About The Position

This position serves as the Behavioral Health Lead for the Platte Valley Youth Services Center and functions as the Youth Center Training Officer (YCTO) for Behavioral Health Services. The role also provides oversight for substance use psychoeducation services and the internship/practicum program. This position provides behavioral health clinical services to committed and detained youth who present with complex mental health needs, trauma histories, substance use concerns, aggression, and related behavioral issues. All services are delivered in accordance with DORA requirements and established mental health standards, including clinical assessment, service planning, individual and group counseling, documentation, and multidisciplinary service coordination. This position is designed to provide onsite services and is not authorized to deliver remote services unless explicitly approved by the Associate Director of Behavioral Health and Medical Services, the Director of Behavioral Health Operations, or their designee. This position provides direct services to youth, including individual and group services as well as oversight of daily behavioral health services and is responsible to ensure transition planning and continuity of services upon discharge are taking place. The unit understands behaviors of adolescents and can treat the youth from the perspective of lowering the risks and increasing protective factors the youth present with and addressing the relationship between substance abuse issues and behavior. This position is skilled in the use of a strength-based perspective, systems theory, trauma informed care, and behavioral approaches. As a Social Worker/Counselor IV, this position supports and provides oversight for other Behavioral Health Specialists and Clinical Interns by providing enhanced services to complex youth, consulting to provide guidance on behavioral interventions for youth, and provides in-moment coaching to assist in the professional growth of less experienced behavioral health specialists.

Requirements

  • Current, valid Colorado or State participating in the Social Work Licensure Compact licensure as a: Licensed Social Worker (LSW) OR Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) OR Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) OR Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC)
  • Two (2) year of experience with current, valid licensure from a state participating in the Social Work Licensure Compact based on the work assigned to the position.
  • Applicants for supervisory positions must have licensure that meets the legal requirements to perform supervisory responsibilities.
  • Be a minimum of 21 years of age, with no felony convictions or history of domestic violence
  • Full background check and reference check required
  • This position requires State of Colorado residency at the time of application (unless otherwise identified in the posting), and residency within the state throughout the duration of employment in this position.
  • Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) Check
  • Must possess a valid, non-restricted Colorado Driver’s License
  • Continued employment is contingent upon successful completion of the DYS Pre-service Training Academy, Field Training Program (FTO) and mandatory annual training in all subject areas.
  • Travel to assigned trainings and/or alternate work sites.
  • The Diana Screen®, a sexual risk screening tool, is administered to all applicants to the Division of Youth Services (DYS) seeking positions of trust with children and teens to help ensure that ethical boundaries between children and adults are maintained.
  • Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must disclose that information on the application and explain why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify you from the current position. Provide your employee number from your prior State employment.

Nice To Haves

  • Relatable experience as a current or previous State of Colorado employee.

Responsibilities

  • Provide Assessment and Treatment: Within the first seven days of a youth’s arrival, this position will thoroughly assess a youth’s mental health needs by reviewing the youth’s main and medical files and making initial and collateral contacts as appropriate.
  • Maintains a caseload and will provide oversight of Behavioral Health Specialists assigned to individual youth.
  • Conducts individual, group, and family therapeutic interventions using evidence-based treatment theories and curricula.
  • Provides counseling in accordance with training and expertise gained through specific training and knowledge of DORA standards and the Office of Civil and Forensic Mental Health (OCFMH) expectations.
  • Therapeutic intervention service needs include substance use, psychoeducation, mental health issues, trauma histories, cognitive limitations, sensory integration, and offense specific services for sexually abusive or violent youth.
  • Behavioral health services are relevant to the needs of the youth and the individual needs and protective factors, considering their age, ethnic, cultural, religious and sexual identity issues, to affect behavior change and the reduction of complex co-occurring needs and risk to community and symptoms in the individual and family.
  • Treatment is provided using DYS treatment model.
  • Use of behavioral interventions, sensory integration and modalities, CBT, and Motivational Interviewing techniques with youth are used.
  • Interpret treatment issues, needs, expectations, and changes in behavior for residents and families.
  • Treatment is provided using strengths-based approach and holistic manner.
  • Document and assess the effectiveness of specific interventions toward meeting the objectives and goals of the treatment plan.
  • Treatment incorporates and addresses the youth’s risk, needs and protective factors and how criminal conduct, trauma histories, substance abuse and mental health issues are related.
  • Collaborate with the medical team and psychiatrist regarding psychotropic medication use in treatment and collaborate with primary BHS on assessing needs for medication if appropriate.
  • Collaborate with client manager and primary BHS to assist in developing wrap-around transition and aftercare services for the youth nearing parole/discharge to support sobriety.
  • Collaborate with educational/vocational systems to ensure appropriate academic services are provided, and work with the school Behavioral Health Specialist in ensuring consistent behavior interventions for youth who may be struggling in the school environment.
  • Seek out additional resources as necessary to ensure the best approach to treatment with the youth based on their developmental and neurocognitive ability.
  • Therapeutic interventions are provided in a manner that is consistent with the youth’s ability, taking into account any necessary modification needed as a result of trauma, substance abuse, brain injury and mental health disorders.
  • This position supports agency services of individualized services using cognitive behavioral based interventions, sensory modulation, Sanctuary model and Motivational Interviewing.
  • Facilitation of daily groups, assessment of progress, barriers to progress, collaboration with multidisciplinary team members, communication of pertinent information to primary BHS, milieu staff and education, and documentation of all case management and therapeutic services in the electronic record system by the end of next business day.
  • Documents summary of progress in monthly treatment plans for youth on caseload.
  • Documents all assessments, sessions, court reports, transition plans, community passes and staffing sessions.
  • Communicates effectively in verbal and written formats, that demonstrates knowledge and expertise in working with juveniles who have substance abuse, mental health and behavioral health issues.
  • Is able to elaborate on needs, protective factors, progress and barriers to progress in a manner that is understandable to all audiences and partners, to include family, client management, education staff, parole boards, private providers, courts, etc.
  • Conducts all mental health services in accordance with DORA and OCFMH standards in order to mitigate risk and improve overall health.
  • Services provided are at an advanced level based on licensing and experience in the substance abuse field, relevant to current research and best practice principles.
  • Supervises programming components which include the Behavioral Program (level system), Chronic Disease Protocol, Substance Use Services, Mental health Services, Motivational Interviewing, Trauma Responsive environments, Practicum, and Internship program.
  • In conjunction with the CTL, develops and conducts training for milieu staff and/or BHS.
  • This position is responsible for the training and development of interns; this position is an Individual Contributor that is responsible for oversight for mental health services.
  • This position also makes recommendations, and evaluates treatment cases based on practice, theory, or principle, and experience at an advanced level confirmed by licensing with oversight from CLT.
  • Utilizes a strength-based approach to assisting in professional development and addressing performance concerns.
  • This position provides training specific to procedures that have been developed to ensure that policy standards are met and specifically to further develop the team in its competency and in the area of family engagement.
  • This position provides consultation to the direct care staff to develop and maintain programming that promotes a trauma informed environment.
  • Other duties as assigned

Benefits

  • Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including a PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan plus 401(k) and 457 plans
  • Medical and dental health plans
  • Employer supplemented Health Savings Account
  • Paid life insurance
  • Short- and long-term disability coverage
  • 11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave
  • State of Colorado Employee BenefitHub Resource Center
  • Employee Wellness program
  • Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules, training and more
  • Remote work arrangements for eligible positions
  • Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.
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