Community Behavioral Health Liason

The Community Behavioral Health Liaison (CBHL) is responsible for the coordination of services for individuals with behavioral health needs who have come to the attention of the justice system through law enforcement, courts, and/or jail personnel. The clientele served have complex mental health and/or substance use needs, which are either unmet or poorly coordinated. The CBHL is a part of a person-centered integration team and works with local systems to coordinate care for individuals experiencing behavioral health crises.

2.         Coordinate services with local systems of care for individuals with behavioral health needs who have come to the attention of law enforcement, the courts, and jails including, but not limited to, the following:

a.         Facilitate access and navigation of behavioral health services (including availability of in-patient and out-patient services)

b.         Facilitate new referrals for mental health/substance use services and resolve issues with obtaining treatment (e.g. explain paperwork, explain eligibility requirements, identify availability of different services, address lack of health insurance, etc.)

c.         Follow-up with both new and existing referred individuals to monitor treatment

d.         If a person is not attending treatment, continue to encourage treatment and, where possible, resolve potential barriers

e.         Facilitate civil commitment procedures (96 hour holds, outpatient commitment, etc.)

f.          Provide education on guardianship and navigating the guardianship process

g.         Work to resolve communication and structural issues between law enforcement, courts, jails, and community behavioral health centers

h.         Assist law enforcement in residency and wellness checks

i.          Discuss individual cases and general follow-up with referral source

j.          For people who have repeat contact with law enforcement, courts, or jails and/or the liaison receives several referrals concerning the same person, explore other avenues to engage the individual with treatment/medication adherence (participate in treatment meetings, revised treatment plan, alternative placements, etc.)

k.         It is recommended that CMHLs/SUDLs are a Notary Public for the State of Missouri

3.         To facilitate coordination among partners, written agreements or memorandums of understanding (MOU) may be established between the agency, CMHL, law enforcement, courts, and/or jails to outline expectations for communication, referrals, and coordination of care for all individuals with behavioral health needs.

4.         Coordinate with Access Crisis Intervention (ACI):

a.         Assist law enforcement in assessing individuals with behavioral health needs to assess and coordinate services, particularly individuals who have frequent contact with law enforcement

b.         Assist law enforcement, court, and jail staff in locating inpatient psychiatric beds for court-ordered involuntary detentions and in filing petitions for involuntary detention with the probate court for those individuals who represent a likelihood of serious harm due to a behavioral health disorder

5.         Participate and assist local law enforcement in developing Crisis Intervention Teams (CIT) or other initiatives which assist law enforcement in working with individuals with behavioral health needs. CMHLs/SUDLs are not expected to lead all CIT-related activities (i.e. CIT Council meetings, trainings). CIT-related activities include, but are not limited to:

a.         Attend local and state CIT meetings

b.         Establish and maintain regular law enforcement contact

c.         Maintain a current list of all key law enforcement, court, and jail staff contact information in the catchment area, and provide Missouri Behavioral Health Council’s (MBHC) Community Integration Manager with a current list upon request

d.         Distribute CIT training information to local law enforcement and encourage officers to become CIT certified

e.         If CIT Council(s) have not been established in your catchment area, contact the Missouri State CIT Coordinator for assistance and guidance

f.          If CIT Council(s) have been established, work to resolve issues raised by the local CIT Council in terms of access to mental health treatment

g.         CMHLs/SUDLs are integral to CIT expansion and will provide Peace Officer Standards Training (POST) to law enforcement officers, jail staff, and community stakeholders in their service area

6.         When requested and appropriate, assist with the following initiatives:

a.         Defending Employees from the Effects of Negative Stressful Experiences (DEFENSE)

b.         Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM)

c.         Post Critical Incident Seminar (PCIS)

d.         Other law enforcement wellness initiatives

7.         Provide support and referral to care for law enforcement to assist in coping with stress and/or trauma and to promote officer wellness and family wellbeing.

8.         Collaborate and coordinate services with local courts and court personnel (municipal and circuit) for justice-involved individuals with behavioral health issues:

a.         Establish and maintain regular contact with all judges, court administrators, circuit clerks, and additional court personnel as designated

b.         Establish and maintain regular contact with treatment court administrators, judges, OSCA treatment court staff, Veterans Justice Outreach Specialist, etc.

c.         Address any structural issues or gaps identified in the court system to improve access to behavioral health services

d.         Provide support and training to court personnel regarding behavioral health services and other topics as needed

9.         Collaborate and coordinate services with local jails and jail personnel for justice-involved individuals with behavioral health issues:

a.         Establish and maintain regular contact with all jail administrators and additional jail personnel as designated

b.         Jail screenings may be conducted to determine level of need for services and coordination of care

c.         CMHLs/SUDLs should not provide behavioral health services to individuals in jail/custody but may refer to the agency to determine if in-custody services may be provided by other agency staff

d.         Provide support and training to jail personnel regarding behavioral health services and other topics as needed

10.       Attend monthly conference calls, webinars, and face-to-face meetings/trainings, and conferences such as the annual MBHC and MO CIT, if possible.

11.       Attend all quarterly CBHL meetings coordinated by MBHC and DMH.

12.       Work closely with all agencies which have co-responders to prevent duplication of efforts, duplication of data, and to prevent confusion with law enforcement: 

a.         Written protocols and workflows may be developed and agreed upon by all partner agencies to establish efficient transitions of referrals and follow up with clients

b.         At the agency’s discretion, a CBHL may supervise co-responders or other positions within the agency that interact with law enforcement, courts and/or jails

13.       Work with DMH Community Placement Staff and Forensic Case Monitors to assist with individuals in jail/custody: 

a.         On occasion, the DMH Director of Forensic Services may request a CBHL to conduct a visit with an individual in jail/custody to observe and provide a clinical screening 

i.          The direct observation will provide a triage/clinical screening to expedite treatment (e.g. inpatient facility bed)

ii.         A formal assessment is not required (no paperwork is necessary, just follow up with a call or an email)

b.         The Director of Forensic Services may request a CBHL to assist referred individuals in coordinating treatment while in jails/custody and with continuing and/or re-connecting the individual with community treatment services upon release

14.       Work closely with MBHC’s Community Integration Manager and the DMH Diversion Coordinator.

a.         Discuss proposed or planned expansion to other community groups with MBHC’s Community Integration Manager

b.         Complete reporting requirements:

i.          Enter all referral data through Care Manager to track communication with law enforcement, court, and jail personnel

ii.         All referral data should be entered into Care Manager timely

c.         Enter monthly training provided using the CBHL Post Education Provided spreadsheet template

d.         Submit completed sign-in sheets for POST certified trainings (required for law enforcement to obtain a certificate of attendance).

A Level 2 CBHL must have a master’s degree or higher in psychology, social work, counseling, or related behavioral health field and be an experienced, qualified mental health professional (QMHP), per 9 CSR 10-7.140(2) QQ, or qualified addiction professional (QAP), per 9 CSR 10-7.140(2) RR who is:

•          trained in assessment and crisis intervention

•          knowledgeable about the local system of care, including but not limited to the operation of the community providers, the Access Crisis Intervention (ACI) system, inpatient psychiatric resources, civil commitment procedures, and guardianship laws

•          knowledgeable about behavioral health disorders and co-occurring disorders

•          proficient in public speaking and experienced in delivering professional training.

•          trained in crisis intervention

•          knowledgeable about the local system of care, including but not limited to the operation of the community providers, the Access Crisis Intervention (ACI) system, inpatient psychiatric resources, civil commitment procedures, and guardianship laws

•          knowledgeable about behavioral health disorders and co-occurring disorders

•          proficient in public speaking and experienced in delivering professional training

An individual with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice may qualify for a Level 1 CBHL. A Level 1 CBHL must also complete BASIC Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training (40 hours) within six months of hire date and provide a copy of the certificate of completion to their supervisor.

NOTE: A qualified mental health or addiction professional (QMHP/QAP) must be on call and available to assist a Level 1 CBHL, if needed. QMHPs will be required when assessments are necessary.

•  Maintain professional, “champion” behavior

•  Provides quality client service

•  Provides services with a commitment to service excellence

•  Works in a way that exhibits a commitment to personal excellence

•  Team oriented and values diversity

• Collaborative relationships

• Conflict resolution

• Creative and strategic thinking

• Decision making/problem solving

• Empowers others

• Flexible thinking

• Organizational and time management

• Teamwork