As a County Mental Health Program Specialist 1 with Potter County MH/ID Unit, you will play a key role in helping people reconnect with their communities. This position lets you use your abilities to support individuals during important steps in their lives who are within and exiting incarceration. You will join a team that works together to provide strong guidance and reliable care. We offer a supportive work environment and a generous benefit package. This is your chance to make a difference every day.
This role focuses on building and supporting forensic mental health services for Potter County. It involves working closely with correctional facilities, legal partners, and community programs to ensure smooth transitions and strong coordination of care. As a County Mental Health Program Specialist 1, you will perform the following duties:
- Forensic Program Support: Build the forensic program by working with county residents in various correctional settings
- Intake Coordination: Coordinate county intakes for State prison populations several months before release to support continuity of care
- Facility Communication: Serve as a contact for correctional institutions to plan and facilitate release into the community
- Service Liaison: Act as liaison with the Torrance State Hospital Forensic Unit to link and coordinate services
- Legal Collaboration: Communicate with judges, probation officers, attorneys, and wardens to facilitate re-entry or suggest alternative options
- Aftercare Planning: Provide discharge planning, aftercare coordination, and follow-up for up to one year after release
Work Schedule and Additional Information:
- Full-time employment
- Work hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday - Friday, with 30-minute lunch.
- Travel and overtime may be necessary.
- Telework: You will not have the option to telework in this position.
- Salary: In some cases, the starting salary may be non-negotiable.
- You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.
QUALIFICATIONS
Minimum Experience and Training Requirements:
- Two years of professional level experience in the field of mental health; and a bachelor's degree; or
- An equivalent combination of experience and training.
Other Requirements:
- You must meet the PA residency requirement. For more information on ways to meet PA residency requirements, follow the link and click on Residency.
- Hiring preference for this vacancy may be given to candidates who live within Potter County. If no eligible candidates who live within Potter County apply for this position, candidates who reside in other counties may be considered.
- You must be able to perform essential job functions.
Legal Requirements:
- This position falls under the provisions of the Child Protective Services Law.
- Under the Law, a conditional offer of employment will require submission and approval of satisfactory criminal history reports including, but not limited to, PA State Police clearance, PA Child Abuse history clearance, and FBI Fingerprint clearance.
How to Apply:
- Resumes, cover letters, and similar documents will not be reviewed, and the information contained therein will not be considered for the purposes of determining your eligibility for the position. Information to support your eligibility for the position must be provided on the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education).
- If you are claiming education in your answers to the supplemental application questions, you must attach a copy of your college transcripts for your claim to be accepted toward meeting the minimum requirements. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.
- Your application must be submitted by the posting closing date. Late applications and other required materials will not be accepted.
- Failure to comply with the above application requirements may eliminate you from consideration for this position.
- All application materials and interview responses must reflect the applicant’s own experience, qualifications, and work. Applicants may use generative AI tools for preparation purposes only. Use of AI to misrepresent or falsify information, or to assist during interviews, is not permitted. Review the Guidance for Generative AI Tools & Job Seekers for additional information.
Veterans:
- Pennsylvania law (51 Pa. C.S. §7103) provides employment preference for qualified veterans for appointment to many state and local government jobs. To learn more about employment preferences for veterans, go to www.pa.gov/agencies/employment/how-to-apply.html and click on Veterans.
Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS):
- 711 (hearing and speech disabilities or other individuals).
If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodations due to a disability, please discuss your request for accommodations with the interviewer in advance of your interview date.
The Commonwealth is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce. The Commonwealth values inclusion as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most qualified people to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, union membership, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, AIDS or HIV status, disability, or any other categories protected by applicable federal or state law. All diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.
- Completing the application, including all supplemental questions, serves as your exam for this position. No additional exam is required at a test center (also referred to as a written exam).
- Your score is based on the detailed information you provide on your application and in response to the supplemental questions.
- Your score is valid for this specific posting only.
- You must provide complete and accurate information or:
- your score may be lower than deserved.
- you may be disqualified.
- You may only apply/test once for this posting.
- Your results will be provided via email.