Youth Specialist I - Juvenile Detention Center

Oakland County•Pontiac, MI

17h•Onsite

About The Position

This position is on-site and involves providing care, mentorship, and supervision to at-risk youth in one of three distinct programs: Residential Treatment, Secure Detention, or Emergency Shelter Care (Mandy’s Place). The role focuses on helping residents develop life skills, encourage positive choices, and work as part of a dedicated team focused on growth, safety, and rehabilitation. The Youth Specialist I will supervise and guide youth in daily activities, serve as a positive role model, maintain a safe and secure environment, and document resident behavior and prepare reports. This role offers the opportunity to directly impact the lives of youth and gain valuable experience in youth services, behavioral intervention, and crisis management.

Requirements

Must be a high school graduate or have a certificate of successful completion of the General Educational Development (GED) Test.
Have passed his/her 21st birthday.
Have not been convicted of a felony violation involving harm or threatened harm to an individual within the 10 years immediately preceding the date of hire.
Possess a valid United States motor vehicle operator’s or chauffeur’s license.
Must submit to annual periodic tuberculin skin tests or chest x-rays at County expense.
Must maintain a valid United States motor vehicle operator’s or chauffeur’s license.
Drive designated county-owned vehicle when on duty, unless directed otherwise.
Must become certified in CPR and maintain certification annually.
Before beginning employment, candidates will be required to provide Children’s Village with documentation from the Michigan Department of Human Services that they have not been named in a central registry case as the perpetrator of child abuse or child neglect.
Applicants for positions at Children’s Village will not be considered if they have been convicted of either of the following: Child Abuse or Neglect.
A felony involving harm or threatened harm to an individual within the 10 years immediately preceding the date of hire.
Ability to communicate to accurately convey information.
Ability to care for juveniles.
Frequent to constant standing, walking, running, and lifting while supervising and observing residents and work activities with residents.
Strength and dexterity of a degree to restrain residents when necessary.
Sensory skills intact to be able to detect smoke, fire and contraband carried or being used by the residents.

Nice To Haves

Previous work experience with youths either on a paid or volunteer basis.
College study in the area of Sociology, Psychology, Social Work or Criminal Justice.
Considerable ability to communicate effectively with others.
Considerable ability to follow oral and written instructions by management.
Considerable ability to prepare and present oral and written reports.
Considerable knowledge of residents' needs, habits, and characteristics of behavior in order to appropriately advise, instruct, and supervise residents.
Considerable ability to cope with emergency or difficult situations requiring immediate decisions in accordance with departmental policies and procedures.
Considerable ability to establish and effective relationships with residents, other employees and the general public.
Reasonable knowledge of residents' needs, habits, and characteristics of behavior.
Reasonable ability to counsel, instruct, mentor, and actively supervise residents.

Responsibilities

Supervise and guide youth in daily activities, including meals, school, recreation, and personal care.
Serve as a positive role model, reinforcing respectful and responsible behavior.
Maintain a safe and secure environment by monitoring living areas, addressing concerns, and enforcing rules consistently.
Document daily resident behavior and prepare reports to support progress tracking and care decisions.
Observe the behavior of the residents through supervising the daily activities and ensure that all prescribed activities such as school, study, meal, and recreation time are carried out.
Interact and communicate with at-risk adolescents residing at Children's Village.
Record daily behavior information of residents, and complete reports related to the operation of the facility.
Ensure that behavior logs are maintained throughout shift, enabling the proceeding shift access to relevant information concerning the residents.
Promote and assist residents with daily living skills such as personal hygiene, eating habits, and table manners.
Ensure that sleeping, dressing and housekeeping activities are followed according to schedule.
Closely monitor residents at all times to ensure that all are present and/or accounted for.
Assist in maintaining and enforcing rules and guidelines of the program.
Participate as part of the treatment team that develops and implements treatment plans for the residents.
Inspect living areas and sleeping quarters to ensure security is maintained and to detect possible trouble. These room/facility searches may require bending, squatting, and stretching for various lengths of time.
Provide crisis intervention that may include physically restraining and/or moving aggressive, uncontrolled, violent youths when necessary.
Respond to emergency situations in accordance with the facility's emergency code system which may include: medical emergencies, fights, self-abuse, suicide attempts, escapes, attempted escapes, assaults toward staff, destruction of property and riot control.
Uphold behavioral standards using prescribed procedures.
Responsible for the cleanliness of assigned unit and any equipment used in programs.
Drive vehicles, as necessary, to transport and/or escort residents to and from various appointments, such as court hearings, classes, other agencies, medical and dental appointments, and recreational events.
Observe residents for signs of illness, and carry out instructions of medical staff, including distributing medicines, to ensure that residents receive appropriate health care.
Instruct by demonstrating indoor/outdoor recreational, vocational, and work activities to foster development of residents' skills and sportsmanship.
Assist in admitting new residents to facility, following established rules and procedures.
Responsible for meal counts and records of food consumed in order to ensure accuracy and adherence to the Michigan Department of Education food funding regulations.
When directed, assist in searches for escapees/runaways from the facility.
Under direction, assist higher level personnel in ensuring that supplies are ordered in a timely fashion.
Maintain inventory and accounting records as directed.
Perform public relations duties such as assisting in conducting tours of Children's Village, when assigned.