Forensic Programs Quality Specialist

The Department of Health Services (DHS), Division of Care and Treatment Services (DCTS) is recruiting to fill a full-time Forensic Programs Quality Specialist in the Bureau of Community Forensic Services (BCFS). BCFS promotes healthy living and protects public safety through the management and support of programs for adults with histories of criminal offenses and mental health and substance use concerns.

DCTS manages and supports seven care and treatment facilities for people living with psychiatric disorders and intellectual disabilities, community mental health and substance use services, community mental health and substance use treatment services for people in the criminal justice system, and the protection of client rights for people receiving services for intellectual disabilities, mental health, and substance use.

We offer the option to work remotely up to 5 days per week, but you will need to go to the office periodically for meetings, training, onboarding, and other operational needs. You can be headquartered at one of the central or regional office buildings throughout the state. 

As an employee of the state of Wisconsin, you'll have access to an amazing benefits package, including:

• 3.5 weeks of vacation, 9 paid holidays and ample sick time; limitations may apply for leave time usage in the first six months.
• Top rated health plan options starting at $47/month for single plans and $117/month for family plans, after 2 months of state service. 
• Exceptional pension plan with a 7.25% employer match in 2027 with lifetime retirement payment. Plus, a tax advantaged supplemental retirement savings plan which allows you to save money directly from your paycheck for retirement. Use this Total Rewards Calculator to see the total value of our competitive benefits package!  
• Several flex spending accounts: medical, dependent care, commuter, parking and High-Deductible Health Savings.
• Well Wisconsin Wellness Program
• A free and confidential employee assistance program that offers employees and their immediate family dependents a variety of tools, resources, and professional consultation services to support their health, goals, and overall well-being.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program employer.

As the Forensic Programs Quality Specialist, you will provide statewide guidance and leadership on best practices as well as legislative, statutory, and policy changes. This involves analyzing programs, policies, and data for evidence-based practice, while tracking and communicating legislative changes affecting community forensic populations. Responsibilities include:   

• Program planning and analysis through coordination of project management and program evaluation activities. Community forensic programs use contracting and subcontracting to achieve program goals based on Wisconsin statutes and best practices to mitigate risk to the community and support recovery of clients in our programs.  You will serve as an expert data collection, mining, analysis, and reporting resource and will use various data to enhance service delivery through evaluating contract, program, and system performance, leading associated quality improvement initiatives, making program decisions, and coordinating responses to requests for data and information from both internal and external partners.
• Serving as the BCFS electronic health records (EHR) expert and collaborating contracted providers, Department of Corrections (DOC), the Office of the Electronic Health Record (OEHR) and other DHS partners to analyze and make improvements to the BCFS EHR system and related policies/practices to support system efficiency and quality service provision. You will ensure compliance with Wisconsin statutes, Administrative Code, HIPAA compliance regulations, and general practices related to the management of electronic health records (EHR) for BCFS clients.
• Participation in the development and revision of policies, procedures, procurements, contracts, and corrective actions to ensure effective and quality programming that adheres to best practices and statutory requirements. 
• Serving as the primary contact for training and technical assistance on bureau-wide program administration requirements, related statutes, and applicable best practices including coordinating environmental scans, solicitations, contracts, and monitoring service provision, program outcomes, and corrective actions, when necessary. 

The starting pay is between $38.00 and $43.00 per hour (approximately between $79,000 and $89,400 per year), depending on qualifications, plus excellent benefits. A 12-month probationary period is required. 

Pay for current or former employees is based on the rules that apply to compensation for the applicable transaction. This position is classified as a Program & Policy Analyst – Advanced and is in pay schedule/range 07/03.

• All applicants who may be appointed will be required to allow DHS to conduct a background check to determine whether the circumstances of any conviction may be related to the job being filled.
• To work remotely, employees must have access to both a private workspace and secure high-speed internet.
• Mileage reimbursement to the employee’s headquarter location is not provided.
• For positions that allow remote working flexibility, working outside of Wisconsin or in bordering cities will not be allowed except in extremely limited circumstances due to the need to report to an office location in Wisconsin on short notice.
• DHS does not sponsor work visas for this position, thus, in compliance with federal law, selected candidates will be required to verify eligibility to work in the United States by completing the required I-9 form upon hire. DHS is not an E-Verify employer nor a STEM-OPT eligible employer.

Minimally qualified applicants will have all the following:

• Experience planning, developing, and evaluating services or programs to measure effectiveness and implement quality improvement initiatives.
• Experience managing or leading projects (e.g., assigning or delegating responsibilities, tracking project documentation, monitoring timelines and budgets, providing status updates and reports, etc.). 
• Experience collecting and analyzing data and using it to report findings and inform program or policy decisions.

Well-qualified applicants will also have one or more of the following:

• Experience working in the behavioral or forensic mental health services system.
• Experience with Electronic Health Records or other individual case management software.
• Experience conducting behavioral health or other human services related program evaluations. 
• Experience providing training or technical assistance to internal and external partners within a human services or behavioral health program area.

Your resume and letter of qualifications are each limited to two (2) pages. For a guide on developing your resume and letter of qualifications and what should be included in these materials, click here. 

Applying is easy! Click “Apply for Job” to start the application process.  Sign into your account or create an account before applying for the job. Follow the steps outlined in the application process to submit your application. 

Helpful Information: 

• Once an application is submitted, no changes are allowed. Click “Save” to allow changes to your application as needed before submitting by the deadline. 
• You may want to save a copy of the job posting for reference after the deadline.
• Submitted materials will be evaluated by a panel of job experts according to the qualifications above. 
• Please monitor your email for communications related to this position. 
• Current or former permanent, classified, state employees must complete the online application process to be considered. 
• If viewing through an external site, please apply directly at Wisc.Jobs.
• For technical assistance and general information, please see Frequently Asked Questions. For questions about the position, to request a copy of the full position description, or for other employment inquiries, please contact Shannon Kavorik in Human Resources at [email protected]. 

DHS is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer.

Veterans are encouraged to apply. For complete information on Veterans’ hiring programs with the WI Department of Veteran’s Affairs, click here.

The deadline to apply is September 23 at 11:59 PM.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to allow ample time to finalize their applications keeping in mind that technical assistance is not available after 4:30 PM on the deadline date. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.