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Designated Referral Contact/ONA Specialist (Dev. Dis. Spec. 1) - Health & Human Services

MarioncountyoSalem, OHApril 15th, 2026
Marion County Health and Human Services, Intellectual and Developmental Disability (I/DD) Program is seeking someone who is organized, innovative, collaborative, and a good communicator to be a Designated Referral Contact (DRC)/Oregon Needs Assessment (ONA) Specialist. Interested candidates will understand person centered principles, have professional experience in public services and experience working with individuals who experience intellectual and developmental disabilities, or other vulnerable people. The DRC/ONA Specialist will coordinate referral and placement options for individuals who experience intellectual and developmental disabilities and are seeking placement in a foster home or residential setting in Marion County. The DRC/ONA Specialist will also conduct Oregon Needs Assessments for eligible individuals in service. The DRC/ONA Specialist works with case managers, local foster homes and residential providers, and a variety of internal and external local and statewide partners to ensure an efficient, consistent and responsive referral, placement and assessment for its clients, families and providers. GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES Conducts independent functional needs assessments; plans and carries out case management functions for complex/high risk intellectual or developmentally disabled (I/DD) clients; provides crisis intervention services; coordinates urgent and planned placement requests; facilitates foster care licensing, certification and monitoring of qualified Medicaid providers, ; assists in the development, training, and implementation of I/DD associated services to the community; performs related work as required. Primary responsibility of this class is to provide complex case coordination, crisis intervention, foster care licensing and certification, monitoring of qualified Medicaid providers, data analysis, quality assurance/quality improvement, and monitoring the use of designated fund allocations. SUPERVISION RECEIVED Works under the ongoing supervision of a supervisor who assigns work, establishes goals, and reviews the results obtained for overall effectiveness through the analysis of reports and conferences. SUPERVISION EXERCISED Supervision of other employees is not a primary responsibility of positions in this classification; may assist in the supervision of practicum students or volunteers. Typical Duties - Duties include, but are not limited to the following Designated Referral Contact: Coordinates referrals of clients needing placement into and out of MCDD services. Receives, reviews, and distributes one-page referrals at least weekly (more frequently if there is an urgent need) to any or all of the following: Adult/Child Residential Group Homes Adult/Child Foster Providers Adult Supported Living Providers Employment Service Providers CDDP Designated Referral Contacts within Region 3 CDDP Designated Referral Contacts Statewide Develops and maintains spreadsheet to assure current referral and placement information Inputs all outgoing referral data Inputs all active responses Inputs all child related referrals and active responses Represents MCDD program during regularly scheduled meetings and/or conference calls with Office of Developmental Disability Services and Designated Referral Contacts (DRC), as well as DRC meetings in region 3. Communicates current MCDD provider vacancy/openings Communicates MCDD client placement needs Coordinates with providers and other agencies to obtain placement for MCDD clients. Maintains a current provider profile identifying overview of current client services being provided for those sites with availability Maintains a current provider profile identifying provider service strength area Coordinates with state and county run agencies to facilitate transfer of individuals needing emergent MCDD service development and placement. Serves as first contact for individuals needing service development, including but not limited to adults out of Department of Corrections, Oregon State Hospital, Office of Developmental Disability Services Stabilization and Crisis Unit, Marion County Community and Provider Services, and children who have been removed from their family home by Child Welfare and are in immediate need of placement due to need for protective service. Coordinates with Children’s Residential Services to assure accurate and timely referrals Assures all required documents are forwarded to perspective agencies and Office of Developmental Disability Services Children’s Residential Coordinators Assists with scheduling and coordinating screenings Participates in regular call with ODDS regarding high priority referrals to Children’s Residential Services Communicates with ODDS Residential Manager or their designee regarding individuals who need immediate placement. Represents Marion County DD Services at local meetings when high risk and hard-to-place DD youth are on the agenda. Provides training to newly hired case managers regarding MCDD referral and placement processes. ONA Specialist: Meets the requirements outlined in Oregon Administrative Rule 411-415-0040(1). Achieves and retains training to conduct Office of Developmental Disability Services Oregon Needs Assessment in order to complete an assessment when individual is in need of immediate placement. Trainings and Meetings: Attend all trainings and meetings required by the state Office of Developmental Disability Services to administer the Oregon Needs Assessment (ONA) and maintain compliance. Assessment: Coordinate and administer the ONA for individuals enrolled in and receiving case management services through Marion County. Records Review: Gather and conduct a thorough records review of client records prior to administering the ONA. Review may include but is not limited to Individual Support Plans; ISP Support documents; psychological, behavioral, medical, educational and vocational evaluations and assessments; behavior data, and Individual Education Plans. After ONA is complete, assure the most current ONA is shared with necessary parties and filed in client record. Consultation: Provide consultation and technical assistance to Service Coordinators regarding annual reviews of the ONA and or in determining when a new ONA may be necessary. Quality Assurance, Data and Reports: Work with CDDP QA Coordinator to ensure timely completion of ONA. Work with ODDS to ensure assessment reliability. Provide any data and reports related to ONA work requested by Supervisors, Program Manager, or ODDS. County Transfers: Assist with transferring current ONA to new Case Management Entity when appropriate and provide consultation with regard to the completed ONA when necessary to support a smooth transition. Attend staff and team meetings. Other duties as assigned by your supervisor. Response Level 2: In the event of an emergency, employee makes a reasonable effort to report to work. Employee may be required to perform duties outside of their regularly assigned duties. Employee may be requested to work an extended or flexible schedule. Staff at this response level must complete Incident Command System 100 and 700 on-line or in-person training. Requirements for the Position EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING Possession of a master's degree in psychology, social work, education or a related field; AND One year of paraprofessional work experience consisting of serving individuals with a primary diagnosis of intellectual or developmental disabilities within a residential or employment service at a management or case management level; OR Possession of a bachelor's degree in psychology, social work, education or a related field and three years of paraprofessional work experience consisting of serving individuals with a primary diagnosis of intellectual or developmental disabilities within a residential or employment service at a management or case management level; OR Seven years of equivalent training and paraprofessional work experience as described above. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS Must have knowledge of the public service system for developmental disability services in Oregon. Must possess a current driver's license in the applicant's state of residence and an acceptable driving history. Marion County will obtain a copy of the driving record for all qualified applicants from Driver and Motor Vehicle Services and review the driving record according to the Marion County policy and procedure for Driving on County Business. The policy can be found at: http://apps.co.marion.or.us/APAP/. This position may be subject to the following: Must not be excluded from participation in the federal health care programs (Medicaid, Medicare and other federally funded programs that provide health benefits); AND must not be excluded from participating in federal procurement (Federal Acquisition Regulation) and non-procurement activities (Executive Order No. 12549). This is a safety sensitive/special needs position. Final candidates selected for this position will be required to pass a pre-employment drug screen, including testing for marijuana. The Marion County Drug and Alcohol Use and Testing Policy can be found at: http://apps.co.marion.or.us/APAP/policy.aspx?p=policy&pid=518. The finalist for this position may be required to pass a criminal history background check; however, conviction of a crime may not necessarily disqualify an individual for this position This assignment is represented by a union. This is a full-time position, which is eligible for overtime. Typical Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm, with flexibility depending upon the needs of the department and program. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES Working knowledge of intellectual and developmental disability concepts, public service system for intellectual and developmental disability services in Oregon, including the Office of Developmental Disability Services (ODDS) structure, and agency functioning; a variety of client disorders; other social service provider agencies in the community, specifically funded and licensed by the ODDS. Ability to act in a professional manner; to keep privileged information confidential; develop collaborative relationships with clients, their families, service providers, and other partner agencies within the community; develop and maintain a collaborative relationship with physicians, law enforcement agencies, the courts, public and private administrators and the community in general; prepare concise and complete individual service plans and progress records in a timely and professional manner; work within a team atmosphere. Advanced skill working with individuals who experience intellectual and developmental disability. PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS Operates a motor vehicle; drives to other facilities or home visits; sees using depth perception as needed for driving; sits; stands; moves about the work area; bends forward; sitting up to 1/2 hour; climbs 1 floor of stairs; lifts and carries up to 5 lbs. up to 30 feet; push /pull 20lb rolling bag; operates a computer and keyboard; speaks clearly and audibly; reads a 12 pt. font; hears a normal level of speech; may have exposure to heat, cold, dust, noise or work in areas that are uneven or wet; will be required to visit prospective foster homes, as well as current licensed/certified adult and child foster homes; may be exposed to lice, scabies and/or unsanitary conditions at individual's or family's home. PUBLIC SERVICE LOAN FORGIVENESS Marion County is a qualifying public employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, full-time employees working at the County may qualify for forgiveness of the remaining balance on Direct Loans after 120 qualifying monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan. Questions about your loan eligibility should be directed to your loan servicer or the US Department of Education. VETERANS’ PREFERENCE Applicants are eligible to use Veterans’ Preference when applying with Marion County in accordance with ORS 408.225, 408.230, and 408.235 and OAR 105-040-0010 and 105-040-0015. Preference will be awarded only if the applicant meets the minimum requirements of the position and attaches the required documentation at the time of application. VISA SPONSORSHIP Marion County does not offer VISA sponsorship. Within three days of hire, you will be required to complete the US Department of Homeland Security’s I-9 form confirming authorization to work in the United States. Marion County is an E-Verify employer and will use E-Verify to confirm that hires are authorized to work in the United States. DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR VETERANS’ PREFERENCE One of the following: MEMBER COPY 4 of the Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214 or 215); OR Letter from the US Department of Veterans Affairs indicating receipt of a non-service connected pension; OR Certification that discharge or release from active duty under honorable conditions will take place not later than 120 days after the submission of the certificate. In addition to one of the above documents, Disabled Veterans must also submit one of the following: A copy of their Veterans disability preference letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs; OR Certification that medical separation from active duty under honorable conditions will take place not later than 120 days after the submission of the certificate. You can request copies of your military service record through the National Archives website at http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/ Marion County is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, Veteran and Disability employer committed to increasing the diversity of its workforce.