Bilingual Intake Counselor (English/Spanish)

Arlington County VA•Arlington, VA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Arlington County Juvenile and Domestic Relations (JDR) is seeking a Bilingual Intake Counselor (English/Spanish) to serve as the first point of contact for children, families, victims, attorneys, law enforcement, schools, and community agencies seeking assistance through the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court. The CSU is comprised of Intake, Juvenile Probation, Adult Probation, and Community-based residential and afterschool programs. The JDR/CSU receives and processes complaints for children and families to determine possible need of Court resources or County programs. This position will work with an ethnically diverse population, many of whom use Spanish as their primary language and have limited English speaking abilities.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice, Psychology, Sociology, or related field
Considerable experience in probation, social work, crisis intervention or family counseling including at least one year which required working within a legal/court/probation environment
Bilingual ability in English/Spanish
Knowledge of juvenile justice, family law, child welfare, or related legal processes
Excellent interviewing, assessment, and critical thinking skills
Exceptional communications and customer service skills to interact respectfully with individuals from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds
Ability to remain calm and make sound decisions under pressure
Strong organizational and time management skills with the ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment
Demonstrated commitment to providing equitable, trauma-informed services to a diverse community
Ability to interpret statutes, policies, and procedures and apply them appropriately
Proficiency with computer systems, electronic case management databases, and Microsoft Office applications
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with court personnel, justice partners, and community agencies
Must operate a vehicle to perform assigned duties in other county locations
Must possess, or obtain by time of appointment, a valid driver’s license, and must provide or authorize Arlington County to obtain a copy of official driving record

Nice To Haves

Probation or intake in the juvenile and/or adult criminal justice system
Conducting structured interviews to obtain detailed information to determine eligibility for informal or formal court involvement
Counseling troubled or traumatized youth and families to gather information, develop service plans, and refer clients to service providers
Training and use of evidence-based interventions such as Motivational Interviewing, Adolescent Risk Assessment, and Focus
Proficient in use of Balanced Approach Data Gathering Environment (BADGE) and Juvenile Secure Viewing System (JSVS)

Responsibilities

Interviewing petitioners, juveniles, parents, victims, attorneys, law enforcement, and community partners to assess concerns and determine appropriate court action
Reviewing delinquency, CHINS, custody, visitation, support, and protective order complaints for legal sufficiency and court intervention
Evaluating cases for diversion, community-based services, informal resolution, or formal court processing in accordance with state law and agency policy
Conducting detention assessments and preparing authorized detention orders
Assessing child abuse and family abuse complaints for protective order eligibility
Preparing, processing, and filing legal documents, including petitions, detention orders, protective orders, and related court forms
Providing information on court procedures, resources, and next steps while maintaining neutrality and avoiding legal advice
Coordinating with courts, law enforcement, schools, social services, attorneys, and community organizations to support children and families
Monitoring compliance with diversion agreements and court-ordered conditions
Maintaining accurate, confidential case records and documentation
Performing other job-related duties as assigned