Job Description

Posting number: 6966

Department: District Attorneys Office

Job classification: Program Specialist II

Posting type: Open

Categories: Community Services, Social Services, Miscellaneous, Human Services, Counseling, Community and Social Services

Summary

District Attorney Logo.png

The Boulder County District Attorney’s Office, 20th Judicial District, has an opening for a Behavioral Health Diversion Coordinator within the DA’s Center for Prevention and Restorative Justice (CPRJ). The 20th Judicial District Attorney is an elected state official whose office prosecutes adult and juvenile criminal charges, serves as an advisor to Boulder County law enforcement agencies, provides aid to victims and witnesses, appears before and advises grand juries, and pursues remedies for consumer fraud on behalf of Boulder County residents. In addition, the DA’s Office operates prevention-focused programs, including youth and adult diversion, restorative justice, behavioral health diversion, and Competency Court. These programs reduce unnecessary system involvement, strengthen accountability, improve behavioral health stability, and support better long-term outcomes for participants, victims, and the community.

The Behavioral Health Diversion Coordinator position expands CPRJ’s behavioral health diversion services across all diversion tracks, including DORS (Diversion Opportunity for Resources and Stabilization), and strengthens CPRJ’s ability to support participants with mental and behavioral health needs through assessment-driven case planning, supportive case management, harm reduction strategies, and connection to community-based services. This position will also allow for expansion to provide additional diversionary options for competency-related cases within CPRJ.

CPRJ’s diversion programs offer a pre-conviction alternative to prosecution for youth and adults in eligible cases ranging from petty to felony offenses. Supervised, unsupervised, and behavioral health diversion tracks are offered based on a participant’s assessed risk level, behavioral health needs, and the type and severity of the offense. All diversion tracks focus on early intervention, prevention, and individualized case planning to reduce the likelihood of future justice involvement, strengthen protective factors, connect to and navigate community resources, and support meaningful accountability and repair of harm. Restorative justice practices are integrated throughout diversion to elevate victim voice, promote understanding of impact, and reinforce community reintegration.

The Behavioral Health Diversion Coordinator is a new position funded through Boulder County’s 1B Mental and Behavioral Health Tax that will expand behavioral health diversion services within all tracks of the DA’s diversion program, including DORS, and provide additional diversion options for competency-related cases. The primary function of this role is to provide assessment-driven case planning and supportive case management for DORS, competency, and other diversion participants with behavioral health needs and to facilitate timely access to community-based services and treatment through referrals, resource navigation, and client advocacy that promote stability and reduce the risk of re-offense. This position works closely with diversion coordinators, restorative justice staff and volunteers, prosecutors, law enforcement, system professionals, community service providers, and other members of the community. The successful applicant will also have the opportunity to train as a restorative justice facilitator for victim offender dialogues and community group conferences.

The Behavioral Health Diversion Coordinator reports to the Diversion Director in the DA’s Office and is based at the Boulder County Justice Center. This is a 40-hour/week position. Some flexibility will be required for occasional evenings and weekends to accommodate trainings, restorative justice processes, and community events, but work hours are typically 8:00am–5:00pm. The successful applicant may be eligible for a hybrid work schedule (remote and in-office work) after 6 months of employment.

Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FSLA) this position is classified as exempt.

This position is funded through a 1-year grant and is term-limited; however, the grant has potential for renewal for additional years.

CLASSIFICATION RANGE: $63,828 – $91,944

EXPECTED HIRING RANGE: $63,828 – $72,000

In addition to the Boulder County benefits, the District Attorney’s Office offers:

• Work From Home two-days a week, if duties allow, after 6 months of employment with the office
• An enhanced Extended Parental Leave Policy for up to an additional 12 weeks of parental leave.

Examples of duties

• Schedule and complete intakes for individuals referred to the DA’s diversion programs using trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and motivational interviewing approaches.
• Administer and score validated assessment tools to screen for criminogenic risk, behavioral health needs, and substance use patterns.
• Interview diversion participants using effective interpersonal skills, including collaboration, empathy, and active listening.
• Provide clear program information, explain requirements for successful completion, and work collaboratively with participants to support engagement, accountability, and progress.
• Follow CPRJ’s Collaborative Casework Model to develop assessment-driven case plans and deliver individualized case management for participants with behavioral health needs.
• Provide direct case management services to participants with behavioral health needs, including one-on-one support, stabilization assistance, harm reduction education, and connection to community-based treatment and services.
• Make referrals and maintain regular communication with community service providers to ensure coordinated care and timely connection to services and treatment.
• Identify and help remove barriers to service engagement, such as transportation, scheduling challenges, housing needs, or treatment navigation.
• Demonstrate cultural awareness and responsiveness in working with diverse populations related to race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, ability, language, and other areas of identity.
• Collaboratively communicate with diversion and restorative justice staff and volunteers, prosecutors, system partners, and community service providers.
• Track and maintain current, accurate, and thorough data on diversion cases and case updates in DA databases, diversion spreadsheets, the statewide diversion module, and client files.
• Utilize restorative practices when appropriate to support accountability, repair of harm, and community reintegration.
• Participate in diversion team meetings, supervision, training, multidisciplinary meetings, and case staffings.
• File motions with the court as needed.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Boulder County is looking for well-qualified candidates to fill our positions. Any combination of relevant education and experience is encouraged. In this position, we are looking for a minimum of 6 years of combined education and experience. The following knowledge, skills, and abilities are required:

• Direct client services experience providing case management to people facing behavioral health challenges, substance use, co-occurring disorders, or other destabilizing factors.
• Strong understanding of behavioral health, including how mental illness and substance use affect stability, decision-making, and engagement in services.
• A trauma-informed, person-centered approach grounded in empathy, accountability, and respect.
• Comfort working with people who may be ambivalent, resistant, or experiencing crisis, and the ability to maintain calm, supportive engagement.
• Skill in establishing meaningful rapport with individuals from diverse racial, cultural, linguistic, gender, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain program expectations, collaborate effectively with participants and partners, and professionally represent the DA’s Office.
• Openness to giving and receiving feedback, with a reflective, growth-oriented approach to teamwork and supervision.
• Skill in conflict resolution, including navigating difficult conversations, de-escalating tension, and supporting participants through challenges.
• A solution-focused mindset, with the ability to identify barriers, think creatively, and help participants move toward stability and progress.
• Proficiency with software tools such as Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams, and case management systems.
• Strong organizational abilities, including managing multiple tasks accurately and efficiently, maintaining accurate records, and tracking case progress across several systems.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a collaborative team.
• High level of professionalism, judgment, and competency, with ability to work effectively, respectfully, and compassionately with defendants, victims, families, community members, community provider agencies, law enforcement, criminal justice professionals, and volunteers.
• Commitment to CPRJ’s values, including prevention, accountability, harm reduction, restorative practices, and equity.

Supplemental information

Preferred Qualifications: Candidates who have the following strengths may be especially well-suited for this role:

• Bilingual Spanish proficiency, both spoken and written, is strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of local behavioral health, housing, and social service resources, especially those serving marginalized or underserved communities.
• Experience working within or alongside the criminal justice system, including courts, defense counsel, law enforcement, or community-based providers.
• Experience or training in harm reduction and person-centered approaches.
• Familiarity with, or training in, restorative justice principles and practices, and/or experience participating in RJ processes.
• Training in cultural responsiveness, trauma-informed care, conflict resolution, and motivational interviewing.
• Experience with electronic court filing systems, filing court motions, and/or court procedures.
• Lived experience or professional experience that deepens understanding of systemic inequities, barriers to access, or the needs of justice-involved individuals.

Job offer will be contingent on passing a criminal background investigation.

Supplemental Information:

Physical Requirements

Primarily sedentary physical work requiring ability to lift a maximum of 40 pounds; occasional lifting, carrying, walking and standing; frequent hand/eye coordination to operate computer keyboard and office equipment; vision for reading, recording and interpreting information; speech communication and hearing to maintain communication with employees and members of the public.

From "Dictionary of Occupational Titles", U.S. Dept. of Labor:

Occasionally: activity or condition exists up to 1/3 of the time.

Frequently: activity or condition exists from 1/3 to 2/3 of the time.

Constantly: activity or condition exists 2/3 or more of the time.

Veterans are encouraged to apply for Boulder County jobs that match their education and experience