Youth Suicide Prevention Surveillance Specialist

OPENING DATE:  September 24, 2026

CLOSING DATE:  October 7, 2026

POSITION SUMMARY:  Supports Prevention & Recovery's youth suicide prevention efforts by maintaining ongoing awareness of suicide and self-harm concerns affecting youth within the community and service area. The position reviews authorized program and community information to identify emerging trends, coordinate appropriate referrals and prevention responses, strengthen protective factors, support community partnerships and postvention, and maintain required grant documentation. Surveillance is conducted for prevention and early identification purposes and does not include independent clinical assessment or unauthorized monitoring of individual youth.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

- Maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive youth, behavioral health, suicide, and self-harm information in accordance with applicable privacy, Tribal, departmental, and grant requirements.

- Review authorized program data, referrals, partner reports, crisis-related information, and other approved sources for emerging youth suicide and self-harm concerns.

- Identify and document patterns or trends affecting individuals, peer groups, schools, populations, communities, or geographic areas and communicate significant concerns to the Program/Project Manager and Outpatient leadership.

- Coordinate with Case Managers, Intake, Outreach, behavioral health providers, crisis resources, schools, and approved community partners when youth may need services, outreach, referral, or additional support.

- Immediately escalate serious or urgent safety concerns according to established crisis and emergency procedures; do not independently conduct clinical suicide risk assessments unless trained, credentialed, and authorized.

- Assist with targeted outreach, suicide prevention education, 988 awareness, cultural/protective-factor activities, resource distribution, and other grant-approved prevention strategies in response to identified needs.

- Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with schools, Tribal programs, healthcare organizations, youth-serving programs, behavioral health providers, emergency responders, and other appropriate community partners.

- Participate in coordinated postvention activities, including outreach, resource distribution, service connection, monitoring for emerging concerns, and documentation as directed.

- Support workforce development through suicide prevention training, referral pathway development, prevention materials, and approved education for staff and community partners.

- Maintain accurate and timely surveillance, referral, outreach, intervention, postvention, partnership, and grant performance documentation.

- Participate in required meetings, trainings, supervision, grant activities, and other duties as assigned.

- When a specific youth may need assistance, coordinate the appropriate next step within the position's scope, which may include outreach, case management, intake, behavioral health services, crisis/988 services, resource navigation, or authorized school/community coordination.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES AND REPORTING :

Reports within the Outpatient leadership structure. Program/Project Managers may provide grant-related direction regarding surveillance activities, objectives, data requirements, prevention strategies, partnerships, and deliverables. This position does not have personnel supervisory authority.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS :

Employee must be able to climb, crouch, pull, push, reach, stand engage in repetitive motions, grasp, walk, feel, touch, speak, hear and see.

Employee must be able to move and lift computing equipment.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8 am - 5pm. Some weekends.

Travel Required: Occasionally

WORK ENVIRONMENT :  Professional and confidential behavioral health and community prevention environment involving sensitive youth suicide prevention information and regular coordination with internal staff and community partners.

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS:

- High school diploma or equivalent required; Associate or Bachelor's degree in behavioral health, social work, psychology, public health, human services, education, or a related field preferred.

- Minimum one (1) year of experience in youth services, behavioral health, suicide prevention, crisis response, public health, community outreach, case management, data tracking, or a related field preferred.

- Knowledge of youth suicide prevention, behavioral health resources, crisis systems, referral pathways, and community-based prevention strategies preferred.

- Experience working with Tribal or Indigenous communities and youth-serving organizations preferred.

- Ability to recognize patterns in program information and communicate concerns clearly without making unauthorized clinical determinations.

- Strong organizational, documentation, interpersonal, and written/verbal communication skills.

- Ability to maintain confidentiality and appropriately handle sensitive information.

- Proficiency in Microsoft Office and electronic documentation/data systems.

- Valid Oklahoma driver's license and insurable under the Comanche Nation motor vehicle policy.

- Must successfully complete required background check and drug screening.

BENEFITS PACKAGE:

- Annual Leave (4 hours per pay period)

- Sick Leave (4 hours per pay period)

- Birthday Leave

- Bereavement Leave (5 paid days off for specified family members)

- Fifteen (15) Paid Holidays

- Medical Insurance (100% employer paid for employee only)

- Dental Insurance (100% employer paid for employee only)

- Life Insurance (100% employer paid for employee only- $40K coverage)

- 401K-up to 3% match

VOLUNTARY BENEFITS ( 100% employee paid via payroll deduction ) :

- Medical Insurance BCBS (Spouse, Child(ren), and Family coverage available)

- Dental Insurance Delta Dental (Spouse, Child(ren), and Family coverage available)

- Vision Insurance VSP (Employee, Spouse, Child(ren), and Family coverage available)

- Short-term Disability

- Long-term Disability

- Additional Employee Life Insurance

- Spouse, and Child Life Insurance

- AFLAC

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER : The Comanche Nation does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor.

COMANCHE PREFERENCE applies in accordance to the Comanche Nation Human Resources Policies and Procedures. Eligible applicants must submit proof of enrollment with employment application to receive Comanche preference.

INDIAN PREFERENCE applies in accordance with Indian Preference Act of 1934 (Title 25, USC Section 472), Form 4432 must be submitted with employment application to receive Indian Preference. Non-Indian applications will be considered in the absence of qualified Comanche and/or Indian preference applicants.

VETERAN PREFERENCE applies in accordance to the Comanche Nation Human Resources Policies and Procedures. Eligible applicants must submit proof of veteran status, DD Form 214, with employment application to receive veteran preference.