Forensic Navigator (Health Professional III) - Forensics Services Department

Forensic Navigator (Health Professional III) - Forensics Services Department

Print (https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/colorado/jobs/newprint/5317032)

Apply

Forensic Navigator (Health Professional III) - Forensics Services Department

Salary

$76,164.00 Annually

Location

Statewide, CO

Job Type

Full Time

Job Number

IIB 06050 4/22/2026

Department

Colorado Department of Human Services

Division

OBH (Office of Behavioral Health)

Opening Date

04/22/2026

Closing Date

FLSA

Determined by Position

Type of Announcement

This position is open only to Colorado state residents.

Primary Physical Work Address

FLSA Status

Exempt; position is not eligible for overtime compensation.

Department Contact Information

Jeru Marshall: jerusalen.marshall@state.co.us

How To Apply

Please submit an online application for this position at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/colorado. Reach out to the Department Contact to apply using a paper application, including any supplemental questions. Failure to submit a complete and timely application may result in the rejection of your application. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that application materials are received by the appropriate Human Resources office before the closing date and time listed.

• Description

• Benefits

• Questions

Department Information

This position is open to current Colorado residents only.

Located within the Colorado Department of Human Services, the Office of Civil and Forensic Mental Health (OCFMH) is responsible for policy development, service provision and coordination, program monitoring and evaluation, and administrative oversight for the public behavioral health system. OCFMH funds, supports, and monitors numerous mental health and substance abuse community programs and providers. OCFMH also operates the Colorado Mental Health Hospitals at Fort Logan and Pueblo, the Mental Health Transitional Living Homes, and the Forensic Services Division. OCFMH executes the State's federal responsibilities as the State Mental Health Authority and the State Substance Abuse Authority to administer federal block grant funds for mental health and substance abuse.

The Forensic Services Division is responsible for six departments, including Forensic Community-Based Services (FCBS), Jail-Based Evaluation and Restoration (JBR), Outpatient Restoration (OPR), the Forensic Support Team (FST), the Court Services Department, and the Operations Department.

Our teams work within various settings, including community agencies, jails, courts, and hospitals. The locations can include locked units and secure facilities, and our clients may at times be unpredictable due to their mental health needs. Our team is required to make critical decisions in dynamic, fast-paced environments to ensure a high level of accountability for patient care. Staff are required to maintain updated skills, knowledge, abilities, and competencies necessary to the position through continuing education, supervision, literature review, discipline, and team development. This position may be required to travel throughout Colorado to meet the needs of the department.

The FST monitors individuals who are court-ordered to receive inpatient competency services while currently incarcerated. Monitoring includes in-custody jail visits, reporting direct and jail staff observations to assist with informing admissions, and attending select court hearings. In addition, they serve as a centralized liaison between the OCFMH, jails, clients, and courts for individuals pending admission to inpatient treatment facilities. Collectively, this team acts as care coordinators, ensuring that all internal and external stakeholders have access to up-to-date client information. In collaboration with stakeholders, they help ensure services are delivered to clients appropriately and effectively, and, when appropriate, they support transition plans and facilitate client movement to appropriate levels of care.

Description of Job

This position is deemed 100% Remote Work.

This is a remote position with required field-based duties. The employee's home will serve as the official work site, but several days per week will involve in-person work at jails, courts, and other community locations within a 50-mile radius of the Denver Metro, El Paso County, or Pueblo areas. Please note: These working arrangements are subject to change

This position will comply with the Forensic Services Department's current

working arrangements.

The Forensic Support team delivers high-accountability, multidisciplinary care across jails, courts, hospitals, and community agencies throughout Colorado, with a core role in supporting consent decree initiatives by promoting timely evaluation, appropriate placement, and continuity of care for individuals involved in the forensic mental health system. Navigators work in dynamic, often secure environments with fluid caseloads, adjusting workflows to meet the distinct needs of each judicial district. The role requires a strong commitment to service excellence through ongoing supervision, training, and professional development; the ability to make timely, sound decisions in fast-paced settings to support individuals with complex mental health needs; and operational flexibility to shift assignments across facilities and regions as program demands and jail placements evolve. To perform these duties effectively, the position requires comprehensive knowledge of Colorado statutes, available community resources, and complex system processes.

Based on FST staffing levels, jail availability, and at the discretion of the Department and/or Leadership, additional responsibilities may include assisting with complex care coordination needs that fall outside the Consent Decree framework, participation in competency docket activities, providing psychoeducation/restoration education, and other such system-wide initiatives impacting this population. Other duties include:

Care Coordination:

• Care coordination is the cornerstone of the Forensic Support Team (FST), serving individuals at the intersection of the criminal justice and behavioral health systems and working to improve efficiency and outcomes for those awaiting inpatient restoration in jail. The team brings together criminal justice and behavioral health stakeholders, along with critical information systems, to coordinate services, address client needs, and support competency restoration goals.

• Facilitates individualized discharge plans, assisting the forensic client with referrals to necessary services when transitioning between inpatient or jail settings and the community.

• Knowledgeable about community resources and works directly on transition plans to secure appropriate services and placements in partnership with the client, court, and community stakeholders. When necessary, the FST supports complex case planning for individuals involved in the competency process on behalf of OCFMH. In doing so, Navigators work closely with community mental health providers, outpatient restoration providers, housing agencies, the Momentum Program, Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, Bridges programs, and other relevant agencies.

• Conducts regular face-to-face visits with competency-involved individuals and multidisciplinary teams within each jail, at frequencies determined by the department. Through client and stakeholder interaction, the FST obtains key information to assist admissions programs, identify candidates for transition, and inform stakeholders.

• Responsible for formal court documentation submissions and internal database tracking related to these efforts.

• Requires frequent client visits and coordination with county jails, including jail administration, jail medical, and jail mental health providers, including Jail-Based Behavioral Health Services (JBBS) when available.

• May require travel to multiple county jails.

• Must obtain appropriate authorization to enter and provide services at assigned jail locations. Jail assignments and visit frequency may be modified or reassigned as necessary to address program needs, at the discretion of the leadership team.

• Ensures care coordination for individuals returning from inpatient restoration to jail. They ensure that jail mental health and/or medical teams are informed and prepared to provide prescribed medications and notify the court when individuals return from inpatient restoration.

Stakeholder Communication:

• The Forensic Support Team serves as the central point of coordination for competency services, facilitating the movement of forensic clients between jails and inpatient or outpatient restoration programs.

• The team ensures timely, accurate communication and information sharing among courts, jails, treatment providers, and partner agencies to support client care and legal processes.

• The program coordinates individualized transition and discharge planning in collaboration with external and community stakeholders, connecting clients to appropriate services as they move between jails, inpatient programs, outpatient restoration, and the community. This includes clarifying roles, resolving system barriers, and ensuring continuity of care during transitions. The team provides court reporting and appearances as required and consults with the Program Coordinator on complex clinical, legal, or procedural matters.

• Team members maintain expertise in available restoration, behavioral health, and community support services within the assigned judicial district to ensure informed coordination and accurate guidance to stakeholders. The program also ensures the integrity and effective use of data management systems that support care coordination, documentation, and interagency communication.

Documentation:

• Responsible for comprehensive and timely documentation of all client interactions, including face-to-face visits and collateral contacts with clinical teams and system partners. Documentation is completed following each contact and includes the client's status, changes in condition(s) or symptoms, and any concerns affecting well-being or progress toward competency restoration.

• Responsible for formal court documentation submissions and accurate internal database tracking related to client engagement and system coordination efforts. Records are maintained in a centralized data system and shared with the courts and other authorized stakeholders to support legal and clinical decision-making. Documentation supports ongoing communication and collaboration between the jail, courts, and the Office of Civil and Forensic Mental Health.

• Ensures that forensic client records are maintained in compliance with applicable federal and state confidentiality laws.

• Oversees processes that safeguard client information and ensure records are released only to authorized parties in accordance with legal and regulatory requirements.

Other Duties as Assigned:

• May be required to perform additional duties not specifically outlined in the duty statements in order to meet the operational needs of the agency and the OCFMH department. May be asked to provide coverage or support for other Forensic Navigator positions during vacancies or when program needs arise. This may include case management activities, administrative support, student mentoring, and direct client contact.

Based on FST staffing levels, jail availability, and at the discretion of the Department and/or Leadership, additional responsibilities may include assisting with complex care coordination needs that fall outside the Consent Decree framework, participation in competency docket activities, providing psychoeducation/restoration education, and other such system-wide initiatives impacting this population.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

Experience Only:

Six (6) years of relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned to this position

Education and Experience:

A combination of related education and/or relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned equal to six (6) years.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in Forensic/Criminal Justice, Social Work, Behavioral Health, Case Management, or Care Coordination

• Criminal justice, clinical psychology, forensic psychology, sociology, human services or related field.

• Experience working with individuals involved in the Competency system

• Experience with criminal justice systems (jails/ courts/ probation/ parole/ corrections)

• Experience with Behavioral Health systems (Mental Health, Substance Abuse, Community Mental Health work, hospital work, case management)

• Experience in case management or case coordination in a clinical and/or criminal justice setting

• Educational background in Social Work, Criminal Justice, Counseling or Human Services

Conditions of Employment:

• Travel: This position requires frequent county jail visitation and must be able to pass a jail background check.

attend and participate in any mandatory training required by the jail, and adhere to all rules and regulations as outlined by the

respective county jail.

This is a remote position with required field-based duties. The employee's home will serve as the official work site, but for several days

per week will involve in-person work at jails, courts, and other community locations within a 50-mile radius of the Denver Metro, El Paso County, or Pueblo areas.

Please note: These working arrangements are subject to change.

• MOTOR VEHICLE RECORD CHECK: Must possess a valid, non-restricted Colorado Driver's License or a non-restricted U.S. Driver's License for positions within 30 miles of the CO state border

• Out-of-State Driver's License holders must obtain a valid, non-restricted Colorado Driver's License within 30 days of employment start date.

• Full Background CDHS employees (all Direct contact with vulnerable persons):

CBI name check and fingerprint check, ICON Colorado court database, Medicare fraud database, Reference Checks, Professional License verification (licensure requirements), Drug Screen, PREA (Division of Youth Services), Trails check (direct contact with children), CAPS (direct contact with adults - Mental Health Institutes, Regional Centers, Veterans Community Living Centers).

• Other: 2-Step TB (tuberculosis) screening is required, Annual Influenza vaccination, and other vaccinations as required by the State of Colorado.

• This position designates the employee's residential address as their sole and permanent workplace, serving as the traveler's regular

work location. Employees are required to maintain a functional home office and a dependable internet connection to fulfill all

necessary job duties.

• Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must:

• Disclose that information on the application.

• Explain why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify you from the current position.

• Provide your employee number from your prior State employment. Absent extraordinary circumstances, prior disciplinary termination or resignation in lieu of termination and failure to provide this information will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with CDHS.

CDHS Selection Process Explanation

Employment history is calculated on a full-time basis (40/hrs per week). Part-time employment is calculated on a prorated basis to determine qualifications. Be sure your application specifically addresses your qualifications, experience, work products, and accomplishments as they relate to the position and minimum requirements.

• Preferred Qualifications & Competencies:

• Relevant years of state service experience.

Minimum Qualification Screening Process

A Human Resources Analyst will review the work experience/job duties sections of the online job application to determine whether your experience meets the minimum qualifications for the position. You must complete the official State of Colorado online application. Cover letters and resumes WILL NOT be reviewed during the minimum qualifications screening process. You must specifically document your work experience and qualifications in the application form. Do not use "see resume" or "see attached." You must meet the minimum qualifications to continue in the selection process. Part-time work experience will be prorated. Comparative Analysis Process -

Structured Application Review

After minimum qualification screening, the comparative analysis process will involve reviewing and rating of all the information you submit. The comparative analysis step may also include your results from standardized testing.

Your Work Experience/Job Duties

Document your work experience/job duties to the extent to which you possess the skills, education, experience, minimum qualifications, and preferred qualifications.

If listed, answer all supplemental questions as your answers to these questions will be evaluated during this phase. Provide at least 4-8 sentences for each supplemental question.

Supplemental Questions

Answer the supplemental questions completely and thoughtfully. We will rate your answers based on the content of your response and your writing skills (spelling, grammar, and clarity of your writing).

Appeal Rights

You may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director if your application is eliminated. You will find the appeals process, the official appeal form, and how to deliver it on the State Personnel Board (https://spb.colorado.gov/) website.

• You or your representative must sign and submit the official appeal form for review.

• You can find the official appeal form here (https://spb.colorado.gov/sites/spb/files/documents/Consolidated%20Appeal%20-%20Form%20-%202025.pdf) .

• You must be deliver the official appeal form to the State Personnel Board:

• By email (dpa_state.personnelboard@state.co.us), or

• Postmarked in US Mail to(1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203, or

• Hand delivered (1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203), or

• Faxed (303.866.5038) within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgement of the department's action.

Contact the State Personnel Board for assistance:

• At (303) 866-3300, or

• Refer to the Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, within the Rules (https://spb.colorado.gov/board-rules) webpage.

Supplemental Information

• How to apply to the State of Colorado (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKuwGdPpOW0) (Youtube Video, Runtime 3:59, Closed Captions Available)

• The Assessment Process (https://cdhs.colorado.gov/information-for-job-applicants#assessment-process)

About Us & Benefits

If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference, join the dedicated people of the Colorado Department of Human Services (https://www.colorado.gov/cdhs) (CDHS). Our professionals strive to design and deliver high quality human and health services that improve the safety, independence, and well-being of the people of Colorado. Each of us is committed to contributing to a safe and accessible CDHS . In addition to a great location and rewarding and meaningful work, we offer:

• Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including a PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan plus 401(k) and 457 plans

• Medical (https://dhr.colorado.gov/state-employees/state-employee-benefits/medical-benefits) and dental (https://dhr.colorado.gov/state-employees/state-employee-benefits/dental-insurance) health plans

• Employer supplemented Health Savings Account

• Paid life insurance

• Short- and long-term disability coverage (https://dhr.colorado.gov/state-employees/state-employee-benefits/disability-insurance)

• 11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave

• State of Colorado Employee BenefitHub Resource Center (https://stateofcolorado.benefithub.com/app/home)

• Employee Wellness program

• Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules, training and more

• Remote work arrangements for eligible positions

• *Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (https://dhr.colorado.gov/dhr-resources/student-loan-forgiveness-programs) .

Our Values

• We believe in a people-first approach: We prioritize the needs, well-being, and dignity of the individuals, families and communities we serve. We commit to respect, fairness and access in every decision, policy and interaction. We engage client voices and experiences in the development and implementation of the services we provide.

• Balance creates quality of life: We want our team to be resilient through a supportive workplace that values flexibility, health and wellness, and employee engagement.

• We hold ourselves accountable: We take responsibility through our actions, programs, and results for the state of health and human services in Colorado.

• Transparency matters: We are open and honest with employees, our partners, the Coloradans we serve, and the public.

• We are ethical: We abide by what is best for those we serve by doing what is right, not what is easy.

• Collaboration helps us rise together: We work together with all partners, employees, and clients to achieve the best outcomes for Coloradans.

ADA Accommodations

CDHS is committed to a Colorado for 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.

This includes completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or performing 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 cdhs_ada@state.co.us .

EEO Statement

The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer

We are committed to increasing a "Colorado for ALL" of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services. Therefore, we encourage responses from people of all backgrounds and abilities. The State of Colorado believes that a "Colorado for ALL" drives our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.

Additional Support For Your Application

Toll Free Applicant Technical Support

If you experience technical difficulty with the NEOGOV system (e.g. uploading or attaching documents to your online application) call NEOGOV technical support at 855-524-5627 Mon-Fri between 6 am and 6 pm (Pacific Time). Helpful hints: if you are having difficulty uploading or attaching documents to your application 1) ensure your documents are PDF or Microsoft Word files and 2) close the document before you attempt to upload (attach) it.

The State of Colorado offers permanent employees a variety of benefits including medical, dental, life and disability insurance, as well as a comprehensive leave program. Please click the following link for detailed information: www.colorado.gov/pacific/dhr/benefits

Please note that each agency's contact information is different; therefore, we encourage all applicants to view the full, official job announcement which includes contact information and class title. Select the job you wish to view, then click on the "Print" icon.

The bottom of this job announcement provides links to additional information on how to apply, the assessment process, toll free applicant technical support, and about how the State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer. Please acknowledge below that you have read the information provided in these links.

• This information is available to me and I have read this information.

• I am unable to access the links with this information on the job posting. (If you select this option, please contact the recruiter, whose information is listed on this announcement, so that they can send this information directly to you.)

  02

Your legal name is used in the hiring process for background checks. Did you use your full legal name in your application? If not, please update your information before submitting your application.

• Yes

• No

  03

If you are a current or former State of Colorado employee, please list your employee number (starts with 997...). Your application may be considered incomplete if you do not provide this information. An incomplete application may not move forward in the Selection process. If you are a former or current state employee, please identify which state agency you work with and how many years of relevant state service you have related to the position you are applying for. (Ensure this is listed on your application under work experience.)

Former State employees who were disciplined or terminated, or who resigned in lieu of termination, must disclose this information on the application. In the space below, please explain why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify your application from the current position.

Describe your experience working with individuals involved in the competency process (i.e., those found Incompetent to Proceed or undergoing evaluation or restoration).

Please describe your experience in programs that intersect the behavioral health system (mental health, substance use disorders) and the criminal justice system (courts, jails, law enforcement competency to proceed).

Please describe your experience developing, implementing, and coordinating case plans or discharge plans for continuity of care.

FST's work intersects with behavioral health, criminal justice, and complex services systems. What draws you to this position, and how do your experiences align with the responsibilities of this role.

This remote position requires field-based work at jails, courts, and community locations within 50 miles of Denver, El Paso County, or Pueblo. The employee's home address serves as the official work site. Please provide the county and zip code of your current residence.

Required Question

Employer

State of Colorado

Address

See the full announcement by clicking

the "Printer" icon located above the job title

Location varies by announcement, Colorado, --

Website

https://careers.colorado.gov/

Apply

Please verify your email addressVerify Email