JUVENILE JUSTICE SCHOOL COUNSELOR

State of Illinois•Lincoln, IL

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The Juvenile Justice School Counselor, subject to administrative approval of the Principal, is responsible for acquiring and transferring academic and other pertinent records to and from Juvenile Justice facilities, educational facilities, or other public, state, or local agencies. This role monitors and tracks the provision of Juvenile Justice School District education services to ensure compliance with state and federal education mandates and required deadlines, and documents and records data. The counselor provides guidance to students, parents, and guardians regarding educational testing, educational goals, graduation planning, and career planning, and assists educators and administrators in evaluating and improving teaching methods and classroom strategies for all students. The Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (IDJJ) aims to build youth skills and strengthen families by promoting community safety and positive youth outcomes. The department employs over 900 staff members across various departments, including security, programming, education, and mental health, who collaborate with the understanding that youth require a developmental, treatment-focused model of care. IDJJ provides extensive services to young people to build youth resiliency, engage families, and promote community safety at its five youth facilities across the state, serving approximately 150 youth and managing about 500 youth on Aftercare in Illinois communities.

Requirements

Requires a master’s degree in school counseling, school psychology, counseling psychology, education, social work, or psychology or closely related field.
Requires completion of an Illinois program for the preparation of school counselors or a comparable approved program in another state or a comparable certificate or license issued by another state.
Requires completion of a supervised counseling practicum of at least 100 clock hours that provides interaction with individuals of school age and includes at least 40 hours of direct service work.
Requires a Professional Educator’s License (PEL) issued by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) endorsed for teaching having completed as part of an approved program, coursework addressing the structure, organization, and operation of the educational system with the emphasis on P-12 schools.
Requires the ability to pass an IDOC/IDJJ background check.
Requires ability to pass a drug screen. The use of unauthorized drugs by an employee, regardless of position held, is prohibited.
Requires ability to travel in the performance of duties, with overnight stays as appropriate.
Certain provisions of the revolving door restrictions contained in 5 ILCS 430/5-45 apply to this position. As a result, the employee should be aware that if offered non-State employment during state employment or within one year immediately after ending State employment, the employee shall, prior to accepting any such non-State employment offer, notify the Office of the Executive Inspector General for the Agencies of the Illinois Governor (OEIG) or may be subject to a fine.

Nice To Haves

Prefers at least three (3) years of experience providing counseling services to juveniles in a congregate care setting.
Prefers at least two (2) years of experience assessing students’ progress in specially assigned programs in a congregate care and/or equivalent settings.
Prefers at least two (2) years of experience assessing students’ educational abilities and needs.
Prefers at least two (2) years of experience evaluating student transcripts, and recommending educational needs, for youth to obtain a GED or High School Diploma.
Prefers at least two (2) years of experience providing support to youth for transitional services such as: career goals, applications for scholarships, colleges/universities, trades, other post-secondary vocational education programs, and/or employment opportunities.
Prefers at least two (2) years of experience facilitating conferences and/or meetings with teachers, students, and parents.
Prefers the ability to maintain effective working relationships with staff, students in a juvenile justice setting, and parents of students in a juvenile justice setting.
Prefers the ability to maintain a calm and collected demeaner while deescalating situations involving juveniles displaying challenging behaviors.

Responsibilities

Responsible for key college and career readiness practices, career guidance and instruction, development, and administration of the vocational assessment.
Collaborates with School Principals, School Counselors, and other support staff.
Plans, organizes, and/or facilitates college and career experiential learning activities.
Provides support to transitional services identified for youth at each facility.
Completes weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual follow-up data collection activities/reports pertaining to several performance indicators.
Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.