Juvenile Detention Counselor 1,2,3 - Muscogee YDC- Columbus, GA (CCR)

Juvenile Justice, Department of•Midland, TX

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Under supervision, plans, manages, and evaluates social services programs. Administers and coordinates the services and program activities in dependency, mental illness, youth development, or physical or developmental disability programs. This role involves supporting the delivery of programs and case management services in assigned facilities, working with program staff to ensure services align with best practices and departmental policy. The counselor will provide structured cognitive behavioral groups and/or life-skills group counseling sessions, document all programmatic activities, and perform administrative duties to facilitate juvenile rehabilitation and ensure a safe and secure environment at a youth detention facility. Responsibilities include facilitating groups, participating in facility-wide PBIS activities, working various shifts (afternoon/evening/holiday/weekends), conducting parent/youth support, assessing youth for housing plans, risk levels, and treatment needs, completing mandated youth progress reviews, preparing reviews for early release and alternative placements, and assisting with facility quality assurance processes. The role also involves performing and/or directing intake services, collecting and assessing client information, performing admissions and orientations, reviewing collateral information, and providing counseling to individuals, groups, or families to effect positive change in youth behavior and social situations. This includes communicating program goals, conducting individual and group sessions, demonstrating knowledge of behavioral and cognitive restructuring techniques, identifying high-risk situations, documenting sessions, conducting daily rounds, and providing evening and weekend coverage. Maintaining confidentiality of case records and releasing information as required by policy is also a key responsibility.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in a related field from an accredited college or university.
Some positions require eligibility for licensure.
Bachelor's degree in a related field from an accredited college or university and two (2) years of job-related experience; or two (2) years of experience at the lower level Social Svcs Prgm Coord 1 (SSP030) or position equivalent.
Bachelor's degree in a related field from an accredited college or university and four (4) years of job-related experience; or two (2) years’ experience at the lower level Social Svcs Prgm Coord 2 (SSP031) or position equivalent.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in one of the areas of: Psychology, Sociology, Social Work, Forensic Psychology, School Counseling, Rehabilitation Counseling, School Counseling, Criminal Justice or a directly related field.
Master’s Degree in a related field from an accredited college or university in a related field from an accredited college or university
Graduate coursework in treatment and assessment methods, group counseling, rehabilitation, adolescent development, and risks/needs/responsivity focuses on the needs of specific adolescent populations.
One (1) year of experience in mental health/substance abuse treatment settings/juvenile justice/residential setting.
Professional and/or general counseling experience in a mental health/substance abuse treatment/juvenile justice/residential setting.
Knowledge and experience of risk reduction principles and assessments with the juvenile or adult population.

Responsibilities

Support of the delivery of programs & case management services in assigned facilities.
Works with program staff to ensure that services are in keeping with best practices and departmental policy.
Provides structured cognitive behavioral groups and/or life-skills group counseling sessions, documents all programmatic activities, and performs a variety of administrative duties designed to facilitate juvenile rehabilitation and ensure a safe and secure environment at a youth detention facility.
Facilitate or Co-facilitate Groups, participate in facility wide PBIS activities (if available), work hours to include Afternoon/evening/Holiday/Weekends and conduct parent/youth support (if needed).
Conduct youth assessments for housing plans, risk levels (risks/needs/responsivity) and treatment needs.
Responsible for completing code mandated youth progress reviews for local and state courts
Preparation reviews for youth early release and for alternative placements.
Manage and/or assist with facility quality assurance processes
Performs and/or directs intake services to youth.
Collects and assesses in-depth information about a client's situation and functioning in order to assess his/her abilities, needs, and eligibility for services.
Performs or directs admission and orientation of youth in accordance with policy
Thoroughly review collateral information and other background information to determine appropriate services as a program participant in program services.
Provides counseling to individuals, groups, or families, to effect positive change in the youth’s behavior and/or social situations.
Communicates clearly and accurately to the youth the goals and objectives of the program.
Conducts individual counseling sessions with youth on a regular basis.
Conducts group sessions in accordance with the program guidelines.
Demonstrates knowledge of appropriate usage of behavioral, cognitive restructuring and relapse prevention
Properly identifies high-risk situations and implements appropriate housing and/or safety plan.
Documents each group session, to include concepts taught and an assessment of participants' progress, in accordance with established time frames and guidelines.
Conducts rounds daily on the living unit to ensure youth needs are identified and addressed.
Provides evening and weekend coverage to provide for the social, emotional, and behavioral needs of youth.
Maintain confidentiality of Case Record and release of information as required by policy.
Observes rules of confidentiality as stated by departmental guidelines in the dissemination and interpretation of tests results
Provides information to educate the public, other agencies, vendors, and potential customers about case management services.