Teaching Assistant, Youth Recovery

Find Your Career at Jefferson Center for Mental Health • Lakewood, CO

1d

About The Position

The YRR Teaching Assistant works collaboratively with a multidisciplinary team to support youth ages 13–18.5 and coordinate their educational needs. The role provides tutoring and mentoring, assists with assignments, and coordinates with school districts and GED programs. The position also supports youth through guidance, safety, stability, trauma-informed engagement, care coordination, and connection to community resources. Staff must maintain professional and ethical standards, complete required documentation, participate in supervision and training, and help promote a supportive team environment. This is an awake position for the entire shift. Staff may temporarily cover another role only when qualified and credentialed. Staff working with youth must be in good medical, mental, physical, and emotional health, free from communicable diseases, and current on routinely recommended adult immunizations. The role may involve transporting clients and exposure to adverse weather while loading or unloading passengers.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college in a related field.
• Two or more years of related experience and/or training.
• Willingness to obtain CAT/CAS (Addictions Certification) within 18 months of hire.
• Current CPR/First Aid certification or ability to obtain it within two months of hire.
• Valid driver’s license and acceptable motor vehicle record.
• Must be at least 25 years old to be covered by the Center’s driver insurance.
• Staff working with youth must be in good medical, mental, physical, and emotional health, free from communicable diseases, and current on immunizations routinely recommended for adults.
• Ability to lift, push, or pull objects weighing up to 25 pounds.
• In rare and extreme situations at the Crisis Stabilization Unit, staff may be required to assist in safely holding a youth for up to 60 seconds.

Nice To Haves

• CAT/CAS (Addictions Certification) is preferred, but not required.
• Bilingual English/Spanish skills are preferred.
• Skills or experience in integrated health approaches are preferred.

Responsibilities

• Interact with clients to provide guidance, safety, stability, and direction, including de-escalating potentially dangerous situations.
• Assist and provide instruction to YRR students in completing assignments.
• Contact client school districts and coordinate aftercare plans.
• Engage consumers and appropriate family members in strength-based, trauma-informed treatment and goal-setting.
• Identify client risk factors, work with consumers toward agreed-upon outcomes, and coordinate care with internal and external providers.
• Maintain professional standards and provide appropriate follow-up for consumers.
• Complete an initial assessment of client engagement support and needs.
• Collaborate and strategize with consumers in accordance with clinical practice guidelines and agency policies.
• Respond effectively and promptly to client needs, problems, phone calls, email, and other requests.
• Maintain knowledge of Jefferson Center and community resources and build relationships with providers to support seamless referrals.
• Adhere to Jefferson Center policies and procedures.
• Provide structure through predictable, fair limit-setting and appropriate boundaries.
• Attend mandatory in-services and comply with an individualized training plan when required.
• Participate in supervision, arrive prepared with an agenda, report high-risk or problem cases, and use problem-solving and feedback.
• Complete documentation in accordance with regulatory requirements and clinical guidelines; submit 90% of Progress-to-Date forms before the end of shift and complete 95% of paperwork by its due date.
• Maintain effective interpersonal relationships and use language and behavior that promote dignity and respect.
• Develop therapeutic alliances and work effectively and with cultural competence with consumers from diverse backgrounds.
• Participate in staff development and training to enhance professional growth.
• Address clients’ whole-health needs by ensuring appropriate releases for physical health providers and making referrals when significant physical health needs arise.
• Assist in transporting admitted clients to hospitals, aftercare, or other approved services as directed by the Program Manager or Program Coordinator.
• Use appropriate clinical and recovery-focused interventions or make referrals to trauma-specific treatment, wellness classes or coaching, co-occurring or substance-use services, and employment services.
• Apply trauma-informed care principles, understand the impact of trauma, and help reduce the possibility of re-traumatization.
• Complete required paperwork for substance-use treatment licenses and billing to Medicaid and other funding sources, including Substance Abuse ROI and Discharge Plan.
• Endorse the Center’s use of drug testing as a potential therapeutic tool, safety measure, and support for abstinence.
• Participate in and promote a positive, supportive, cooperative team environment.
• Perform other assigned duties, including temporarily covering another role when qualified and credentialed.

Benefits

• New-hire bonus totaling $5,000, paid as $1,500 at the one-month anniversary, $1,500 at the six-month anniversary, and $2,000 at the one-year anniversary, subject to continuous employment through each effective date. Eligibility requires working at least 20 hours per week; amounts are prorated for less than 40 hours per week. Current Jefferson Center employees are not eligible.

What This Job Offers

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