Juvenile Court Adolescent & Family Therapist

Forsyth County•Cumming, GA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Under general supervision, provides counseling services to juveniles under court jurisdiction and makes recommendations to the Court and necessary referrals to other agencies or professionals. This role involves providing individual, family, and group counseling, assessing client needs, conducting psychosocial assessments, evaluations, and treatment planning. The therapist will conduct clinical interviews, review referral case histories, and collaborate on treatment modalities. They will evaluate client progress, facilitate referrals to appropriate services, and maintain an active caseload. Additionally, the therapist will provide counseling to court-involved juveniles at Gateway Academy Alternative School and Forsyth Academy, identify clinical trends, and develop targeted group interventions. A key aspect of the role is serving as the primary clinical liaison between Gateway Academy and the Juvenile Court, and participating in multidisciplinary family team meetings with agencies like DFCS, Forsyth County Schools, the Truancy Panel, and the Student Attendance and School Climate Committee. The therapist will also attend court hearings, maintain continuing education for licensure, and interpret applicable regulations. The position operates with professional autonomy, exercising clinical discretion and initiative in managing caseloads and completing assignments. This includes analyzing data to inform decision-making and communicating findings through court testimony, correspondence, and consultations. Additional functions may include recommending corrective actions and potentially supervising or training personnel.

Requirements

Master's degree from an accredited college or university in a mental health-related field (e.g., counseling, social work, marriage and family therapy, education, or psychology).
Minimum of two (2) years of clinical experience in counseling, crisis intervention, anger management, mental status examinations, and individual, group, and family therapy.
Must hold a current, active license as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Master of Social Work (LMSW-ACP), or Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) at the time of hire.
Must maintain a favorable background investigation.
Must clear a pre-employment drug screening.
Must possess a valid driver's license.
Knowledge of professional mental health counseling practices.
Knowledge of adolescent developmental stages.
Knowledge of psychiatric diagnoses and psychotropic medications.
Knowledge of safety procedures including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and First Aid.

Responsibilities

Provides individual, family, and group counseling to juveniles and their families.
Assesses client needs and recommends appropriate treatment options.
Conducts psychosocial assessments, evaluations, and treatment planning.
Conducts clinical interviews to establish comprehensive case histories and determine client eligibility for counseling and related programs.
Reviews referral case histories to assess presenting needs and identify appropriate levels of care.
Collaborates in the development and implementation of individualized treatment modalities.
Evaluates client progress in resolving identified problems and achieving defined therapeutic objectives, making modifications to treatment approaches as clinically indicated.
Facilitates referrals to appropriate mental health, substance use, or social service agencies based on comprehensive evaluation of client case histories, presenting circumstances, and identified needs.
Maintains an active caseload of individual and family clients while co-facilitating multi-family group therapy sessions.
Provides individual counseling services to court-involved juveniles enrolled at Gateway Academy Alternative School and Forsyth Academy.
Identifies emerging clinical trends within the caseload and develops targeted therapeutic group interventions to address presenting issues, including truancy, substance use, and family-related concerns.
Serves as the primary clinical liaison between Gateway Academy and the Juvenile Court, facilitating communication and coordination of services for court-involved students.
Participates in multidisciplinary family team meetings with partnering agencies including the Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS), Forsyth County Schools, the Truancy Panel, and the Student Attendance and School Climate Committee to ensure coordinated service delivery for court-involved youth.
Attends court hearings and provides relevant clinical information as required.
Maintains active participation in continuing education and professional development activities to fulfill licensure requirements and stay current with evolving clinical practices.
Interprets and applies applicable federal, state, and local regulations, procedures, and guidelines governing the delivery of human services to ensure compliance and best practice standards.
Operates with a high degree of professional autonomy under general supervisory direction, exercising broad clinical discretion and independent initiative in managing complex caseloads and completing work assignments.
Analyzes and interprets conflicting or incomplete clinical and administrative data to inform decision-making regarding long-range goals, priorities, policy interpretation, and case planning.
Communicates findings and recommendations through court testimony, written correspondence, and direct consultation with relevant stakeholders.
Recommends and assists in implementing corrective actions related to problem areas in juvenile cases.
May supervise and/or train subordinate human services and clinical personnel.
Performs other related duties as required.