hospital liaison

Introduction
When you join the Maryland Department of Human Services (DHS), you join a team of more than 5,000 employees across the state dedicated to positively changing the lives of more than 1 million Marylanders each year. We do this by providing economic support, preventive services, and caring for children and adults.

We aim to deliver services so that we more quickly meet the needs of the people we serve. At DHS, we grapple with hard questions to find new ways to foster a culture of bold innovation. We do this to ensure that in Maryland, we leave no one behind.

This is a Management Service position that serves at the pleasure of the Appointing Authority.

GRADE
22

LOCATION OF POSITION
Maryland Department of Human Services

Social Services Administration

25 South Charles St.

Baltimore, MD 21201

Main Purpose of Job
This position serves as the Hospital Liaison and Pediatric Hospital Overstay Coordinator for the Department of Human Services (DHS). The position is responsible for identifying, developing, and implementing mechanisms to expedite community-based behavioral health services for youth who experience delays transitioning from hospital emergency departments or inpatient psychiatric settings. The position improves the State's supportive infrastructure by leading interagency care management efforts; coordinating with the Maryland Department of Health (MDH), local behavioral health authorities, hospitals, and local departments of social services; and monitoring provider capacity to ensure timely and appropriate service access. In accordance with the 2025 legislative mandate, the position also serves as DHS's Pediatric Hospital Overstay Coordinator. In this capacity, the incumbent partners with MDH and utilizes the Maryland Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Registry and Referral System to ensure that pediatric hospital overstay patients are placed in the least restrictive, clinically appropriate setting. The position ensures that hospitals concurrently explore in-State and out-of-State placement options when necessary, and maintains required data and reporting related to pediatric hospital overstays.

POSITION DUTIES

• Serves as the primary role of the Pediatric Hospital Overstay Coordinator. Reviews policies and procedures of relevant state agencies and make recommendations to better serve pediatric hospital overstay patients.
• Maintains data on each pediatric hospital overstay patient, including patient length of stay, the responsible state agency, services needed, placement options being sought by the patient; Information regarding previous hospitalization admissions for a behavioral health diagnosis, and any other relevant data in conjunction with the Placement team.
• Advocates on behalf of pediatric hospital overstay patients.
• Coordinates with SSA and the local Department of Social Services on the needs of youth in hospital overstay, discharge planning, and service coordination.
• Develops collaborative, interagency efforts to improve service access.
• Works with the Placement program in producing a report on the data collected as described for the Secretary of Health and the Secretary of Human Resources.
• Participates fully in the legislative and regulatory process to ensure that the position papers, fiscal notes, comments on legislative proposals, draft regulations, and responses are formulated within the appropriate time frame and consistent with the goals of the organization.

Minimum Qualifications
Education : A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in social work, psychology, public health, public administration, health service administration, nursing, or a related human services or behavioral health field.

Experience : Five years of professional experience in a health, behavioral health, or human services program that includes responsibility for program coordination, case management, hospital or behavioral health service transitions, or interagency collaboration.

Notes

• Candidates may substitute graduate-level education (e.g., MSW, MPH, MPA, MSN) at an accredited college or university for up to two years of the required general experience at the rate of 30 credit hours for one year.
• Candidates may substitute additional professional experience in child welfare, behavioral health, hospital systems, or human services on a year-for-year basis for the required education.

Desired Or Preferred Qualifications
The ideal candidate will possess the following:

• Two years of experience coordinating complex cases that required simultaneous collaboration with three or more systems such as hospitals, behavioral health providers, local behavioral health authorities, child welfare agencies, or Medicaid care management entities.
• One year of experience working directly with hospital discharge planning, psychiatric inpatient transitions, or resolving placement barriers for youth or adults who remained in a hospital setting beyond medical readiness.
• One year of experience interpreting and applying state or federal legislation, regulations, or mandated reporting requirements in a health, behavioral health, or child welfare environment, such as pertaining to compliance reports, implementing statutory requirements, or advising leadership on policy implications.

SELECTION PROCESS
Please make sure that you provide sufficient information on your application to show that you meet the qualifications for this recruitment. We will not consider information submitted after this date. Successful candidates will be placed on the employment (eligible) list. The resulting list may be used for future vacancies with this agency or other state agencies.

If you are in State service and are a promotional candidate, your salary will be determined in accordance with State of Maryland guidelines.

EXAMINATION PROCESS
As an employee of the State of Maryland, you will have access to outstanding benefits, including: health insurance, dental, and vision plans offered at a low cost. CLICK ON THIS LINK FOR MORE DETAILS: STATE OF MARYLAND BENEFITS .

• Personal Leave - new State employees are awarded six (6) personnel days annually (prorated based on start date).
• Annual Leave - ten (10) days of accumulated annual leave per year.
• Sick Leave - fifteen (15) days of accumulated sick leave per year.
• Parental Leave - up to sixty (60) days of paid parental leave upon the birth or adoption of a child.
• Holidays - State employees also celebrate at least thirteen (13) holidays per year.
• Pension - State employees earn credit towards a retirement pension.
• Positions may be eligible for telework.

FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS
The online application process is STRONGLY preferred. If you are unable to apply online, you may mail a paper application and supplemental questionnaire to, Maryland Department of Human Services, Employment Services, Attention: Kendra Young, 25 South Charles St, Room 1116-L, Baltimore, Maryland 21201.

If you have any questions concerning the recruitment process for this position, please email Kendra Young at ; include the job title and recruitment # in the subject line.

If you are having difficulty with your user account or have general questions about the online application system, please contact the MD Department of Budget and Management, Recruitment and Examination Division, at or .

TTY Users: call via Maryland Relay.

As an equal opportunity employer, Maryland is committed to recruiting, retaining and promoting employees who are reflective of the State's diversity. People with disabilities and bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply. We thank our Veterans for their service to our country.