Co-Occurring Diversion Project

The Maryland Office of the Public Defender (OPD) seeks a licensed Social Worker to reduce the incarceration of justice-involved individuals with a co-occurring disorder or complex mental illness in Southern Maryland.

PRIMARY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Conduct screenings and assessments, and develop and implement individualized service plans for OPD clients identified as appropriate community-based treatment for a co-occurring disorder or complex mental illness.

• Collaborate with attorneys on coordinating treatment with the criminal case to ensure comprehensive holistic representation.

• Conduct data collection and analysis.

• Assist with grant reporting obligations.

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Application Deadline: Open Until Filled

Grant Funding Through: June 30, 2022*

Position Location: Southern Maryland (Charles County Office)

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Diversion Linkages

Each Addiction Specialist will be a key member of the team working to identify public defender clients with a substance use disorder(s) and help determine if they could be better served in the community receiving treatment as a pretrial diversion.

PRIMARY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Administer various screening and assessment tools to OPD clients, with a priority on clients who are currently held in pretrial detention.

• Collaborate with area service providers to link clients with the appropriate level of treatment and ongoing therapeutic services.

• Formulate individualized service plans and diagnostic impressions based on the assessment results.

• Collaborate with attorneys to implement service plans in coordination with the legal case.

• Assist with data collection and project reporting.

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Application Deadline: Open Until Filled

Grant Funding Through: December 2023*

Position Locations: Anne Arundel County (Annapolis Office), Cecil County (Elkton).

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Parental Defense Title IV-E

Parental Defense Social Workers provide social work expertise and services as part of the defense team representing parents whose children have been placed in the custody of DSS.

PRIMARY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

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• Provide expert clinical analysis and assessment in forensic social work and crisis intervention services for clients whose children have been placed in the custody of DSS.

• Ascribe to and able to apply Person In Environment, develop Ecomapping, Timelines and Genograms.

• Complete written biopsychosocial reports and recommendations for presentation to court or other appropriate agencies as requested by the assistant public defender and in conjunction with required court dates.

• Ensure that best practice policies and procedures for social workers are being followed in the representation of parents in abuse and neglect proceedings.

• Act as expert clinical consultant with attorneys regarding recommendations in parenting abilities, housing appropriateness, and compliance with court-ordered services.

• Develop, maintain and close client case files in accordance with OPD procedures and maintains client confidentiality.

• Assist with data collection and reporting. 

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Application Deadline: Open Until Filled

Grant Funding Through: Ongoing*

Position Location: Statewide

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