Juvenile Justice Specialist

Compensation

K10A: $38,447.85
K10B: $43,949.58

'This position is a safety sensitive position as defined by 63 O.S. § 427.8 (K)(1)(i)(2) due to providing direct child care. Therefore, those applicants testing positive for marijuana will not be hired even when in possession of a valid medical marijuana license.'

Basic Purpose

Positions in this job family are assigned responsibility for providing services in the areas of rehabilitation of juvenile offenders and protection of the public through clinical and case management activities in the areas of juvenile intake, probation, parole and custodial responsibility for delinquent children and their families. Within an Office of Juvenile Justice facility provides clinical social work services to residents and their families. Employees perform both program delivery and client intervention functions.

Typical Functions

• Carries a differentiated case load in the area of juvenile justice; provides services and supervision to youths in custody or on probation or parole status or covered by the provisions of the Interstate Compact on juveniles.
• Conducts intake interviews with juvenile offenders, families, and victims and develops appropriate treatment plans.
• Provides individual and group counseling; arranges for health screening; recommends and implements placement, including out-of-home placement and community reintegration; visits clients in out-of-home placements and ensures that appropriate services are being provided.
• Prepares reports for the court, District Attorney’s office and Parole Board; may testify in court as an expert witness; acts as liaison with the court. Staffs cases with the District Attorney’s office; establishes restitution amount. Initiates, develops, implements and monitors contracts with private nonprofit and for-profit entities; coordinates with providers for delivery of services.
• Serves as liaison to facilities, agencies and schools and participates on community councils and planning boards.
• Conducts foster care studies and recruits foster parents.
• Conducts diagnostic and evaluation interviews with residents placed in facilities and their families; prepares written social assessment of diagnostic factors; participates as a member of multidisciplinary team of professionals and paraprofessionals in formal evaluation staffing to recommend treatment methodologies; prepares written clinical treatment plans with resident and family; coordinates efforts of psychological, residential and educational staff to provide services to meet treatment needs of resident.
• May develop and maintain a specialized area of training and expertise in one or more of the following areas: HIV/AIDS education, Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor, Abuse Survivors and Sexual Offenders.
• Makes application for Title XIX and Title IV-E for custody juveniles.
• Provides detention screening for law enforcement entities and coordinates detention placement.
• Serves as advocate, presenter or administrative hearing officer in due process District Review Hearings, which may result in the imposition of sanctions against a juvenile.

Level Descriptor

At this level of this job family employees provide juvenile services to youth and their families at the full performance level.  In addition to differentiated casework activities and development of a treatment plan and provision of services, employees at this level will evaluate residents placed in facilities; monitor provider contracts; conduct foster care studies; act as liaison with community resources; act as client advocate; and develop and maintain expertise in specialized areas of treatment.

Education and Experience

Education and Experience requirements at this level consist of a master’s degree in a behavioral science and one year of professional experience in juvenile justice, social work, community-based prevention and diversionary youth services programs, guidance and counseling, correctional case management or probation and parole; or a juris doctorate degree and one year of professional experience in juvenile justice, social work, community-based prevention and diversionary youth services programs, guidance and counseling, correctional case management or probation and parole; or a master’s degree and two years of professional experience in juvenile justice, social work, community-based prevention and diversionary youth services programs, guidance and counseling, correctional case management or probation and parole; or a bachelor’s degree in a behavioral science and two years of professional experience in juvenile justice, social work, community-based prevention and diversionary youth services programs, guidance and counseling, correctional case management or probation and parole; or a bachelor’s degree and three years of professional experience in juvenile justice, social work, community based prevention and diversionary youth services programs, guidance and counseling, correctional case management or probation and parole.

Note: No substitution of experience for education will be allowed below the bachelor’s degree.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Competencies

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities required at this level include knowledge of laws, rules, regulations, legislation, policies and procedures as they pertain to the state administration of Juvenile Justice and the investigation of juvenile delinquency; of community resources; of human developmental stages and related dysfunction; of social work theory and practices; of emotional, physical and mental needs of children and families; of sensitivity to cultural diversity; of courtroom terminology and procedures; of clinical and counseling techniques and treatment of juvenile delinquency; of statutes, policies and procedures concerning contracts for Juvenile Services; and of statutes, policies and procedures for foster care. Ability is required to perform crisis intervention; to gather necessary information to determine the needs of the child; to perform casework management; to provide courtroom testimony; to communicate effectively; to develop, evaluate and modify an intervention plan on an ongoing basis; to establish and maintain constructive relationships with children and their families; to help families become and maintain as functional family units; and to work with courts and law enforcement entities.

Special Requirements

Must be able to pass background check and drug screening.

A trial period may be required.

Applicants must be willing and able to perform all job-related travel normally associated with this position, possess a valid Oklahoma driver’s license at time of appointment and be willing to work 2 evenings a week.

Equal Opportunity Employment

The State of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of genetic information, race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, or disability.