ISRS - MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL
La Crosse CountyWelcome to La Crosse County — Where Your Work Truly Matters
Every day, our unique teams contribute to our vision of a community that is vibrant, safe, and resilient. Whether you're supporting families, safeguarding natural resources, maintaining infrastructure, or delivering essential services, your work here creates real impact for the people who live, work, and visit our county.
What You’ll Gain by Joining Us
- A Future You Can Count On: Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS), one of the most respected pension programs in the nation.
- Reliable, Affordable Coverage: Countywide insurance plans plus growing access to local, no-cost care options for everyday health needs.
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Time Off That Works For You: You’ll have two dedicated banks of vacation and sick time, giving you the freedom to plan real downtime when you need it—and the peace of mind to take care of yourself when you’re under the weather.
- Start earning vacation and sick time your very first day
- Bank up to 2× your annual vacation accrual
- Build up to 150 sick days as a full time employee
A Place Where Everyone Belongs
We believe our workforce should reflect the community we serve. We’re committed to fostering a culture of respect, inclusion, and belonging—because diverse perspectives lead to better outcomes for everyone.
Overview
FLSA: Exempt This is a professional master's degree position in the Integrated Support and Recovery Services (ISRS) section. This position requires licensure as a Clinical Social Worker, Professional Counselor, or Marriage and Family Therapist. Licensure is established by Wisconsin Dept of Regulation and Licensing, must be maintained during employment. Licensure of this nature allows the individual to perform the role of the CCS Mental Health Professional specified by WIs Administration Code DHS 36. Employee will work for La Crosse County and with the Western Region Integrated Care (WRIC) partner counties within the Comprehensive Community Services (CCS) and Coordinated Service Teams (CST) programs. The Mental Health Professional provides clinical direction for the CCS team, assessing consumer needs and determining appropriate recovery-oriented services. This role ensures coordinated, collaborative care by guiding the team's clinical approach throughout each consumer's participation in CCS.
Essential Leadership Functions
Act with Integrity and Build Trust
- Demonstrate mutual respect, humility, and honesty in all interactions
- Speak up appropriately, even when expressing unpopular viewpoints
- Actively listen and remain open-minded to diverse perspectives
Drive for Results
- Set clear goals and objectives to motivate self and others to achieve outcomes
- Seek new opportunities to improve processes and drive sustainable results
- Hold self and others accountable through consistent evaluation and monitoring
Develop Talent and Effective Teams
- Foster a collaborative environment that encourages knowledge sharing and growth
- Provide mentorship and support to help self and others reach full potential
- Recognize and leverage diverse strengths within self and team
Lead with Vision and Strategy
- Understand and communicate a compelling vision that aligns with organizational goals
- Develop and execute comprehensive strategies to achieve long-term objectives
- Connect daily work to the bigger picture, inspiring self and others to contribute meaningfully
Lead with Paradoxical, Critical, and Agile Thinking
- Navigate complex situations by considering multiple perspectives
- Adapt quickly to changes and uncertainties in the work environment
- Make critical decisions using analytical skills, experience, and input from others
Build and Maintain Effective Relationships
- Communicate and collaborate effectively with stakeholders across the organization
- Influence others through coaching, consulting, and team-minded thinking
- Develop and sustain partnerships that create positive outcomes for all stakeholders
Cultivate Community Engagement and Provide Excellent Service
- Understand and address the needs and concerns of the community
- Incorporate community perspectives into decision-making processes
- Drive initiatives that create positive impacts beyond the organization
Demonstrate Emotional Intelligence
- Show self-awareness and manage emotions effectively in challenging situations
- Seek and respond constructively to feedback, even in the face of setbacks
- Balance empathy with accountability when leading self and working with others
Essential Job Functions
Completes comprehensive CST mental health assessments and coordinates delivery of overall CST program requirements in collaboration with service facilitators, vendors, and administration. Intense collaboration with CCS Service Administrator, Director, Service Facilitators, consumers, and vendors. Fulfills CCS Mental Health Professional role as outlined in Wisconsin Administrative Code HFS 36.
Participates as a member of CCS consumer recovery teams to ensure authorized services are appropriate, and that planning process follows policy and program values.
Develops and provides program and clinical training to staff and/or vendors as needed to improve overall system compliance with CCS services. Potential role in building the infrastructure for the funding of residential services. Develops and provides program and clinical training to staff and/or vendors as needed to improve overall system compliance with CCS and CST Services.
Coordinates with Service Facilitators to ensure CCS standards are met and recovery-oriented services are provided and documented.
Clinically reviews CCS paperwork to ensure administrative and clinical compliance.
Serves as a consultant/resource to service facilitators regarding service authorization, program values, and development of individualized plans of care for adults and children. Potential to work as a liaison with CCS and CST vendors to problem solve issues and ensure recovery-oriented services are provided. May be required to travel to WRIC partner counties (Jackson and Monroe) to perform essential job functions.
Works closely with administration to ensure CCS services meet clinical and compliance standards.
May offer mental health and/or AODA group services depending upon availability of services in community and program need.
Individual with appropriate AODA licensure may also fulfill CCS Substance Abuse Professional role as outlined in Wisconsin Administrative Code HFS 36. Duties could include AODA assessments, consultation, and group services.
May be asked to deliver service within Crisis program depending on needs of ISRS section.
In this public service position, employee is required to be courteous, cooperative and respectful at all times, with the public and clients. Also establishes and maintains a courteous, cooperative and respectful working relationship with other employees, supervisors and public officials.
Physical demands: Large percentage of time is spent sitting in office or community interacting with consumers, teams, or community vendors. Employee uses oral communication, judgment, hearing, near vision, fingering for keyboarding and calculators, reading, writing. Handles papers and manuals, etc., lifts files, copy paper and other office materials. Sits, stands, bends and reaches intermittently throughout the day. Regularly moves about the office building and travels to other offices or sites for meetings. Remote risk of physical attack by hostile client.
Related Job Functions
This job description is not intended to encompass every job duty or responsibility but is only illustrative. This position is required to perform other duties as may be assigned or required.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Considerable knowledge of accepted principles and methods of clinical practice as they relate to comprehensive assessment, treatment planning, and documentation of mental health and AODA services, including suicide assessment.
Considerable knowledge and practice application of Person Centered Planning, Motivational Interviewing, and the Recovery model as they pertain to mental health.
Working knowledge of mental health and/or AODA evidence based practices.
Strong organizational skills due to complexity and independence of role and need to deliver finished products within specified time frames.
Strong knowledge of quality assurance practices and requirements as they relate to assessment, billing, and documentation needed to support Medical Assistance Billing.
Ability to provide effective clinical direction and support to staff and vendors.
Ability to work constructively and form positive working relationships with other professionals, disciplines and agencies.
Ability to integrate into practice a thorough knowledge and understanding of principles and techniques of integrated mental health and AODA assessment and treatment.
Ability to accept clinical and administrative supervision for a collaborative relationship.
Ability to focus on strengths, accurately listen, develop trust of team members, understand multiple perspectives, intervene on ineffective team or vendor dynamics, and accept feedback without reacting negatively.
Working knowledge of common psychotropic medications and their intended benefits.
Working knowledge of dual diagnosis and effective treatments.
Training, Experience and Other Requirements
Master's Degree in social work, psychology, counseling, or closely related field.
Licensure as Clinical Social Worker, Professional Counselor, or Marriage and Family Therapist (individuals with "in-training" licensure may be considered). Licensure, as established by the Wis. Dept. of Regulation and Licensing, must be maintained during employment. Licensure of this nature allows the individual to perform the role of the CCS Mental Health Professional as specified by Wisconsin Administrative Code HFS 36.
Preference for previous experience working in mental health (public or private) with children.
Preference for Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse (AODA) certification. Licensure, as established by the Wis. Dept. of Regulation and Licensing, (or having a demonstrated path to licensure) must be maintained during employment. This licensure would allow the individual to fulfill the role of a Substance Abuse Professional as specified by the Wisconsin Administrative Code HFS 36.
Preference for individual with CCS or CST experience.
Preference for individual with Motivational Interviewing, Coordinated Service Teams, and/or another Evidence Based Approach designed to work with individuals who are dually diagnosed with mental health and AODA issues.
Requires moderate computer and keyboarding skills for entering data related to clients.
Must have valid Driver's License and/or access to reliable transportation.
Proven record of collaborative skill with a variety of consumer and health care professionals.
Preference for individual with significant clinical and program protocol experience.
Preference for individual with Integrated Dual Diagnosis Treatment, Motivational Interviewing, and/or another Evidence Based Approach designed to work with individuals who are dually diagnosed with mental health and AODA issues.
Equal Opportunity Employer
We’re proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to building a workforce that reflects the community we serve.
Need an Accommodation?
If you require a disability-related accommodation at any stage of the hiring process, reach out to Human Resources at jobs@lacrossecounty.org — we're here to help.
Ready to Apply?
Submit your application through our online career site. Please double-check your materials before submitting them; complete applications help us move quickly and give every candidate fair consideration.