Youth Transition Specialist

Arizona Department of Administration•Phoenix, AZ

5d•$61,156•Hybrid

About The Position

The Youth Transition Specialist is responsible for managing a diverse caseload of juveniles and young adults, providing comprehensive case management services throughout their transition from the ADJC Adobe Mountain facility to community-based settings. Key responsibilities include facilitating access to inpatient and outpatient services, insurance benefits and residential programs, as well as coordinating educational, vocational, employment, and treatment resources to ensure individuals and their families are effectively connected with essential community services. Serving as the primary liaison, the Specialist collaborates with various key stakeholders, including the Arizona Department of Economic Security (ADES), the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), the Arizona Department of Child Safety (ADCS) and residential stakeholders throughout AZ. Furthermore, this role may be involved in crisis intervention, assessments and follow-up.

Requirements

Knowledge of transition and reentry planning
Knowledge of health and Human Services
Knowledge of micro level community organization
Knowledge of components of Family dynamics
Knowledge of diagnostics and assessment terminology
Knowledge of components of a home assessment
Knowledge of case planning and case management processes
Knowledge of adolescent development
Knowledge of educational and vocational resources
Knowledge of employment resources
Knowledge of AZ State Medicaid program, eligibility, enrollment and services
Knowledge of local, state and federal programs and resources
Knowledge of research methodologies and report preparation
Knowledge of best practices in community reentry
Knowledge of computer operations and programs including Google Suite and Microsoft Office
Skill in transition and reentry planning
Skill in interpersonal skills regarding interactions with difficult and complex families
Skill in conducting and evaluating family systems and therapeutic modalities
Skill in assessing juvenile and families’ needs and providing appropriate referral for intervention
Skill in understanding family dynamics, communication and interaction patterns in families
Skill in crisis intervention, mediation and interpersonal dynamics
Skill in establishing and maintaining interpersonal relationships
Skill in multi-tasking, organization and time management
Skill in discharge and reintegration planning
Skill in coaching and Motivational Interviewing
Skill in research and connection to potential employment placements
Skill in collaborating with community providers and various educational establishments
Skill in establishing linkages between academic coursework and post release educational or vocational options
Skill in being digitally literate
Skill in public speaking
Skill in professional report writing
Skill in collecting and maintaining accurate data/documentation and program records
Skill in maintaining confidentiality
Skill in areas of analysis, problem solving, formulation of alternatives and strategy development
Skill in development and maintaining positive working relationship with internal and external customers
Strong written and verbal communication skills are essential
Problem-solving
Working independently with minimal supervision
Ability to travel frequently throughout the state of AZ, including overnight stays, as needed
Ability to manage a varied caseload by prioritizing and strategizing
Ability to manage time effectively
Ability to work well with others individually and in a group setting
Ability to work on a variety of assignments with minimal supervision
Ability to prioritize assignments with crisis situations taking precedence
Ability to recognize emergency or dangerous psychiatric emergencies and take appropriate interventions to ensure safety of juveniles and families
Ability to collaborate with human service, educational, vocational, and employment entities to enhance well-being and help meet basic and complex needs of juveniles and young adults
Ability to work in a secure care facility
Ability to work closely with adjudicated youth and their families
Must possess and retain a current, valid class-appropriate driver’s license
Must complete all required training
Must successfully pass all necessary driver’s license records checks
Must maintain acceptable driving records
Must complete all driver training

Nice To Haves

Bilingual skills in Spanish/English preferred but not required
A Post-Secondary Degree in Social Services/Social Work OR; 60 hours of college credits and two (2) years of experience working with at risk youth in a social services arena.

Responsibilities

Facilitating pre- and post-reentry service coordination for juveniles releasing or discharging from the ADJC Adobe Mountain facility
Connecting resources by linking juveniles and families to local programs and insurance benefits
Weekly travel to the Adobe Mountain Phoenix facility and throughout Arizona as required
Providing educational support to juveniles to bridge the transition between academic programming and post-release educational or vocational opportunities
Participating in multidisciplinary team meetings, including Child and Family Team and Adult Recovery Team meetings
Collaborating effectively within a team environment to ensure program objectives are met
Conducting comprehensive case reviews and maintaining consistent communication with case managers to ensure program integrity
Performing initial in-home assessments
Coordinating essential services for juveniles and their families
Assisting in the development of transitional plans for juveniles and young adults
Engaging and maintaining professional relationships with internal, external stakeholders, service providers, community agencies, and partner entities
Compiling statistical data and generating reports regarding program services
Managing case files, documentation, and data entry
Operating a vehicle for official State business
Provide additional support and guidance to assist the juveniles in securing viable employment opportunities
Performing other duties as assigned within the scope of the position
Facilitating pre- and post-reentry service coordination for juveniles releasing/discharging from the Adobe Mountain facility.
Weekly travel to/from the Adobe Mountain facility and throughout Arizona as required
Providing educational support to juveniles to bridge the transition between academic programming and post-release educational or vocational opportunities.
Participating in weekly multidisciplinary team meetings, including Child and Family Team and Adult Recovery Team meetings
Collaborating effectively within a team environment to ensure program objectives are met.
Conducting comprehensive case reviews and maintaining consistent communication with case managers to ensure program integrity
Performing initial in-home assessments.
Coordinating essential services for juveniles and their families
Assisting in the development of transitional plans for juveniles and young adults
Engaging and maintaining professional relationships with internal, external stakeholders, service providers, community agencies, and partner entities
Compiling statistical data and generating reports regarding program services
Managing case files, documentation, and data entry.
Operating a vehicle for official State business.
Provide additional support and guidance to assist the juveniles in securing viable employment opportunities
Performing other duties as assigned

Benefits

Affordable medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and short-term disability plans
Top-ranked retirement and long-term disability plans
10 paid holidays per year
Vacation time accrued at 4.00 hours bi-weekly for the first 3 years
Sick time accrued at 3.42 hours bi-weekly
Deferred Compensation Program
Wellness Plans
Corrections Officer Retirement Plan (CORP)
401 (a) retirement plan
Employer matches contributions
Contributions are made on a pre-taxed basis
Employees can choose investments that suit their goals and risk tolerance
Employees are fully vested after 3 years of service