Mental Health Co-Responder II

                                   EXCITING NEW CAREER OPPORTUNITY!

        BENTON COUNTY NOW HIRING: MENTAL HEALTH CO-RESPONDER II

                                       JOIN OUR MENTAL HEALTH TEAM!

Benton County is actively recruiting and accepting applications for a full-time Mental Health Co-Responder position within the Human Services Department’s Mental Health Unit. This position’s primary responsibilities include partnership with law enforcement to provide immediate and follow-up responses to individuals experiencing mental health crises within the community.

PLEASE NOTE:
We have TWO (2) ACTIVE POSTINGS listed below and are looking to hire ONE (1) candidate. Please take the time to review each posting and the Minimum Qualifications for each position level and apply within the posting that Best Fits Your education, experience, and abilities.

Each Mental Health Co-Responder Position is assigned a grade, and each grade contains 11 steps. The minimum and maximum hourly rates for 2025 are listed below:

• MENTAL HEALTH CO-RESPONDER I - Grade 10 - Minimum Step 1, $32.38 - Maximum Step 11, $44.41
• MENTAL HEALTH CO-RESPONDER II - Grade 12 - Minimum Step 1, $35.69 - Maximum Step 11, $48.95

FOR EXAMPLE:
To meet the Minimum Requirements for the MENTAL HEALTH CO-RESPONDER II position, ALL applicants MUST...
A. Master's degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or a related behavioral health field, preferred in a Mental Health-related field; and
B. Valid and current Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) license or meet the requirements of a qualified Mental Health Professional in MN Statutes 245.462, Subd. 18; and
      B. 1. Licensure required or must be obtained within 6 months of employment; and
C. The following licensures would be accepted as they can do diagnostic assessments as well as psychotherapy, both individual and group.
      C. 1. Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW), Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), or Licensed Psychologist (LP) in Minnesota; and
D. Must be able to make psychosocial assessments and develop and implement care plans and provide after-hours service, as needed; and
E. Minimum of three to five years of social work experience or experience in a closely related field or equivalent education plus work experience. Preferred experience working in a correctional setting or with justice-involved individuals in crisis response, emergency mental health, or a related field; and
F. Strong knowledge of the Minnesota mental health system and commitment processes; and
G. Must possess a valid driver's license and be able to drive in the state of Minnesota.
H. Must successfully complete a background check.
I. Obtain and maintain certifications and licensures.
    I. 1.  Ability to obtain and maintain, within six months of hire:
            I. 1. 1. FBI Level 4 Criminal Justice Information System Security Training/Testing and maintain annually.
                       I. 1. 1. 1. FBI Fingerprinting Certification.
            I. 1. 2. BCA Single Certification: Training, Testing, and Certification are maintained annually.
 

The intended hiring wage for the Mental Health Co-Responder II position is $35.69 per hour.

Interview Process:
Initial interviews may be conducted by phone or in person and are TBD. Please monitor your email for updates and scheduling information.

Location:
Benton County Human Services Department

Application Deadline:
Monday, March 2, 2026, at 4:30 p.m.

View Full Job Description and Apply: Benton County Career Opportunities

Please note: A master’s degree is required for this position. Applicants must possess a master’s degree at the time of application or obtain the degree before an offer of employment in order to meet the minimum qualifications.

Applicants may attach an unofficial college transcript to their application, which may assist during the application review process.

If selected for hire, an official sealed college transcript will be required and must be submitted to the Human Resources Department for verification.

Please note: This Mental Health Co-Responder II position may require work outside of normal business hours. Availability for evening, weekend, and after-hours response as needed.

Position Summary
The Mental Health Co-Responder II works in partnership with law enforcement to provide immediate and follow-up responses to individuals experiencing mental health crises within the community. This position is responsible for assessing client needs and coordinating available resources to assist in the prevention and treatment planning of mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders. This position involves daily interaction with the public, corrections staff, social workers, and community providers to ensure coordinated, compassionate, and effective service delivery. The MH Co-Responder II facilitates crisis intervention, service planning, clinical observation, counseling, and resource coordination to promote safety and stabilization for individuals, families, and groups in need. Responsibilities also include assigned jail-based duties, such as service coordination and discharge planning for inmates transitioning back into the community. Services may be provided in client homes, correctional settings, or other community environments.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Duties and Responsibilities
Essential Functions
A. Complete jail duties as assigned. Including service coordination and discharge planning for inmates.
B. Daily interactions with the public, corrections, and social workers regarding mental health crises, and collaborate with community providers.
C. Facilitate immediate planning, disposition, and coordination of services and resources for individuals in the community.
D. Provide response in crisis situations. Maintain safety for clients and the community. Develop and implement a safety plan for clients to maximize their safety and minimize community risk.
E. Work collaboratively in multi-disciplinary teams such as BCAT and other related groups.
F. Screen for basic needs and assist with referral services to community living resources that meet individual client needs and choices.
G. Provide information and referral services to individuals from diverse populations, both in the jail and in the community, for mental health and chemical health issues.
H. Data entry as required by grants/funding source.
I. Respond to behavioral health-related calls with law enforcement and provide behavioral health evaluations, problem identification, crisis interventions, crisis treatment/care plans, and make referrals.
J. Provide follow-up, as needed, to individuals served via phone calls, messages, and on-site visits, accompanied by law enforcement as required.
K. Follow direction from partnering law enforcement officer/deputy regarding on-scene safety, security measures, and protocol.
L. Provide behavioral health consultation to officers/deputies while responding to mental health-related calls.
M. Coordinate with mental health crisis response teams to ensure the needs of community providers are addressed in an efficient and timely manner.
N. Integrate within Benton County Health and Human Services to provide technical assistance and rapid response consultation on complex cases and access to appropriate services.
O. Integrate with other system partners on the Community Action Team, such as law enforcement, providers, community corrections, jails, health systems, and others.
P. Other duties as assigned.

Additional Functions
A. Responsible for performing diagnostic assessments to determine inmates' level of mental health functioning and evaluating the presence of mental health or substance abuse disorders.
B. Developing treatment or crisis plans, case noting and maintaining appropriate documentation, and communicating with other criminal justice, human services, or mental health professionals on inmates' cases.
C. Schedule and conduct individual and/or group counseling sessions, provide direction in setting short/long-term goals and objectives, and prepare inmates for re-entry back to the general population.
D. Responsible for providing mental health release planning, mental health assessments and evaluation, treatment activities, and evidence-based therapeutic interventions to individuals and groups.
E. Attend and participate in weekly classification meetings with jail administration.
F. Provide behavioral health training to officers/deputies/jail staff as requested.
G. Maintains a paperless system for recordkeeping.
H. Performs other duties as assigned or apparent.

Minimum Qualifications - Training and Experience Required

Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications
A. Master's degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or a related behavioral health field, preferred in a Mental Health-related field; and
B. Valid and current Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) license or meet the requirements of a qualified Mental Health Professional in MN Statutes 245.462, Subd. 18; and
      B. 1. Licensure required or must be obtained within 6 months of employment; and
C. The following licensures would be accepted as they can do diagnostic assessments as well as psychotherapy, both individual and group.
      C. 1. Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW), Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), or Licensed Psychologist (LP) in Minnesota; and
D. Must be able to make psychosocial assessments and develop and implement care plans and provide after-hours service, as needed; and
E. Minimum of three to five years of social work experience or experience in a closely related field or equivalent education plus work experience. Preferred experience working in a correctional setting or with justice-involved individuals in crisis response, emergency mental health, or a related field; and
F. Strong knowledge of the Minnesota mental health system and commitment processes; and
G. Must possess a valid driver's license and be able to drive in the state of Minnesota.
H. Must successfully complete a background check.
I. Obtain and maintain certifications and licensures.
    I. 1.  Ability to obtain and maintain, within six months of hire:
            I. 1. 1. FBI Level 4 Criminal Justice Information System Security Training/Testing and maintain annually.
                      I. 1. 1. 1. FBI Fingerprinting Certification.
            I. 1. 2. BCA Single Certification: Training, Testing, and Certification are maintained annually.

Preferred Qualification
A. Previous experience working with or embedded in law enforcement or emergency response teams.
B. Training in CIT (Crisis Intervention Team), de-escalation, or hostage negotiation support.
C. Strong clinical skills in risk assessment, trauma-informed care, and systems navigation.