Forensic Care Coordinator

Forensic Care Coordinator

Eau Claire Hub | Full-Time, 40 Hours/Week | $30-$31/Hour

Make a difference where behavioral health, community support, and the justice system come together.

Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin & Upper Michigan (LSS) is seeking a compassionate, organized, and collaborative Forensic Care Coordinator to join our team based out of the Eau Claire Hub Office.

This full-time position provides comprehensive, person-centered case management to adults involved in Wisconsin's forensic behavioral health and criminal justice systems. You'll work alongside clients, courts, jails, treatment providers, mental health institutions, natural supports, and community organizations to help individuals access services, work toward competency restoration, and successfully navigate treatment and community-based supports.

This position serves clients throughout Burnett, Washburn, Sawyer, Price, Taylor, and Rusk counties.

Compensation

• $30.00/hour starting pay
• $31.00/hour for candidates with a master's degree and/or who are bilingual
• Full-time, 40 hours per week

Benefits & Perks

At LSS, we care about the whole person, not just the work you do. Full-time employees are eligible for a comprehensive benefits package designed to support health, financial well-being, work-life balance, and your future.

Full-time benefits are effective the first of the month following 30 days of continuous employment and include: [2027 LSS B...oyees.docx | Outlook]

• Medical & Dental Insurance: Choose from 3 medical and 3 dental plan options. On average, employees pay approximately 20% of the total health insurance premium, depending on the plan selected. [2027 LSS B...oyees.docx | Outlook]
• Vision Insurance: Multiple plan options are available. [2027 LSS B...oyees.docx | Outlook]
• Employer-Paid Life Insurance: Coverage equal to 1x your annual salary, paid for by LSS. [2027 LSS B...oyees.docx | Outlook]
• Employer-Paid Disability Coverage: Short-term disability replaces 60% of income for up to 11 weeks, and long-term disability replaces 60% of income for up to two years after short-term disability benefits end. [2027 LSS B...oyees.docx | Outlook]
• 403(b) Retirement Plan: Employees are automatically enrolled with a 6% eligible compensation deferral, unless a different election is made. LSS matches 50% on the first 6% of eligible compensation contributed. [2027 LSS B...oyees.docx | Outlook]
• Vacation: Begin accruing vacation from your date of hire. [2027 LSS B...oyees.docx | Outlook]
• Paid Sick Leave: Accrue 2.47 hours bi-weekly beginning on your date of hire. [2027 LSS B...oyees.docx | Outlook]
• Paid Holidays: 10 designated paid holidays plus 2 paid personal holidays. [2027 LSS B...oyees.docx | Outlook]
• Bereavement Leave: 3 paid days for immediate family members. [2027 LSS B...oyees.docx | Outlook]
• Wellness Resources: Premium access to the Calm Wellness App and an Employee Assistance Program. [2027 LSS B...oyees.docx | Outlook]
• Financial Wellness: Early earned wage access through UKG Wallet. [2027 LSS B...oyees.docx | Outlook]
• Additional Voluntary Benefits: Flexible Spending Accounts, supplemental life insurance, accident, critical illness, hospital confinement indemnity, pet insurance, and identity theft protection. [2027 LSS B...oyees.docx | Outlook]
• Student Loan Support: LSS is a qualifying employer for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) and provides student loan and PSLF navigation assistance through Summer. [LSS Direct...Follow-up | Outlook], [RE: Vacation Time | Outlook]
• Employee Recognition: Service awards and employee recognition programs. [2027 LSS B...oyees.docx | Outlook]

What You'll Do

As a Forensic Care Coordinator, you'll provide comprehensive case management and service coordination using a trauma-informed, person-centered approach.

Key responsibilities include:

• Assess client needs, strengths, functional abilities, barriers, and goals using required assessment tools.
• Partner with clients, families, natural supports, and service providers to develop and implement individualized service plans.
• Coordinate and facilitate services based on each client's identified needs and service plan.
• Connect individuals with behavioral health, substance use, housing, and other community-based resources.
• Work collaboratively with clients, treatment teams, courts, jails, mental health institutions, and community providers.
• Provide legal education to clients participating in competency restoration programs.
• Coordinate and facilitate person-centered team meetings.
• Monitor client progress and make recommendations to the client team within your scope of practice.
• Maintain accurate and timely electronic client records and required documentation.
• Prepare court-related documentation as required by the program.
• Testify in legal proceedings when required by law or the responsibilities of the position.
• Participate in clinical supervision when required.
• Participate in staff development, training, meetings, and professional development opportunities.
• Meet established program and productivity expectations.
• Travel throughout the assigned service area to meet with clients and community partners.

Programs You'll Support

This position works across three LSS forensic programs:

Conditional Release (CR)

You'll work with individuals who have been found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect. Forensic Care Coordinators collaborate with mental health institutions, court systems, treatment providers, natural supports, and community resources.

Responsibilities may include preparing court documents, providing professional testimony, coordinating community services, and developing an understanding of applicable Wisconsin statutory requirements.

Outpatient Competency Restoration Program (OCRP)

OCRP serves adults who have been charged with a crime and adjudicated not competent to stand trial but are considered likely to regain competency.

You'll meet with clients in community settings, coordinate services and supports, collaborate with the court system and community providers, and provide legal education as part of competency restoration services.

Jail-Based Competency Restoration (JBCR)

JBCR provides competency restoration services to individuals in a jail setting.

You'll work collaboratively with clients, jail personnel, courts, institutions, treatment providers, and natural supports while providing legal education and competency-related support.

Our Approach

LSS services are grounded in trauma-informed, person-centered care. We believe individuals are more than their diagnosis, legal history, or current circumstances.

You'll work alongside clients to identify their strengths, address barriers, increase independence, and create meaningful connections to treatment and community resources.

This position also requires ongoing professional development in evidence-based practices, including Motivational Interviewing. Forensic Care Coordinators participate in monthly Motivational Interviewing coaching and quarterly fidelity reviews to continually strengthen their skills.

What You'll Bring

Education

A Bachelor's degree in a relevant human services field is required.

Acceptable areas of study may include:

• Criminal Justice
• Psychology
• Social Work
• Counseling/Guidance
• Community Mental Health
• Substance Use
• Rehabilitation Counseling
• Recreational Therapy
• Vocational Counseling
• Other related human services disciplines

If a degree is not specifically listed, a transcript and applicable payer review may be completed to determine eligibility.

Candidates with a master's degree are eligible for the $31.00/hour starting rate.

Skills That Will Help You Succeed

We're looking for someone who can balance empathy, accountability, collaboration, and professional boundaries while navigating complex behavioral health and criminal justice systems.

You'll thrive in this position if you:

• Build trusting and respectful professional relationships.
• Believe in meeting people where they are while supporting accountability and positive change.
• Are comfortable working with individuals experiencing mental health, substance use, legal, or reentry challenges.
• Can remain calm and respond appropriately during challenging or crisis situations, including situations involving verbal aggression.
• Communicate effectively with clients, families, courts, treatment teams, jails, and community providers.
• Can organize your work independently while remaining connected to a multidisciplinary team.
• Effectively manage multiple clients, appointments, service needs, documentation requirements, and priorities.
• Have strong written communication and documentation skills.
• Are comfortable learning and working within different electronic systems and electronic health records.
• Are interested in forensic behavioral health, Wisconsin court processes, competency restoration, and community-based services.
• Value trauma-informed, evidence-based, and person-centered practices.

Driving & Travel Requirements

Because this is a community-based role:

• A valid driver's license and reliable transportation are required.
• Candidates must have a satisfactory motor vehicle record and meet LSS auto insurance requirements.
• Daily travel may be required throughout Burnett, Washburn, Sawyer, Price, Taylor, and Rusk counties.
• Some overnight travel may be required.
• The position involves working in a variety of settings, which may include offices, client homes, community locations, jails, courts, treatment environments, and other service locations.

Why LSS?

At Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin & Upper Michigan, our work is about creating meaningful connections and helping people build greater stability, independence, and opportunity.

As a Forensic Care Coordinator, you have an opportunity to make an impact at a critical point in someone's life. You'll combine case management, behavioral health, criminal justice, competency restoration, advocacy, and community-based services while working alongside individuals as they navigate complex systems and transitions.

If you're looking for meaningful work where no two days are exactly alike and where your ability to connect, coordinate, and advocate can make a real difference, we encourage you to apply.

LSS is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE).