Forensic Specialist - Shelocta, PA

The ideal candidate will meet the following qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Psychology, Counseling, Criminal Justice, or a related human services field
• 1-2 years of experience working with individuals diagnosed with mental health conditions
• Minimum of 1 year of experience supporting a forensic population
• Strong understanding of recovery principles and experience working within a recovery-oriented service system
• Eligible for jail clearance
• Valid Pennsylvania Driver's License. Travel is necessary to offer support across Indiana & Armstrong County

Are you looking for an opportunity to advance your career while working with an extraordinary team? At Merakey, we put heart and soul into everything we do. We are seeking a Forensic Specialist to join our team in our Indiana & Armstrong County location.

Starting rate of $25.15 hour + mileage reimbursement

The Forensic Coordinator is responsible for:

• Serve as the primary liaison between the treatment team and the criminal justice system, including collaboration with probation/parole officers, judges, attorneys, jail and prison staff. Attend court hearings, facilitate referrals, and support release planning for individuals with legal involvement.
• Oversee involuntary outpatient commitments by tracking cases, scheduling, and attending hearings. Ensure compliance with legal and clinical requirements.
• Provide training and education to both individuals and external partners on the intersection of mental health and the criminal justice system. Offer cross-training to ACT/FACT/CTT team members to strengthen team knowledge and service delivery.
• Deliver comprehensive services including psychiatric rehabilitation, dual diagnosis treatment (IDDT), medication management, WRAP planning, and transportation related to treatment goals. Support clients in meeting probation/parole requirements.
• Actively participate in daily clinical meetings, internal and external treatment team discussions, and on-call rotations. Complete all documentation accurately and promptly, and engage professionally in trainings and supervision per Merakey policies.

Our Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) model supports individuals with serious mental illnesses who may not have experienced success or haven't found effective support within traditional outpatient programs. We offer tailored services emphasizing relationship-building and active involvement in enhancing functioning and symptom management.

Services involve weekly home visits, provided either in individuals' residences or within the community, utilizing personal vehicles for client transportation and community-base tasks.

If you are enthusiastic about making a positive impact on individuals facing mental health challenges and wish to be part of a collaborative and supportive team, apply now to join our essential ACT Team at Merakey. Together, we can contribute to the journey of recovery.

Benefits

Merakey offers generous benefits that promote well-being, financial security, and work-life balance, including:

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, plus access to healthcare advocacy support.
• Retirement plan -- both pre-tax and Roth (after-tax) options available for employee contributions.
• DailyPay -- access your pay when you need it!
• On the Goga well-being platform, featuring self-care tools and resources.
• Access Care.com for backup childcare, elder care, and household services.
• Confidential counseling, legal, and financial services through our Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Tuition reimbursement and educational partnerships.
• Employee discounts and savings programs on entertainment, travel, and lifestyle.
• Access to Pryor Online Learning for free online personal development classes.

Learn more about our full benefits package - https://www.merakey.org/careers/benefits

About Merakey

Merakey is a non-profit provider of developmental, behavioral health, and education services. More than 8,000 employees provide support to nearly 40,000 individuals and families throughout 12 states across the country each year. Click here to watch a video about Merakey. Merakey strictly follows a zero-tolerance policy for abuse.

Merakey is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer! We deeply value diversity and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, ethnic background, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, genetic information, or disability status. Moreover, we are committed to creating teams that reflect the diversity of the communities we serve and encourage applicants from underrepresented backgrounds to apply. Merakey welcomes all Veterans to apply!