Co-Responder Outreach Case Manager

Co-Response Case Manager

Zepf Center has been serving the Lucas County community for over 50 years. We are the leading provider of behavioral health and substance use disorder services in Northwest Ohio. Services include adult and child psychiatric, substance abuse, case management, residential, Crisis Care, and therapy programs, as well as career development and wellness services. Zepf Center also offers primary care medical services to our patients to contribute to their continuum of care.

Zepf Center is a trauma-informed agency and environment for both patients and staff.

This position is responsible for providing intensive outreach, engagement, follow-up, care coordination, resource navigation, and case management services for individuals identified through the Law Enforcement Co-Response Program. The Co-Response Case Manager serves as the primary follow-up contact for individuals who have interacted with law enforcement officers and the Clinical Law Enforcement Co-Responder due to behavioral health, substance use, homelessness, or other social determinants of health.

This position focuses on building rapport and trust with individuals who may not initially engage in treatment, recognizing that meaningful engagement often requires multiple contacts over time.

The Co-Response Case Manager provides field-based and community-based services throughout Lucas County, meeting individuals where they are to reduce barriers to treatment, increase access to community resources, improve continuity of care, and decrease repeated law enforcement contacts, emergency department utilization, and behavioral health crises. This position works collaboratively with law enforcement agencies, the Clinical Law Enforcement Co-Responder, hospitals, crisis services, courts, shelters, treatment providers, and community partners to coordinate individualized service plans that promote recovery and long-term stability.

The primary office location for this position will be housed within a police department facility while spending significant time conducting community outreach and follow-up visits.

Essential duties and responsibilities include:

• Provides follow-up services to individuals identified through law enforcement contacts and the Clinical Law Enforcement Co-Responder Program.
• Reviews referrals generated by law enforcement officers, clinicians, dispatch personnel, hospitals, community partners, and other agencies.
• Conducts outreach by telephone, home visits, community visits, and other engagement strategies to establish rapport with individuals who may be reluctant to seek services.
• Develops trusting therapeutic relationships through a trauma-informed, strengths-based, person-centered approach.
• Completes comprehensive needs assessments related to behavioral health, substance use, housing, employment, benefits, medical care, transportation, financial assistance, and other social determinants of health.
• Assists individuals with enrollment and linkage to behavioral health treatment, substance use treatment, primary care, peer recovery services, housing programs, shelters, employment services, food assistance, legal resources, and other community supports.
• Coordinates care among treatment providers, hospitals, criminal justice agencies, probation departments, law enforcement, family members, and other community partners while maintaining appropriate confidentiality.
• Assists individuals in overcoming barriers to treatment engagement including transportation, appointment scheduling, insurance navigation, documentation requirements, and benefit applications.
• Provides motivational interviewing, recovery-oriented support, and ongoing encouragement to individuals throughout the engagement process.
• Conducts follow-up after emergency department visits, psychiatric hospitalization, detoxification, incarceration, or other significant events when appropriate.
• Maintains frequent contact with individuals based upon level of need and individualized service planning.
• Participates in multidisciplinary staffing with law enforcement agencies, behavioral health providers, hospitals, and community partners.
• Maintains accurate documentation in accordance with agency standards, Medicaid requirements, and regulatory expectations.
• Collects required program outcome data and performance measures.
• Maintains confidentiality and compliance with HIPAA, 42 CFR Part 2, agency policies, and applicable state and federal regulations.
• Participates in required trainings, community meetings, and quality improvement initiatives.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Specific/individual competencies include:
• Demonstrates exceptional interpersonal and engagement skills with difficult-to-reach populations.
• Maintains a non-judgmental, trauma-informed, culturally responsive approach to service delivery.
• Demonstrates persistence and creativity in engaging individuals who have historically been resistant to treatment.
• Maintains strong knowledge of community behavioral health, substance use, housing,…