Summary This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply. Responsibilities Major Duties include, but are not limited to: Establishes informal or formal agreements and partnerships with city and county corrections regarding identification of, and access to, veterans, and access to use of appropriate assessment information for reentry planning. Meets with city and county jail administrators and staff on a regular basis to maintain appropriate policies and procedures required at each institution. Attends correctional institution staff trainings relevant to working with offenders and high-risk populations. Establishes a point of contact at each facility who will arrange for scheduled visitations with veterans. Collaborates with county probation officers, state attorney's office public defenders and hired attorneys to develop a post-release plan and/or community-based alternatives to incarceration. Establishes point of contact in enrollment department at each medical center/clinic in the Carl Vinson VA Medical Center catchment area to expedite enrollment process and access to medical care. Provides information on VA services to city and county correctional institutions. Attends VA and Non-VA trainings, meetings, and conferences relevant to the population served in order to enhance coordination of care for veterans. Participate in state and community (including HUD Continuums of Care homelessness prevention efforts) and VA CHALENG and Stand Down Court initiatives. Educates VA staff as needed regarding first intercept point issues and activities. Establishes respectful, effective relationships with veterans, and with the clinical, custodial, and administrative staff from a range of institutions and agencies involved in the first intercept point. Identifies and interviews incarcerated veterans at each institution to conduct pre-release needs assessment and determine appropriate post-release referrals, linkage and coordination for VA and non-VA services to enhance the transition from jail to the community. Provides incarcerated veterans information on VA services and community resources. Coordinates veteran care with all VA programs as well as non-VA community programs and resources. Completes and documents assessment of psychosocial factors (history/current/anticipated), including: veteran and VA status; physical, mental health, substance abuse, and disability status; financial (including child support and other debts) and employment status; housing status; family and marital status; and legal status. Coordinates overall care of the veteran during the transition into VA services in conjunction with other involved case managers. Serves as an advocate on behalf of veterans to ensure comprehensive service delivery, and links and refers veterans to the VA Medical Center, VA Regional Offices, and/or community agencies. Follows up with medical, psychiatric, social, and economic status for each veteran. Assists the veteran in contact with attorneys, judges, correctional probation officer, problem solving with veteran and probation, and provide education to the judicial system on VA programs and services. Identifies and intervenes in crises experienced by the veteran during the community stabilization period. Work Schedule: 8:00am-4:30pm, Monday-Friday Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 58357F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: This position is eligible for EDRP, a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of your start date. Program approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. Former participants are ineligible to apply for the EDRP incentive. Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov for questions or assistance. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. Qualifications Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. Master's degree in Social Work from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Graduates of schools of social work that are in candidacy status do not meet this requirement until the school of social work is fully accredited. Note: A doctoral degree in Social Work may NOT be substituted for the master's degree in Social Work. Verification of the degree can be made by going to http://www.cswe.org/Accreditation to verify that the social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a masters of social work. Licensed or certified: Persons hired or reassigned to social worker positions in the GS-0185 series in VHA must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level. Current state requirements may be found by going to http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/. May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Does not apply to promotions above the full performance level (GS-11). Grade Determinations: GS 12 Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates Education and Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressively more professional competency. Candidate may have certification or other post-master's degree training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship, or equivalent supervised professional experience. Licensure/Certification. Individuals assigned as social worker program coordinator must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level, and must be able to provide supervision for licensure. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of program coordination and administration which includes consultation, negotiation, and monitoring. (b) Knowledge and ability to write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines for the program. (c) Ability to supervise multidisciplinary staff assigned to the program. (d) Skill in organizing work, setting priorities, meeting multiple deadlines, and evaluating assigned program area(s). (e) Ability to provide training, orientation, and guidance within clinical practice. References: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-39 Social Worker Qualification Standard. Physical Requirements: See handbook 5019. Education IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.