Full-time A.M. P.M.
Cook County
Sheriff
Job Code: XXXX
Job Title: Clinical Reentry Liaison (Grant Funded)
Salary Grade: 20
Department: Department of Corrections
Bargaining Unit: N/A
Position Details: Civilian (non-sworn) / non-merit ranked / internal & external candidates.
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
Probation Period: 12 months
Article EE Designation: Not Applicable
Characteristics of the Position
General Overview
The Clinical Reentry Liaison, under the direction of the Senior Program Manager, will serve as a clinical discharge coordinator for the Cook County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) within the Cook County Department of Corrections (CCDOC). The Clinical Reentry Liaison works with a multidisciplinary team of professionals to engage participants in services and assist them with care coordination. They will provide individual intervention, crisis intervention, case management services, clinical assessment, and care coordination to individuals reentering the community from CCDOC. They will monitor client progress, develop and review service care plans, assess client stability, and coordinate community services for clients as appropriate (including emergency intervention). They will coordinate efforts between the County criminal-legal system stakeholders, Cook County Health, community agencies, managed-care programs, benefit and entitlement organizations, and across the CCSO to deliver clinical reentry services to individuals in custody. They will monitor, track, analyze, and manage grant related documentation, data, and outcomes as determined by grantor.
Key Responsibilities and Duties
Manage the day-to-day programmatic components of clinical initiatives including, but not limited to, screening, assessment, intake, treatment planning, case management, care coordination, documentation, maintaining participant lists and tracking systems, clinical supervision, and oversight of any/all assigned staff tasked to make sure the program is able to operate effectively.
Operate from a trauma-informed approach during clinical and professional engagement.
Assess participants for determination of clinical, socio-emotional and reentry service needs; focus on diagnostic and functional evaluations and make recommendations on treatment goals and plans; collect information through interviews and observations.
Conduct crisis needs assessment, crisis intervention, and crisis safety planning.
Provide de-escalation as needed, and emergency care coordination to include assisting with civil commitment and medical placement.
Provide focused intervention of participants; provide consultation and training to staff to enhance their skill in providing effective management of impacted participants.
Develop service care plans and help participants maintain stability.
Overseeing the implementation of new programming opportunities for participants, and in collaboration with supervisors, play a key role in building and maintaining relationships with community partners related to programming.
Communicate regularly with Sheriff’s Office leadership, civilian, and sworn staff, particularly in the CCDOC Records Department and Classification, the CCDOC Discharge Unit, and Cermak Health Services to make sure that discharging individuals coordinated releases or discharge plans are appropriately executed.
Collaborate with relevant external partners with regard to returning citizens referrals for the purpose of setting and executing coordinated releases.
Coordinate pre-release planning, treatment recommendations, social service referrals, and all other needs with internal and external organizations to ensure continuity of care.
Establish a supportive, motivational, therapeutic relationship with all participants; plan, organize, and lead structured interventions; work to support behavioral changes and help individuals make healthier life choices.
Guide participants in the development of skills to assist in dealing with specific problems; assist with the understanding and management of mental health and chemical dependency issues; serve as a role model and coach regarding development of problem solving, decision-making and conflict resolution.
Evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment/care plan in correlation to the participant’s progress in resolving identified problems and meeting identified goals.
Act as an advocate for the participant and CCSO in coordinating services with all treatment partners and criminal-legal system stakeholders.
Complete and maintain service-related paperwork, in accordance with state and federal requirements; write reports, service care plans and recommendations, progress reports and other reports, as required.
Track day-to-day operations in the Discharge Unit, to maintain or improve service quality while ensuring program sustainability and grant compliance.
Maintain records and data that track cases to generate monthly, quarterly, and annual reports for internal purposes and grant reporting.
Manage day-to-day clinical operations in the Discharge Unit, to maintain or improve service quality while ensuring program sustainability and grant compliance.
Establish and maintain productive, professional relationships with a variety of community organizations.
Propose, plan, and implement new initiatives in order to strengthen services provided to the participants.
Provide consistent feedback to supervisor on ways of continually improving and streamlining program processes, operations, and outcomes.
Assist in the implementation of broad-based strategies to increase access to programs which takes into account the demands of the justice population, the effectiveness of existing programming, and the need for transitional linkages to community resources.
Complete all other duties as required by executive team.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Proficiency in evidence-based practices, assessment, treatment, and care planning. Able to incorporate these practices in service delivery to diverse populations including but not limited to: persons experiencing mental health concerns, substance abuse, homelessness, incarceration, or co-occurring disorders.
Possess a strong understanding of substance use, mental health, and forensic behavioral health issues and an expansive knowledge of County community resources and networks available to the justice-involved population.
Ability to initiate, build, and maintain partnerships with community organizations and service providers.
Possess a nonjudgmental approach to working with justice-involved individuals and their loved ones.
Working knowledge of the justice system and the needs of the justice-involved population.
Possess a nonjudgmental and professional approach to working with all individuals.
Possess a thorough working knowledge of or the ability to grasp and utilize the policies, protocols, systems, procedures and technical vernacular of the department, agency, and County, as applicable to assigned duties and responsibilities quickly and effectively.
Ability to meet prescribed deadlines.
Ability to manage high-risk, high-needs cases.
Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary environment.
Strong attention to detail and diligent maintenance of documentation and record keeping.
Ability to prioritize tasks, multi-task, and remain organized.
Ability to communicate effectively (orally and written) with participants, families, partner agencies, and CCSO staff in a professional and compassionate manner.
Ability to work effectively independently as well as on a multidisciplinary team.
Ability to work cooperatively and professionally on a treatment team.
Possess a strong sense of compassion and patience and an interest in being of service to an underserved population.
Maintain competencies related to the forensic population, cultural diversity, clinical practices, communication skills, personal development, and ethics by reading professional literature and attending workshops or seminars.
Respect for cultural diversity; and the ability to work respectfully with persons of different genders, ages, races/ethnicities, religions, sexual orientations, sexual identities, disabilities, and SES.
Respect for specific workplace cultural diversity concerns and appropriate conduct.
Ability to walk long distances or stand for extended periods of time throughout the course of the assigned shift.
Ability to work remotely, if needed, in a quiet and private space to protect participant confidentiality and sensitive information acquired related to job responsibilities.
Ability to be flexible in work location(s) and work hours, which may be subject to change.
Minimum Qualifications
Possession of a master’s or higher degree from an accredited college or university in Counseling, Psychology, Social Work, Social Sciences or a closely related field.
Possession of active state licensure as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC).
Four (4) years of full-time paid experience in behavioral health services and/or social services.
Proficiency in the use of the most current version of Microsoft Suite.
Ability to work in a professional office environment, within a jail/prison, and in the community.
Ability to work any shift assigned, including days, afternoons, or midnights; must be capable of working holidays and weekends; must be capable of working mandatory overtime and afterhours on call shifts, as required.
Preferred Qualifications
Possession of certification as a Certified Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Counselor (CADC).
Experience working in additional service settings/with other populations (e.g., housing/ homelessness, substance use treatment, behavioral health settings, community corrections, or domestic violence).
Two (2) or more years conducting clinical supervision.
Six (6) or more years of full time, professional work experience in a community mental health and/or hospital setting, performing mental health counseling and assessments.
Possession of bilingual language skills.
The duties listed are not set forth for purposes of limiting the assignment of work. They are not to be construed as a complete list of the many duties normally to be performed under a job title or those to be performed temporarily outside an employee’s normal line of work.
**Article EE, Civilian Selection Process, of the Sheriff’s Employment Action Manual (SEAM), applies to this employment process and can be found at the following link:
https://cookcountysheriffil.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/SEAM-Article-EE-Civilian-Selection-Process-updated-11-15-25.pdf
Please note that there are no remote job opportunities, all positions are located onsite.
All Cook County Sheriff’s Office employees must apply on the internal employment page to be considered; the application may be accessed via the SheriffNet site on the Human Resource page.
Note: All Internal Applicants are subject to Cook County Promotional salary rules if selected.
I Certify that no Political Reasons or Factors were considered in any decision I made or action I took related to this Employment Action. Further, I do not know of or have any reason to believe that anyone else considered or took action based on Political Reasons or Factors with respect to this Employment Action.
EEO Statement
The Cook County Sheriff’s Office is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits all unlawful discrimination in its hiring and promotional process. The Cook County Sheriff’s Office employment decisions will not be based on race, color, ancestry, religion, national origin, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, family or parental status, disability, genetic information, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.
Benefits
Health Insurance Program – Health insurance coverage includes medical, dental and vision care and is available for an employee and his/her eligible dependents.
Holidays – Thirteen (13) Holidays are granted in each Fiscal Year. Employees who are active at the beginning of the fiscal year (December 1st) also qualify for a floating holiday.
Sick Leave – Granted sick leave is earned and accrued at the rate of one (1) day for each month of service and may be accumulated up to one hundred and seventy-five (175) working days.
Vacation Leave – Granted Vacation leave is earned and accrued, with employees having the opportunity to accrue fifteen (15) days within the Fiscal Year; Vacation leave accruals increase based on an employee’s anniversary date of employment.
Life Insurance – Basic term life insurance, equal to one (1) time the employee’s annual salary, is offered to every employee at no cost and the employee may elect to purchase supplemental coverage.
Pension Plan – Employees contribute into the Cook County Pension Fund and earn a prescribed percentage for each year of service; employees may be eligible for an annual annuity after ten
(10) years of service and upon reaching a certain age based on when the employee started employment.
Deferred Compensation Program – Employees may elect to enroll in a deferred compensation plan, a tax deferred plan which may be used as a supplemental retirement option.
The 2025 Cook County Employee Benefits Overview can be viewed at:
https://www.cookcountyil.gov/sites/g/files/ywwepo161/files/documents/2025-09/OE26.Employee Benefits Overview (EBO)_County.pdf
Drug and Alcohol-Free Workplace
It is the policy of the Cook County Sheriff’s Office to provide a drug- and alcohol-free workplace for all members.
It is imperative that all Sheriff’s Office members are capable of devoting constant and uninterrupted attention to the performance of all assigned duties without risk to safety and security for themselves, other members, or the public. To ensure the goals of this policy are met, all Sheriff’s Office members shall be subject to drug and alcohol testing, whether mandatory, random, or based on reasonable suspicion.
*Must be legally authorized to work in the United States. *
This position requires successful completion of post-offer tests, which may include a background check, drug screen and/or medical examination. Falsification of any information in the application process will result in disqualification and ineligible for appointment to, or employment in, a position in the County service for a period of five years. For current Cook County Sheriff’s employees, such falsification may result in discipline, up to and including termination, and ineligible for appointment to or employment in a position in the County service for a period of five years. See Cook County Code of Ordinances, Article II, Sections 44-54 Unlawful Practices Relating to Employees and Employment - Penalty, 44-56 Political Discrimination; Cook County Employment Plan, Section V.N. Pre-Interview License and Certification Verification; Supplemental Policy No. 2014-2.13 Ineligible for Rehire List; and Cook County Personnel Rules 3.3(b) (7) (8) (18).
Sheriff’s Employment Action Manual (SEAM)
The Cook County Sheriff’s Office hiring process is governed by the Sheriff’s Employment Action Manual (SEAM) which prohibits employment actions from being influenced by any Political Reasons or Factors for Non-Exempt Positions. Cook County Sheriff’s officials and employees who become aware of or receive a complaint that involves an allegation of Political Reasons or Factors being considered in the hiring process of Non-Exempt positions are obligated to refer the complaint to the Cook County Sheriff’s Director of Compliance. If the Cook County Sheriff’s Director of Compliance sustains allegations of Political Reasons or Factors being considered, the Cook County Sheriff’s Office will disqualify the Applicant or Candidate from consideration for employment and disciplinary action will be imposed on any involved Cook County employees, if applicable.”
The advertisement of this position by any individual does not constitute an offer or promise of employment, promotion, or any other employment action and shall not influence the Cook County Sheriff’s Office hiring decision.
