Behavioral Health Specialist - Assessment, Social Work / Counselor III - Platte Valley YSC

State of Colorado•Greeley, CO

6d•Onsite

About The Position

The Division of Youth Services (DYS) provides a continuum of residential and non-residential services that encompass juvenile detention, commitment, and parole. DYS is the agency statutorily mandated to provide for the care and supervision of youth committed by the District Court to the custody of the Colorado Department of Human Services. The Division operates fifteen secure facilities that serve youth between the ages of 10 and 21, who are pre-adjudicated, sentenced, or committed. The Division also contracts with numerous private residential and non-residential service providers throughout the State. For pre-adjudicated youth, the Division is also responsible for the management and oversight of Colorado Youth Detention Continuum, a State-funded, locally administered program that provides services to youth at risk of further progressing into the juvenile justice system. In addition to residential programming, the Division administers juvenile parole services throughout the State. The purpose of this position is to administer and interpret criminogenic, mental health, trauma, and substance abuse screening and assessment tools, in order to arrive at accurate and effective recommendations for placement and treatment goals for juveniles who have been committed to the Department of Human Services, Division of Youth Services. A primary aim of this position is to work within a multidisciplinary team to offer empirically supported criminogenic, mental health, trauma, and substance abuse evaluation services to the youth and families that DYS serves. This job class requires advanced educational degree, training, and experience in the discipline areas of criminal risk, mental health, trauma, and substance abuse screening and evaluation. This position conducts individual and family structured clinical interviews, administers and interprets behavioral health assessment information, acts as a liaison with psychiatric professionals, completes substance abuse screening and assessments, and participates as a team member and clinical consultant with other assessment and regional personnel. Information gained through the assessment process is synthesized into a comprehensive and professional report and is completed within the timelines specified in Colorado Revised Statues and internal implementing procedures.

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)
One (1) 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.
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.
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. Explain why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify you from the current position. Provide your employee number from your prior State employment. Absent extraordinary circumstances, prior disciplinary termination or resignation in lieu of termination and failure to provide this information will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with CDHS.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Conduct clinical interviews, criminogenic risk assessments, drug and alcohol screening and assessments, mental health evaluations, trauma assessment, and neuropsychological screenings on juvenile offenders who are committed to the Department of Human Services, Division of Youth Services.
Administer and interpret the Youth Assessment Screening Instrument (YASI), the Juvenile Automated Substance Abuse Evaluation (JASAE), and University of California Los Angeles Post Traumatic Stress Disorder – Reaction Index (UCLA PTSD-RI) to assess specified areas of functioning including, but not limited to: current and past delinquent behaviors, mental health presentation, criminogenic need areas, family issues, peer relationships, self-perceptions, use of free time, level of maturity, problem solving skills, breadth of decision-making, drug and alcohol involvement, personal goals, risk factors associated with neuropsychological deficits, and identified skills/competencies.
Conduct family interview to ascertain individualized family strengths, needs, perspective, and expressed goals for treatment and DYS stay.
Outline the assessment process to youth and families, including expectations, responding to questions, and requesting signed authorization for release of information and disclosure statements.
Communicate individualized assessment findings and treatment recommendations with interdisciplinary team members to arrive at collaborative decisions regarding Service Plan goals, optional placement types, and recommended treatment.
Participate in the initial DYS Multidisciplinary team meeting to discuss all relevant assessment findings in order to arrive at consensus related to prescribed placement type, service plan recommendations, and transition goals based upon individualized youth and family needs.
Incorporate all assessment findings into a comprehensive, individualized, and strengths-based written Assessment Report.
Enter all pertinent information into the Colorado Trails database.
Perform a quality review all Assessment Reports prior to dissemination to ensure information contained in the report is accurate, conveys data necessary for DCP/Treatment Plan development, and represents correct grammar, spelling, and sentence structure.
Review relevant collateral data, previous evaluation findings, legal documents, and any other information received at time of commitment, and incorporate the information into the finalized assessment report.
Review Court Orders to ensure legality per Colorado Children’s Code.
Contact DYS Quality Assurance designee and/or courts to obtain any necessary legal interpretation or clarification and request amendment to mittimi when warranted.
Complete all commitment classification paperwork, calculate security level designation and sentencing parameters, and enter results into the Trails database system.
Contact collateral agencies to verify or request additional information on newly committed juveniles.
Review all information available in the judicial data base to ensure accuracy of mittimi, additional/pending charges, sentencing requirements, court orders and/or restitution ordered, and note any discovered discrepancies in the Assessment Report.
Forward legal documents to DYS Quality Assurance designee for review and respond to requests for corrections in accordance with Assessment Services Quality Assurance protocol.
Provide clinical oversight, expertise, quality assurance, and direction regarding evaluation findings of juveniles committed to the Department of Human Services, Division of Youth Services.
Uphold effectiveness, fit, and functionality of currently utilized evaluation instruments, including the Juvenile Automated Substance Abuse Evaluation (JASAE), and provide recommendations for improving statewide Assessment Services practices and policies.
Participate in training topics related to assessment, including but not limited to, strengths-based evaluation and goal setting, effective report writing, identification of mental health and criminogenic need factors, psychological theories that apply to assessment, and motivational interviewing skills.
Participate as a representative for DYS Assessment Services at various mental health and juvenile justice conferences.
Maintain ongoing statewide correspondence with Assessment Specialist colleagues, service providers, and client managers to ensure reliable communication and continuity of services provided across the DYS continuum of care.
Maintain direct and ongoing communication with the Assessment Leadership and Psychologists to review, uphold, and improve ongoing criminogenic, drug and alcohol, neuropsychological, and psychological assessment practices.
Participate in Continuous Quality Improvement practices, as outlined by DYS Assessment Services protocol.
Communicate assessment program/system strengths and limitations to the Program Manager.
Participate in program development activities and assigned committees designed to ensure continuous quality improvement and reinforcement of DYS Assessment Services initiatives.
Keep current on all legal, qualitative, and professional requirements related to the position.
Maintain all licensure and certifications required by the position.
Participate in formal and informal opportunities to improve job performance.
Participate in agency team meetings, assessment unit meetings, group consultation, and regional meetings as required.
Serve as assessment representative to various DYS and/or community agency/stakeholder task force committees.
Participate in the exchange of information, collaborative program advancement and recommendations aimed at improving Assessment Services.
Act as a liaison between Assessment Services and Regional personnel.
Upon request, provide information to various groups regarding the operations and function of Assessment Services.
Assist with coordinating the referral process for juvenile offenders who have completed their initial assessment process and are moving into placement.
Maintain awareness and observance of all DYS policies and procedures.
Ensure adherence to facility safety/security policies and procedures when interviewing, and supervising juveniles.
Maintain communication with assessment unit program assistant to ensure initial staffing schedule is completed in compliance with the timeframes mandated by CRS statutes and DYS policy.
Comply with all DYS data requests.
Must remain certified in CPR, First Aid, and Verbal De-escalation at all times.
Fulfill all 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.