Crisis Community Liaison

About Delaware Guidance Services

• Competitive Compensation
• Incentive Pay for Specific Roles
• Generous Paid Time Off (starting at 44 days of paid leave a year)
• Up to 6% Annual Contribution to Your Retirement Fund
• Free Professional Development Opportunities
• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
• Life and Long-term Disability Insurance

Summary/objective

Under the supervision of the Crisis Integrated Services Coordinator, the Community Liaison is responsible for building and maintaining strong relationships with emergency departments (EDs), psychiatric hospitals (IMDs), pediatricians, and other community organizations that serve children and youth in crisis. This position is also responsible for managing the program’s social media presence to raise awareness, share resources, and engage with the community about available crisis services. The Crisis Community Liaison will work to ensure the timely, coordinated, and effective response to children and families in crisis, improve service access, facilitate communication, and advocate for the needs of children and youth in crisis. The ideal candidate will have experience in community outreach, building collaborative partnerships, and social media management, as well as a strong understanding of the behavioral health system for children and youth in Delaware and the role of social media in community engagement.

Essential functions:

Community Outreach and Relationship Building

• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with emergency departments, psychiatric hospitals, pediatricians, community mental health providers, and other healthcare professionals in the community.
• Act as the primary contact for these community partners, ensuring effective communication and collaboration between the crisis program and these organizations.
• Educate community partners about the 24/7 crisis services available, including how to access these services and refer youth in need. Support community partners in understanding the crisis program’s protocols, referral processes, and available resources for crisis management. Keep healthcare professionals updated on any changes in crisis services, treatment protocols, or referral procedures.
• Build and sustain partnerships with community-based organizations and advocacy groups that serve children and youth, ensuring that families have access to necessary resources.
• Provide training and informational sessions to community partners, including emergency department staff, pediatricians, and hospital personnel, on how to access services for children and youth in crisis.
• Represent DGS at community events, workshops, and initiatives, to foster stronger connections, support mental health awareness, and share information about available crisis services, including mobile crisis stabilization teams and 24/7 hotline access.

Crisis Coordination, Collaboration, Advocacy, and Referral

• Facilitate the coordination of services for children and youth in crisis who are referred by community partners, ensuring that clients are promptly connected to appropriate crisis intervention services.
• Work closely with emergency department staff and psychiatric hospitals to ensure smooth transitions for youth being admitted or discharged from emergency or inpatient care ensuring that appropriate wraparound services are in place to support long-term stability and care.
• Act as an advocate for children and families, ensuring they are receiving the appropriate services and that their voices are heard within the crisis system.
• Help families navigate the healthcare system, including connecting them to the Crisis Case Manager.

Social Media Management

• Manage and create content for the crisis program's social media platforms (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn) to raise awareness about the program, available services, and community resources.
• Develop and implement social media campaigns to engage the public and inform families, healthcare providers, and community members about the program's services, updates, and resources.
• Monitor social media interactions, respond to inquiries, and engage with followers in a professional and timely manner.
• Create educational posts and share relevant articles, tips, and resources related to crisis intervention, mental health, and child/youth well-being.
• Analyze social media metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of campaigns and strategies, adjusting content and outreach approaches as needed.

Data and Reporting

• Maintain accurate records of community outreach efforts, referrals, and follow-up services to ensure proper documentation of services provided.
• Monitor and track trends in service utilization and identify areas for improvement in community collaboration.
• Report regularly to program leadership on the status of partnerships, referral patterns, social media engagement, and any barriers or gaps in service delivery.

Competencies/ Capabilities:

• Collaboration: Team-oriented, with a strong ability to collaborate with a diverse group of professionals.
• Problem Solving: Proactive and resourceful, able to think strategically and work independently as needed.
• Communication: Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build relationships with diverse community partners.
• Creative: Ability to craft compelling content for social media that engages audiences and drives awareness.
• Cultural Competency: Understanding and respecting the diversity of youth and families served, and providing services in a culturally sensitive manner.

Supervisory responsibilities: none

Work environment:

• Community-based, Partial telecommuting with approval
• Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends, to accommodate community events and engagement needs

Physical demands:

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer
• May be requested to lift up to 15 pounds periodically

Travel required: hospitals, pediatricians, community agencies, events, etc.

Minimum qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Health, Psychology, or related field.
• Two years of experience in community outreach, preferably in healthcare, mental health services, or crisis intervention programs.
• Proven experience in social media management, content creation, and digital marketing, with a strong understanding of platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
• Familiarity with Delaware’s behavioral health systems and community resources for children and families.

Preferred qualifications:

• Advanced degree in a related field
• Bilingual (Spanish-English) language skills are a plus
• Experience in event planning, including virtual or in-person workshops and campaigns.

EEO:

Delaware Guidance Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Other duties:

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.