families and other providers about the services and supports available to prevent a crisis. They will track utilization and support development of new crisis stabilization approaches. These positions will build linkages between residential and community providers to increase placement stability and support successful transitions out of facilities. The position would serve as a liaison with psychiatric hospitals in the region to develop protocols for discharge and ensure access to partial hospitalization and day treatment. The position will serve on the Community Resource Coordination Groups (CRCGs), which are designed to provide interagency coordination for youth with multiagency needs.

Should the regions with highest number of children without placement change, the liaisons will need to reside in those areas as needed.

As children are moved into licensed placements the community liaisons will transition to assist with facilitating discharge meetings/ discharges for foster children in acute, subacute and QRTP in their regions. They will maintain consistent contact with the members of the child’s team. This goal being to successfully discharge children from one placement to another through supporting the caseworker and child and leading the team throughout the discharge process.

This position will work closely with other entities to best support the child in DFPS care. The coordinator will be responsible for providing discharge support to other DFPS field staff.

May provide input on developing and/or revising policy and procedure manuals.

May provide guidance to others.

Performs related work as assigned.

Knowledge Skills Abilities

Knowledge of local, state, and federal laws related to the program area; public administration and management techniques; statistical analysis processes; research techniques; training and marketing techniques; and program management processes and techniques.

Skill in identifying measures or indicators of program performance and the use of a computer and applicable software.

Ability to gather, assemble, correlate, and analyze facts; to devise solutions to problems; to market programs; to prepare reports; to develop, evaluate, and interpret policies and procedures; to communicate effectively; and to provide guidance to others.

Knowledge of evidence-based clinical practices related to adolescent behavioral health.

Knowledge of theoretical treatment alternatives for adolescent psychological disorders.

Knowledge of trauma informed care as it relates to individuals and systems.

Initial Selection Criteria

Registration or Licensure Requirements:

• Three years professional experience in a field related to:
• child protective services in a supervisory capacity or advanced level caseworker, or
• evidence-based clinical practices related to adolescent behavioral health, or
• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major course work in social work, psychology, or other closely related field of study.

Preferred Screening Criteria

• A master’s level degree in Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, Counseling, or other mental health field preferred.
• Work experience in a clinical or treatment setting for adolescents focusing on theoretical treatment alternatives for adolescent psychological disorders.
• Professional experience related to working with community providers to improve outcomes for children in placements.
• Work experience related to trauma informed care and how it pertains to individuals.
• LMSW, LCSW, LMFT, LPC, License as a Mental Health Professional, by the Board of Examiners in Counseling in accordance with ACA, or other closely related certification or licensure preferred.

MOS Code

Additional Information:

Note: There are no direct military occupation(s) that relate to the initial selection criteria and registration or licensure requirements for this position. All active duty, reservists, guardsmen, and veterans are encouraged to apply. For more information, see the Texas State Auditor’s Military Crosswalk here.

HHS agencies use E-Verify. You must bring your I-9 documentation with you on your first day of work.

I-9 Form – Click here to download the I-9 form.

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), HHS agencies will provide reasonable accommodation during the hiring and selection process for qualified individuals with a disability. If you need assistance completing the on-line application, contact the HHS Employee Service Center at 1-888-894-4747. If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodation to participate in the interview process, please notify the person scheduling the interview.