Crisis Community Liaison

Join to apply for the Crisis Community Liaison role at Delaware Guidance Services for Children and Youth, Inc.

$53,000.00/yr - $57,000.00/yr

Delaware Guidance Services for Children and Youth, Inc. (DGS) is the largest provider of outpatient behavioral health services to children and families in Delaware. We operate offices in Wilmington, Newark, Dover, Lewes, and Seaford, and we are the only statewide not-for-profit outpatient behavioral health organization for children and adolescents accredited by JCAHO. In 2020, we were honored as a Compassionate Champion for our dedication to serving youth and families using a trauma-informed approach.

Through DGS, clients and families have access to outpatient counseling, group therapy, parent-child interaction therapy, and school-based services. Our community-based service lines serve youth and families who require a more intense therapeutic protocol. DGS’s 24-hour statewide Mobile Response and Stabilization Services (MRSS) dispatches skilled crisis intervention clinicians to provide immediate care to children experiencing behavioral health crises. Therapeutic options are available for a wide range of diagnoses including depression, anxiety, mood disorders, eating disorders, traumatic stress‑related disorders, and suicidal ideation.

In 2021, DGS clinicians provided over 54,000 direct care hours to children, youth, and families in Delaware. Over 93% of clients report improvement in their level of functioning following treatment, and therapeutic benefits derived from trauma‑informed care extend to clients’ siblings, caregivers, classmates, and peers. Our client population is racially and ethnically diverse; 80% of DGS clients are Medicaid recipients and 90% have household incomes under $30,000.

Many of our clients present with significant treatment challenges such as learning impacts due to missed school and negative economic impact due to parental missed work. We provide care to anyone in need, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay for care. DGS also provides services specifically tailored to meet the unique behavioral health care needs of child welfare‑involved families and foster youth.

• 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

• Generous benefits and time off policies
• Ability to work with children through a mission‑driven organization
• Signing Bonus Eligible

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.

• 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,…