Intensive Support Specialist - LTE

Marathon County•Wausau, WI

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Marathon County Social Services is hiring two Intensive Support Specialists to join their team, providing individual intervention and programming at the Youth Opportunity Center (Y.O.C.). This role involves working directly with youth who are navigating behavioral, emotional, or legal challenges. The Y.O.C. offers structured programming, life skills development, and accountability in a supportive, community-based environment. As a Limited-Term Employee (LTE), Intensive Support Specialists (I.S.S.) provide ongoing support services to youth and their families involved with the Youth Justice system. I.S.S. act as mentors, facilitators, and positive role models, delivering psychoeducation and recreational programming to help youth build resilience, reduce risk factors, and enhance prosocial behavior. The primary goal is to provide rehabilitation services to help youth remain in the community without further law violations, while also providing structure and accountability to reduce criminal behavior and build on protective factors for youth and families. The position will involve a mix of duties and work assignments based on the needs of the two programs and where staff support is required. Employees in this role will manage and safeguard confidential and sensitive information, requiring a high level of initiative, creativity, impartiality, integrity, neutrality, and confidentiality.

Requirements

Adhere to professional boundaries, ethics, confidentiality and privacy practices, policies of Marathon County Department of Social Services, procedures, and regulations.
Be creative and be willing to take initiative with development of new opportunities to further programming and services.
Understanding of youth development principles, including adolescent behavior, risk factors, and strengths-based approaches to engagement.
Effectively and appropriately interact and communicate with social workers, families, schools, and other community partners to build positive, constructive, and professional relationships.
Ability to follow and comprehend written and verbal instructions with accuracy and attention to detail.
Effective written and oral communication skills.
Ability to ask effective questions and actively listen to better understand and build rapport.
Familiarity with Motivational Interviewing techniques and de-escalation strategies to support effective and safe interactions with youth.
Ability to remain calm and professional during crisis-related issues.
Capacity to work independently, apply established guidelines, and exercise sound judgment within program procedures.
Strong interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to speak empathetically with youth and their families, establish trust, and respond to needs with professionalism.
Ability to organize and maintain information and keep records and file documentation current.
Ability to work independently, apply standards and criteria, and exercise judgment in accordance with established program procedures.
Ability to contribute to a positive work culture, fostering excellent customer service and teamwork.
Maintain regular and predictable attendance, work extra hours as required, has the ability to be flexible to meet the needs of the youth, families, and agency.
Proficiency in basic computer operations, including word processing, data entry, and use of electronic communication tools.
Ability to driver and operate an 8-passenger van.
Two years of experience working with at-risk youth.
Possess a valid driver’s license, a driving record that meets County standards, and reliable transportation.
A working vehicle must be available for use when needed to transport youth to activities, appointments, or other required engagements.

Nice To Haves

Previous experience working with youth and their families, particularly in areas related to delinquency, behavioral challenges, or mental health.
An associate or bachelor’s degree from an accredited two-or four-year college or university in Social Work, Social Sciences, Sociology, Psychology, or a related field.

Responsibilities

Provide ongoing support services to youth to promote rehabilitation and stability within their home, community, and Youth Opportunity Center attendance based on their treatment plan.
Redirect youth behavior and thinking errors using active listening, motivational interviewing, and problem-solving strategies.
Provide direct programming based on the individual needs of the youth such as anger management, healthy decision making, life skills, recreational interests, and facilitate treatment groups based on youth needs. This includes creating a monthly calendar of the structured activities that will be provided daily throughout the month.
Communicate with parents/guardians regarding transportation logistics and behavioral updates. This includes providing transportation when necessary.
Connect children and families with community resources.
Support parents and their youth through face-to-face contact, phone contact, and text contact.
Create individualized treatment plans for the youth assigned to this position, in collaboration with the Social Worker.
Facilitate parent support and/or educational groups.
Provide individual parent support and education.
Collaborate with Community Agencies to schedule Community Service, educational presentations, and recreational opportunities.
Teach independent living skills to include food preparation and cooking.
Provide direct sight and sound supervision of youth.
Complete assignments with youth given to youth by social workers and/or assist with schoolwork when needed.
Provide GPS services, monitor schedules and violations, maintain equipment, and maintain regular communication with the juvenile, family, referring social workers and collaterals.
Administer Urinalysis as requested by the social worker.
Communicate with schools on attendance issues or academic needs.
Participate in supervisory and team-based consultation regarding progress of cases assigned.
Maintain accurate and timely electronic case documentation in excel spreadsheets and eWisacwis.
Court attendance as deemed necessary.
Perform other job duties as assigned.