Full Time Clinician - Jail and Access Center

Job Opportunity : Jail and Access Clinician

Location : Newaygo County Mental Health, White Cloud, Michigan

Are you passionate about making a lasting impact on the lives of adults, children, and families in a rural community? Do you value work-life balance, a supportive team environment, competitive compensation, and excellent benefits? If so, we invite you to join our dedicated team at Newaygo County Mental Health as a Jail and Access Clinician within our Intermediate Care Services Team.

Newaygo County Mental Health is seeking a compassionate, skilled, and resourceful clinician to provide high-quality behavioral health services across two critical areas : the Newaygo County Jail and the Access Center. This full-time position offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact by delivering therapy, crisis intervention, and clinical assessments to adults and children with severe mental illness and / or co-occurring substance use disorders.

Position Summary

The Clinician will provide short-term, solution-focused therapy to incarcerated adults within the Newaygo County Jail, as well as conduct screenings, evaluations, and crisis interventions through the Access Center. Services will be delivered individually and in groups, both in-person and via telephone / walk-in contacts. The clinician will also complete utilization reviews for inpatient hospitalizations or crisis residential placements, authorize services, and collaborate with hospitals, community providers, and agency staff to ensure smooth transitions of care.

Key Responsibilities

Provide individual and group therapy to adults in the jail setting.

Conduct comprehensive mental health, co-occurring disorder, and substance use assessments.

Deliver crisis intervention and stabilization services in jail, Access Center, and hospital emergency department settings.

Determine appropriate level of care and authorize services.

Complete utilization reviews for inpatient and crisis residential placements.

Provide triage, referral, and intake assessments to facilitate timely access to care.

Collaborate with hospitals, community providers, and agency staff to coordinate services.

Maintain accurate documentation and adhere to all clinical and regulatory standards.

Qualifications

Education : Master of Social Work, Master of Arts in Counseling or Psychology, LLP, LMFT, or LPC with appropriate State of Michigan licensure (LLPC, LPC, TLLP, LLP, LLMSW, LMSW).

Experience : Prior experience in crisis intervention, intensive services, and clinical decision-making strongly preferred. Substance use disorder treatment experience desired.

Skills : Strong diagnostic, assessment, verbal / written communication, and computer skills. Ability to prioritize, work independently in fast-paced environments, and manage frequent interruptions.

Other Requirements : Valid Michigan driver’s license required.

Schedule & Compensation

Status : Full-time

Salary Range : $58,000 – $74,000 annually, based on licensure and experience.

Benefits : Excellent benefits package, including loan reimbursement and tuition reimbursement policies, supervision for limited licenses, and eligibility for the National Health Services Corps (NHSC) loan repayment program.

Additional : Occasional after-hours work may be required to complete hospital placements.

About Us

Newaygo County Mental Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) and a qualified NHSC site. We are committed to supporting our clinicians with professional growth opportunities, strong team collaboration, and meaningful work that improves the lives of individuals and families in our community.

At Newaygo County Mental Health, we understand the importance of work-life balanced and the value of providing essential services to children in the comfort of their homes.  Our commitment to the well-being of our employees, combined with our mission to improve the lives of children and families, makes us the ideal workplace for those who seek fulfillment in their careers.

Why Choose Us?

• Work-Life Balance : We prioritize your well-being and understand the significance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Our flexible scheduling options empower you to excel in your role while enjoying quality time outside of work.
• Great Fellow Employees : Join a team of dedicated professionals who share your passion for making a positive impact. Collaborate with experienced colleagues who support each other's growth and success.
• Competitive Pay : We believe that your hard work should be rewarded. Enjoy competitive compensation that reflects your expertise and dedication.
• Exceptional Health Insurance Benefits : Your health and well-being matter to us. We offer comprehensive health insurance benefits that provide you and your family with peace of mind.
• Flexible Scheduling : We understand that life can be unpredictable. Our flexible scheduling options accommodate your needs, allowing you to balance your personal and professional responsibilities effectively.
• Generous Leave Time : Take advantage of more than 5 weeks of leave time per year to recharge, spend time with loved ones, and pursue your personal interests.

Newaygo County Mental Health (Newaygo CMH) is a comprehensive service provider for Mental Health services in Newaygo County.  Newaygo CMH is located in White Cloud, Michigan “Where the North Begins and the Pure Waters Flow”.  We are just a 50 minute drive North of Grand Rapids or Muskegon.  We are also a 30 minute drive from Big Rapids and just over 1 hour drive from Ludington.

Newaygo CMH is committed to meeting the challenges of the 21

st

century.  As part of this commitment, Newaygo CMH is dedicated to developing the competencies necessary to provide comprehensive mental health services for clients.  Our clients include both adults and children who are intellectually and developmentally impaired, children with severe emotional impairments, as well as adults with mental illness (who may also have a substance abuse issues) in a managed care environment.  Improving the wellness and recovery of those identified citizens, who are considered most in need, will continue to be our primary focus.   Prevention, wellness, and recovery programs are our core components in the provision of person / family-centered integrated services.

We recognize that our clinicians need support and training in evidence-based practices to be successful and feel confident in their role.  Newaygo CMH provides paid training for clinicians to obtain certification in EBPs such as EMDR, DBT, TF-CBT, and CAADC.  Along with paid training, we offer on-site licensure supervision, as well as intense clinical supervision with experienced supervisors, are who are extremely competent, compassionate, and have extensive knowledge working with the client population as well as in the CMH system.

The culture of Newaygo CMH has been described in many ways by our staff : connected, nurturing, supportive, autonomous, motivating, happy, progressive, flexible, innovative, inclusive, collaborative, and family oriented.  We recognize that Community Mental Health is a challenging environment, but with challenge comes reward.  The agency is committed to recognize and support staff for the hard work they do.  Our positive work environment provides our staff with clear expectations for advancement and the tools and training needed for success.

Additional Benefits :

Health insurance :   We offer our Full Time staff a Priority Health high-deductible health

plan that can be matched with a tax advantaged health savings account (HSA).  Currently, this plan has a deductible of $2,000 for a single contract and a $4,000 deductible for double and family contracts.  This High Deductible plan allows you to contribute pre-tax money into a designated HSA bank account to use for eligible medical, dental or vision services. For the 2025 calendar year, the agency will fund the entire plan premium, there is no cost to the employee for the plan.  Additionally, the agency will fund the entire deductible for single coverage and 75% for double / family coverage through depositing money into your HSA account .  Employees will be responsible for any cost share after the deductible has been met which would be copays and coinsurance.  Staff will qualify for benefits on the first day of the month following 30 days of employment.

Dental Insurance :   Mutual of Omaha 100% coverage for employee and family for yearly checkup and biannual cleaning. 80% / 20% coverage for minor restorative services and 50% / 50% coverage for major restorative services after a co-pay of $25 or $75 per family.  Maximum payment of $1000 per person per benefit year.  Staff will qualify for benefits on the first day of the month following 30 days of employment.  Please note, this is 2024 information as rates for 2025 are not finalized.

Health Insurance Opt-Out Option :   Employees with other health coverage may opt out of health insurance and receive $2,000.00 per year paid in increments every pay week. Employee would continue to receive Dental and Vision coverage, if desired.

Long Term Disability Insurance :   Disability pays 66 2 / 3% of the employee salary.  Long term disability starts after 90 days and continues until employee attains Social Security age.

Pension :   The agency will pay 6% of employee’s salary into a defined contribution plan. Employees may choose to deduct 3% of their salary (pre-tax) and the agency would match 3% to be placed with the original 6% into a defined contribution plan.  There is also an enhanced plan with social security opt out available.

Longevity :   Longevity will be calculated starting after 4 years of service at $100 per year.  E.g. at 4 years = $400.  This will max out at 15 plus years of service (at $1,500).

Deferred Compensation :   Pre-taxed contributions by the employee (no agency match) placed into a tax deferred annuity. Several different companies to choose from.

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) :   Allows pre-tax deductions for certain medical expenses and / or dependent child care expenses.

Post-Employment Health Care : The employee will contribute 1% of earnings on pre-tax basis; the agency will contribute an additional 2% to this account.

Annual Leave :   Eight hours accrue during each-two week pay period for a total of 208 hours of paid time off for one year (twenty six days off). Annual leave can be used as vacation, sick, or personal time. Accrual starts immediately.

Holidays :   The Agency has 12 paid holidays : New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Election Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Eve.

Wellness Plan :   The agency will reimburse 2 / 3rds of cost, with a limit up to $200, to the employee for joining a health club or fitness center.

Tuition Reimbursement :   Education / tuition reimbursement for classes raised to a limit of $5,250 per year – no cost sharing required.  Student loan repayment for qualified staff (not in NHSC or State loan forgiveness program, and for a degree directly related to their position).  Eligible after one year of employment.

Loan Repayment Plans :   Newaygo CMH participates in 3 different loan repayment plans :

1.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness - https : / / studentaid.gov / manage-loans / forgiveness-cancellation / public-service

2.

National Health Service Corp. (NHSC) - https : / / nhsc.hrsa.gov /

3.

Michigan State Loan Repayment Program (MSLRP) – https : / / www.michigan.gov / mdhhs / 0,5885,7-339-71551_2945_40012 ,00.html

Agency Vehicles : Newaygo CMH has a fleet of agency vehicles available for usage.  If a vehicle is unavailable, staff are reimbursed for the mileage at the IRS rate.

Newaygo County Mental Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.