Juvenile Detention Counselor 1, 2 or 3- Atlanta YDC-College Park, GA (CCR)

Juvenile Justice, Department of • Atlanta, GA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Department of Juvenile Justice is hiring a Juvenile Detention Counselor at Atlanta Youth Development Campus in College Park, Georgia. Under supervision, the counselor supports social services and case management programs for youth in a detention facility. The role includes coordinating program activities, providing counseling, assessing youth needs, developing and monitoring service plans, and supporting rehabilitation in a safe and secure environment. Work may include afternoon, evening, holiday, and weekend hours, as well as parent and youth support when needed.

The position performs or directs youth intake, admission, and orientation; gathers and reviews background information; and assesses functioning, abilities, needs, service eligibility, housing plans, risk levels, and treatment needs. The counselor conducts individual, group, and family counseling as appropriate, facilitates cognitive behavioral and life-skills groups, and documents program activities and participant progress. The role also includes multidisciplinary collaboration, discharge and placement recommendations, court-related progress and preparation reviews, daily living-unit rounds, quality assurance support, and maintaining confidential case records.

The requisition covers three levels with differing minimum qualifications and salaries: JDC1 ($41,040), JDC2 ($46,040), and JDC3 ($51,040). The position is based at Atlanta YDC in College Park, Georgia. The posting identifies the shift as “Any.”

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field from an accredited college or university is required for JDC1.
• JDC2 requires a bachelor’s degree in a related field and two years of job-related experience, or two years of experience at the lower-level Social Services Program Coordinator 1 (SSP030) or equivalent position.
• JDC3 requires a bachelor’s degree in a related field and four years of job-related experience, or two years of experience at the lower-level Social Services Program Coordinator 2 (SSP031) or equivalent position.
• Some positions require eligibility for licensure.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of case records and comply with departmental policies.
• Ability to perform youth intake, assessment, counseling, case management, documentation, and service-planning duties.

Nice To Haves

• For JDC1, a bachelor’s degree in psychology, sociology, social work, forensic psychology, school counseling, rehabilitation counseling, criminal justice, or a directly related field.
• For JDC2 and JDC3, a master’s degree in a related field from an accredited college or university.
• Graduate coursework in treatment and assessment methods, group counseling, rehabilitation, adolescent development, and risk/needs/responsivity approaches focused on specific adolescent populations.
• One year of experience in mental health or substance abuse treatment, juvenile justice, or a residential setting.
• Professional or general counseling experience in a mental health or substance abuse treatment, juvenile justice, or residential setting.
• Knowledge and experience in risk-reduction principles and assessments with juvenile or adult populations.

Responsibilities

• Perform or direct intake services for youth, including admission and orientation in accordance with policy.
• Collect and assess information about youth circumstances, functioning, abilities, needs, and eligibility for services; review collateral and background information.
• Conduct youth assessments for housing plans, risk levels, treatment needs, and related service planning.
• Provide individual, group, or family counseling to support positive changes in youth behavior and social situations.
• Facilitate or co-facilitate structured cognitive behavioral and life-skills groups, and participate in facility-wide PBIS activities when available.
• Communicate program goals and objectives to youth and conduct individual counseling sessions regularly and group sessions according to program guidelines.
• Work with program staff to ensure services follow best practices and departmental policy.
• Lead or participate in multidisciplinary teams to identify youth strengths, resources, symptoms, and behavioral challenges and to develop and monitor service plans.
• Participate in collaborative meetings with agency stakeholders regarding discharge recommendations.
• Complete code-mandated youth progress reviews for local and state courts, and preparation reviews for early release and alternative placements.
• Identify high-risk situations and implement appropriate housing or safety plans.
• Document program activities, group sessions, concepts taught, and participants’ progress within established time frames and guidelines; prepare and submit required reports and other documentation.
• Conduct daily rounds on the living unit to identify and address youth needs, and provide evening and weekend coverage for youth social, emotional, and behavioral needs.
• Support facility quality assurance processes and perform administrative duties that facilitate rehabilitation and a safe, secure environment.
• Maintain case-record confidentiality and release information as required by policy; follow departmental confidentiality guidelines when disseminating or interpreting test results.
• Provide information about case management services to the public, other agencies, vendors, and potential customers.
• Attend continuing education courses related to trends and professional development in case management services.
• Provide parent and youth support when needed.

Benefits

• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Retirement and savings plan options
• Paid holidays
• Vacation leave
• Sick leave
• Eligibility as an employer for the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
• Total Rewards programs intended to improve the work environment, job satisfaction, and work/life balance

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level