Be part of a first-of-its-kind program that’s transforming lives and systems at the intersection of behavioral health and criminal justice.  We are now hiring approximately 60 court liaisons across the state of Colorado.  When you fill out the application, you MUST SPECIFY for which district(s) you are applying.  (For your reference, you can click here for a map.) Please note, if you are interested in both the Court Liaison and Senior Court Liaison positions, you MUST apply for each role separately.

About Us

We believe in equitable access to employment at Bridges. If you are interested in becoming employed with us but feel you may not meet all the qualifications, please see our possible substitutions below.

Bridges of Colorado, established in 2018, places Court Liaisons across Colorado's 22 judicial districts to serve defendants (referred to as participants) in the criminal justice system who have significant mental health needs.  Due to the high success of the program, Bridges was legislatively established as an independent state office within the Judicial Branch in April of 2023. See legislation here: Bridges of Colorado Act 2023

Bridges Court Liaisons are appointed by the court and facilitate collaboration between the criminal justice and mental health systems by partnering with providers, courts, and often families to provide wraparound care for participants. Liaisons provide person-centered care, working with participants to identify needs and address barriers, such as mental health, disabilities, housing, or transportation.

Because liaisons work with participants both in and out of custody, they are integral to outpatient planning when a participant is in custody and support engagement into identified services once a participant is released. Advocating for the best behavioral health interests of the participant, Court Liaisons keep judges and attorneys informed of participant needs and barriers, available services, and progress with engagement into services through regular reports to the court and attendance at hearings.

Individuals with high acuity mental health needs are ten times more likely to be jailed and nationally there are three times more individuals with serious mental illness in jails or prisons than in hospitals. Bridges of Colorado has been identified nationwide as a promising practice that focuses on the whole person. It is intentionally designed to address disparities often experienced by this population in the criminal justice system. Court Liaisons advocate for each participant’s inherent worth and dignity by centering their lived experiences and voice to ensure their behavioral health best interests. At its very core, Bridges is person-centered advocacy rooted in solution-focused, collaborative practices intended to promote positive outcomes for participants.

The Need

The majority of Coloradans with severe mental illness do not receive services, with many receiving services only through entering the justice system. Individuals with serious mental illness are twice as likely to be arrested again within a year of leaving prison.

The Vision

All individuals within the criminal justice system are treated fairly and humanely, regardless of their behavioral health history or mental state.

The Mission

To promote positive outcomes for Coloradans living with mental health conditions who encounter criminal justice involvement by fostering collaboration between both systems.

Our Values

We approach our work grounded in the following values:

●      Person-Centered

●      Solution-Focused

●      Collaborative

How We Live Our Vision, Mission, and Values

We connect to resources. We amplify voices. We shed light on situations.

We inform decision-making. We offer our support. We speak up.

We provide education. We embrace equity.

Our JEDI Vision

We are devoted to advancing equity of all intersectional identities, including (but not limited to) race, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, education level, age, language, religion, mental or physical ability, economic, marital, or family status, justice system involvement, and geographic location. This is our commitment to our participants, partners and collaborators, each other, and all Colorado residents. It is who we are at our core.

Position Purpose

Legislation creating Bridges of Colorado speaks to the disparities typically experienced by individuals with significant mental and/or behavioral health challenges, including mental health disabilities, who are also involved in the criminal justice system and tasks the program with promoting positive outcomes for participants. Court liaisons are generalists, boundary spanners, and creative problem solvers who work to identify needs and help connect participants to appropriate services, in part by addressing the multitude of complex barriers that exist for participants. Court liaisons are assigned by district or region of the State and support Bridges participants in gaining access to meaningful services and resources with a person-centered, trauma-informed, and socially just approach.

This critical role also liaises with the relevant criminal justice, behavioral health, and support service entities to support decision-making and actions that take into consideration the participants’ behavioral health best interests.  Court liaisons function as court-appointed experts, providing a broader base of information for legal problem-solving and decision-making.  They inform courts and attorneys of participant needs, available community-based services, and individual and systemic barriers and related solutions.  While liaisons are neutral in legal proceedings, they advocate for the best interests of the participant’s behavioral health both in and out of the court setting. 

Position Location and Travel Requirements

This position works in a hybrid, work-from-home base blended with regular regional and/or state travel, depending on the particular assignment. This position will be responsible for providing court liaison services to a specifically assigned region in Colorado.  Applicants will have the opportunity to select the region(s) for which they are applying upon application.  The court liaison may be assigned to a specific district within the region, or they may be assigned to provide coverage (see more information in the Other Responsibilities section below) throughout the region. The court liaison is expected to travel and work within the area(s) they support as needed on a weekly and often daily basis. Occasional travel to the Bridges office in Denver is to be expected. Reliable transportation is required.

Essential Functions

Person-Centered

·       Provide ongoing, personalized engagement with participants through person-centered, solution-focused case management. 

·       Identify and address the needs of participants, including their behavioral health history and needs, social determinants of health needs, and cultural considerations.

·       Determine appropriate, meaningful, and culturally responsive referral and treatment options. Identify existing programs, community agencies, and payor sources (such as Medicaid) to support participant engagement with the most appropriate services.

·       Make direct connections to, and support engagement with, a wide range of services for participants, including, but not limited to, inpatient, outpatient, and out-of-custody competency evaluations and/or restoration services, case management services, behavioral health services or psychiatric services or supports, and employment, housing, and other social supports. 

·       Actively support participant engagement with these services, including addressing barriers, adapting initial case plans to meet any changing needs of the participant, engaging family and other support systems when relevant, and providing advocacy when necessary.

·       Track activity on cases through accurate and timely case noting and recording of information in the Bridges case management system and other related systems, including relevant outcomes.

·       Identify, through a variety of mechanisms, individuals who have not been appointed a court liaison but for whom an appointment to Bridges may be beneficial and make recommendations to the Court for appointment of a court liaison.

·       As needed, continue to serve participants for up to 90 days after final disposition of the case for which the court liaison was appointed.

·       Engage in all aspects of work in ways that humanize participants, including practicing trauma-informed care, culturally competent responses, and providing advocacy when participant well-being is at significant risk.

·       Approach all responsibilities with participants, families, stakeholders, and team members according to the values, models, standards, and best practices of Bridges of Colorado.

·       Support Bridges team culture and values.

Solution-Focused

·       Inform judicial officers and attorneys (via reports to the court and appearances at court hearings) in a timely manner about participant needs regarding mental health, social determinants of health, and equitable access to related services, including community-based services.

·       Inform judicial officers and attorneys in a timely manner about:

·       Available and appropriate behavioral health services and supports, competency evaluations, restoration to competency services, and other relevant decisions, barriers, and issues facing individuals with behavioral health conditions who are involved with the criminal justice system.

·       Available community-based services for the participant in a case, and, if applicable, case planning for possible release from custody.

·       Other criminal or juvenile justice diversion programs for participants, which may include alternatives to competency services, prosecution, and custody or confinement; if a participant is convicted, alternatives to sentences to confinement that continue to promote public safety and participant stability; and other diversion-oriented programs, including problem-solving courts, competency dockets, treatment, sober, or supportive housing, and peer mentor programs.

·       Act as a resource for Court and Parties to the case.  (The court liaison shall not be an independent party in a case nor serve in a role intended to monitor compliance with a court order by a Party or other person associated with a case.)

·       Submit all required reports to the court on time and attend hearings as necessary or requested.

·       Provide data as requested by the Bridges leadership team promptly.

·       Identify gaps or areas of need in the local or state network of behavioral health services and work with Bridges leadership to pursue solutions.

·       Participate in onboarding, education, communities of practice, team meetings, and professional development opportunities as recommended or required by Bridges leadership.

·       Advocate for the behavioral health best interests of participants with judicial officers and attorneys by engaging the highest standards of integrity, professionalism, and legal neutrality.

Collaborative

• Foster collaboration and communication between behavioral health and criminal justice systems in ways that promote positive outcomes and ensure participants are treated fairly and humanely, regardless of their behavioral health history or mental state.
• Work with judicial officers, attorneys, jails, hospitals, and service providers to address system gaps and barriers and promote positive outcomes for participants in assigned cases.
• Coordinate with behavioral health (including the Office of Civil and Forensic Mental Health) and other providers to ensure continuity of care and address barriers to successful engagement for participants. 
• Coordinate with hospitals and jail-based behavioral health providers to ensure continuity of care and service delivery at both entrance and exit for participants, striving to problem-solve gaps and barriers as necessary.
• Provide non-case-specific consultation to criminal justice personnel regarding behavioral health and community treatment options.
• Identify and strengthen relationships and referral processes with existing community resources. 
• Coordinate with service providers, including the Office of Civil and Forensic Mental Health and jail-based behavioral health providers, to ensure continuity of care and service delivery and in a manner that avoids duplication and bifurcation of services.
• Provide informal and non-case-specific consultation, education, and advocacy with all stakeholders in order to address systemic barriers across both the behavioral health and criminal justice systems.
• As needed, assist with formal judicial and attorney education within assigned district(s).
• Advocate for the behavioral health best interests of participants across systems by engaging the highest standards of integrity, professionalism, and legal neutrality.

No direct supervisory duties.

Other Responsibilities

This is a dynamic position where the scope of responsibilities and duties will evolve, and the incumbent should anticipate fulfilling other duties as assigned that are reasonable and necessary to fulfill the Bridges mission. The ideal candidate for this role will not only possess the ability to fulfill the outlined duties but will also be a proactive, adaptable, and capable contributor to the development of the role's scope and responsibilities, aligning them with the evolving needs of the Office.

Coverage Court Liaison Responsibilities

A coverage court liaison serves a critical function in the overall liaison operations by supporting their assigned regions when there is a temporary need due to employee absences, leaves, vacancies, specific needs, or high caseloads. They will carry a high level of knowledge about regional resources and support other court liaisons and the Regional Manager in situations needing coverage in a geographical area.  Duties of the coverage liaison differ slightly from the essential functions listed above in the following ways:

·      Provide court liaison essential functions across multiple districts in a region in accordance with regional team priorities as identified by the Regional Manager.

·      Carry participant caseloads in a designated region, to provide coverage during vacancies, extended leave, or to support liaisons with specific needs or high caseloads.

·      May support district-assigned court liaisons by working directly with participants who require a high level of engagement and partnering with assigned court liaison.

·      Relationships with participants will differ from district-assigned court liaisons in that they may be short-term in nature.

·      Relationships with judicial officers and attorneys will differ from district-assigned court liaisons in that they may be short-term in nature.

·      May accompany other court liaisons on home visits as needed.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

The ideal candidate is passionate about working to improve the systems of care for those caught in the intersection of behavioral health and the criminal justice system along with the following:

• Fluency in the professional language, best practices, and processes of both systems.
• Person-centered, solutions-focused, and collaborative and are deeply committed to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.
• Value individualized solutions and responses that are meaningful to the participant and their well-being.
• Knowledge and experience of interpersonal trauma-informed approaches and systems of care, specifically understanding the importance of being person-centered, solutions-focused, and collaborative in this work.

• Able to communicate and collaborate with varying levels of positions of power and manage conflict proactively and responsively with professionalism, confidentiality, clarity, and effectiveness.
• Creative, self-motivated, and able to work and make decisions independently in a decentralized environment without close supervision.

• Client-driven and values-driven.
• Aligned with Bridges’ culture and passionate about supporting it throughout the organization.

• Capable of, and enjoys, thriving in a fast-paced, multi-tasking environment with thoughtful decision-making skills.
• Emotional intelligence; able to create and sustain helpful, professional work relationships thoughtfully and responsively with empathy, respect, and collaboration.

Minimum Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree in social justice, social work, sociology, criminology, or a related field.
• Candidates must have a minimum of three (3+) years’ experience in criminal justice, behavioral health, or related field.
• Demonstrated professional alignment with Bridges values, culture, and principles of justice and equity throughout the organization.

OR

• At least one (1+) year as an employee or contractor with Bridges may substitute for the minimum qualifications above, with additional specialized training that may be required upon hire.
• Certain education, volunteer experience, or internship experience in a related field may be considered in lieu of part of this requirement, as well as successful completion of the Bridges Liaison-in-Training program. 

Don’t meet the qualifications above, but feel you are a good fit for Bridges? Click here to learn about our Liaison-in-Training program.

Preferred Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a master’s degree in social justice, social work, sociology, criminology, or a related field.
• Five or more (5+) years’ experience in criminal justice, behavioral health, or related field.
• Demonstrated continuing education, advocacy, or volunteer work in DEI, JEDI, or social justice principles. Lived experience will also be considered.
• Spanish speaking is a plus, and levels of proficiency will be considered in an employee’s pay.
• Work experience in both criminal justice and behavioral health, including experience with the competency system.

Work Environment

Outside the home workspace, the noise level in the work environment is variable. This position is subject to varying and unpredictable situations; may handle emergency or crisis situations; is subject to many interruptions; may handle multiple calls, emails, and verbal inquiries simultaneously.

Accommodations

The Bridges Office is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to Jori Dovey, People & Culture Manager, jori.dovey@judicial.state.co.us.

Compensation

We are proud of our equity-conscious pay scale for all positions, providing livable wages, robust benefits, and meaningful time-off policies.

This position's initial hiring pay range is $72,261 to $83,100. For equity, the pay for this position (and all Bridges positions) is based upon the cost of living adjustment for the Denver metro area. Actual compensation offered will be determined based on prior experience, education, knowledge, skills, and abilities relevant to the position. As a person grows in this role, the full pay range is currently $72,261 to $97,552.

In addition, we offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes health, dental, and vision coverage for spouses, families, and domestic partners; employer-paid basic life and AD&D insurance and short and long-term disability insurance; Public Employee Retirement Association (PERA) benefits; family and parental leave benefits; generous paid time off. Click here for further information about State of Colorado employee benefits. 

We also offer professional and career development opportunities, including clinical supervision toward relevant licensure. A cell phone will be provided, along with a hybrid work arrangement when feasible for your position’s responsibilities. Each employee will receive a laptop for their home office or travel for work. All employees will also receive exclusive parking at a discounted rate in the Ralph Carr Judicial building for easy access to the in-person meetings in Denver.

How to Apply

You will be required to provide the following documents:

●      Resume

●      Cover letter

●      A list of three references with contact information (2 of 3 must be professional)

Incomplete applications will not be considered. Faxed, mailed, or emailed applications will not be accepted unless you are instructed to do so. Please direct any additional inquiries or questions to bridges@judicial.state.co.us.

**Please note, if you are interested in both the Court Liaison and Senior Court Liaison positions, you MUST apply for each role separately.

If you are offered employment, the following are the conditions of employment:

●      Be a current resident of the State of Colorado or become a resident of the State of Colorado within 30 days of the hire date;

●      Have reliable transportation to meet your position’s travel requirements;

●      Ability to work remotely, in an office setting, and travel throughout Colorado or region, depending on the position’s responsibilities;

●      Be willing to submit to a routine background investigation, including a criminal history check;

●      If hired, the Immigration Reform and Control Act requires you to provide proof of your eligibility to work in the United States within three (3) workdays of your start date.

Bridges of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion of all voices in the workplace. We consider applicants equally and do not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, age, religion, social class, national origin, marital or parental status, pregnancy, disability status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or political affiliation. We are committed to fostering a culture of inclusion and an environment of representation of diversity. We highly encourage individuals of all identities, backgrounds, and experiences to apply.