Youth Counselor

About This Role

Supporting and guiding court-involved youth is the central purpose of this counseling role within the Division of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. The position suits a candidate passionate about helping young people and strengthening families through effective intervention, education, and treatment.

Responsibilities

• Monitor and supervise juveniles while housed, at school, and during all daily activities
• Maintain a secure environment by routinely monitoring and observing juveniles
• Complete daily records, including documenting safety violations, security breaches, activity briefings for shift personnel, crisis intervention events, behavioral problems/issues, and youth progress updates
• Provide feedback to the treatment team on juveniles
• Communicate information regarding treatment plans to clients
• Provide counseling and therapeutic intervention
• Serve as a member of a therapeutic treatment team
• Utilize a range of counseling techniques and skills in crisis interventions
• Implement individual and group treatment plans to effect behavioral changes
• Administer, score, and interpret a variety of assessment tools to evaluate treatment progress
• Review treatment strategies to achieve rehabilitation goals
• Participate in the development of individual treatment, educational, vocational, and community reintegration programs
• Perform physical and mechanical restraints
• Administer medication

Requirements

• Bachelor
• Two years of experience working with the juvenile/family client population and/or related human services experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience (6 years)
• Physically capable of applying the proper methods and procedures to physically restrain juveniles and defend self after being properly trained by the department
• Attend and successfully complete and pass the Juvenile Justice Officer Basic Training Certification Program, which requires four weeks to complete and is comprised of classroom and physically demanding training at regional training centers, requiring consecutive overnight stays
• Have or be able to obtain required documentation for certification as a Juvenile Justice Officer (i.e., a diploma)
• Pass a Criminal Background check
• Pass a Drug Screening test
• Pass a Psychological test
• Pass a Sexual Risk Screening test
• Pass a Physical (to include Vision and Hearing)
• Be a US citizen
• Be at least 20 years of age
• Have a valid driver's license

Nice to have:

• Demonstrated knowledge of adolescent development