Job Description

This position is open to current Colorado residents only.  

Please note: This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies .

Campus at Lookout Mountain locations include: Aspire Youth Service Center, Golden Peak Youth Service Center, Summit Youth Service Center

Division of Youth Services Centers and Regional Assessment Centers are approved sites for the Colorado Health Corp Services Student loan forgiveness program. Behavioral Health Specialists and Assessment Specialists provider are eligible to apply. For more details please use the link :

Colorado Health Service Corps prospective applicants | Department of Public Health & Environment .  

About the Division of Youth Services

: The Division of Youth Services (DYS) provides a continuum of residential and non-residential services that encompass juvenile detention, commitment, and parole. DYS is the agency statutorily mandated to provide for the care and supervision of youth committed by the District Court to the custody of the Colorado Department of Human Services. The Division operates fifteen secure facilities that serve youth between the ages of 10 and 21, who are pre-adjudicated, sentenced, or committed. The Division also contracts with numerous private residential and non-residential service providers throughout the State. For pre-adjudicated youth, the Division is also responsible for the management and oversight of Colorado Youth Detention Continuum, a State-funded, locally administered program that provides services to youth at risk of further progressing into the juvenile justice system. In addition to residential programming, the Division administers juvenile parole services throughout the State.

We invite you to explore the DYS website and learn about the services provided to youth, families, and local communities in the State of Colorado at: 

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Summary of Work Unit: This work unit exists to provide clinical mental health services to detained and committed youth and their families, in a secure facility. It provides individual, family and group services in support of and in alignment with the Division of Youth Services (DYS) strategic plan and within a trauma informed environment. It works collaboratively with milieu staff, education, family, client management, and community stakeholders to provide evidence-based services to youth who have complex care needs. These positions maintain and support the DYS treatment model and Sanctuary principles with transition staff, client management, medical, special education, security staff and Youth Center Administration. As a Behavioral Health Specialist within our facility, they are expected to remain current on literature and research in the field, especially as relates to emerging practices with complex mental health populations and behavioral and sensory interventions.

Positions within this work unit are expected to function as a mental health professional with competence confirmed by licensure, experience and expertise beyond basic knowledge and understanding of general mental health issues. It implements decisions, makes recommendations, and evaluates cases based on practice, theory, evidenced based principle, and experience at an advanced level confirmed by licensing. This work unit identifies youth needs and develops interventions to mitigate risk and enhance protective factors to ensure successful reintegration into the community through the DYS Treatment Model (DYSTM).The work unit provides services that include support of clinical services, development of strength-based treatment plans, individual, family, and group therapy, and thorough knowledge and training regarding HIPAA, confidentiality, transition and integration of care within a multi-disciplinary approach. 

Summary of the position: This role is dedicated to delivering behavioral health services to committed and detained youth at a secure DYS Youth Center, addressing complex mental health, trauma, substance abuse, aggression, and related issues. Services are rendered in accordance with DORA regulations and mental health training, encompassing clinical assessment, service planning, individual and group counseling, record-keeping, and coordination with a multidisciplinary team. The position is tailored for on-site service delivery and does not permit remote services unless sanctioned by the Associate Director of Behavioral Health and Medical Services (BHMS) or the Director of Behavioral Health Operations or their designee.

The role involves providing direct services to youth, including individual, family, and group sessions, as well as supervising daily behavioral health services, ensuring that transition planning and service continuity post-discharge are executed. The professional in this position understands adolescent behavior and is capable of treating youth by reducing risks, enhancing protective factors, and addressing the interplay between substance abuse and behavior. Utilizing a strength-based approach, systems theory, trauma-informed care, and behavioral strategies, this position, as a Social Worker/Counselor III, also supports other Behavioral Health Specialists peers and Clinical Interns. It offers advanced services to youth with complex needs, provides consultative guidance on behavioral interventions, and delivers real-time coaching to foster the development of less experienced behavioral health specialists.

Job Duties:

Assessment 

• When applicable this position completes mental health screening according to DYS policy when a youth is admitted to a DYS Youth Center. This position thoroughly assesses a youth’s mental health needs by reviewing the youth’s main and medical files and making initial and collateral contacts as appropriate. Maintains a caseload and provides behavioral health care to each youth. Conducts individual, group, and family therapeutic interventions using evidence-based treatment theories and curricula. Provides counseling in accordance with training and expertise gained through specific training and knowledge of DORA standards and the Office of Civil and Forensic Mental Health (OCFMH) expectations. Therapeutic intervention service needs include substance use, psychoeducation, mental health issues, trauma histories, cognitive limitations, sensory integration, and offense specific services youth who have committed sexual offense along with youth who are abusive or violent youth. Detention mental health services are - relevant to the needs of the youth. This role involves identifying pertinent individual needs and protective factors, considering age, ethnicity, culture, religion, and sexual identity, which influence behavior change and the mitigation of complex concurrent needs and risks to the community, as well as symptoms in the individual and family during detention. Treatments and interventions for youth are delivered using a strengths-based approach and in a holistic manner.
  
   
  This role utilizes appropriate behavioral interventions, sensory integration, and methods like DBT, CBT, and Motivational Interviewing techniques with youth when necessary. It is responsible for interpreting treatment issues, needs, expectations, and behavioral changes for youth and their families. Additionally, it documents and evaluates the effectiveness of interventions in achieving the objectives and goals outlined in the treatment plan.
  
   
  Treatment - incorporates and addresses the youth’s risk, needs and protective factors and how criminal conduct, trauma histories, substance abuse and mental health issues are related. Collaborate with the medical team and psychiatrist regarding psychotropic medication use in treatment and collaborate with primary BHS on assessing needs for medication if appropriate. Collaborate with client manager and primary BHS to assist in developing wrap-around transition and aftercare services for the youth nearing parole / discharge to support sobriety. Collaborate with educational/vocational systems to ensure appropriate academic services are provided, and work with the school Behavioral Health Specialist in ensuring consistent behavior interventions for youth who may be struggling in the school environment. Seek out additional resources as necessary to ensure the best approach to treatment with the youth based on their developmental and neurocognitive ability. Therapeutic interventions are provided in a manner that is consistent with the youth’s ability, considering any necessary modification needed because of trauma, substance abuse, brain injury and mental health disorders. This position supports agency services of individualized services using cognitive behavioral based interventions, sensory modulation, Motivational Interviewing, Sanctuary model and the DYS Treatment Model.
  
   
  Facilitation of daily groups (as necessary), assessment of progress, barriers to progress, collaboration with multidisciplinary team members, communication of pertinent information to primary BHS, milieu staff and education, and documentation of all case management and therapeutic services in the electronic record system by the end of next business day. Documents summary of progress in monthly treatment plans for youth on caseload. Documents all assessments, sessions, court reports, transition plans, community passes and staffing sessions. Communicates effectively in verbal and written formats, that demonstrates knowledge and expertise in working with youth who have substance abuse issues. Can elaborate on needs, protective factors, progress and barriers to progress in a manner that is understandable to all audiences and partners, to include family, client management, education staff, parole boards, private providers, courts, etc. Conducts all mental health services in accordance with DORA and OCFMH standards to mitigate risk and improve overall health. Services provided are at an advanced level based on licensing and experience in the substance abuse field, relevant to current research and best practice principles.

Treatment 

• This position utilizes and presents a case conceptualization model of youth on caseload upon entering the facility and discusses this with supervisor and present to Department chairs for collaboration and decision making around appropriate services. Duties include:

  Within the first 30 days of a youth’s arrival, this position thoroughly assesses youth’s treatment needs by reviewing the youth’s DYS Assessment report and medical record and making initial and collateral contacts as appropriate.
  Collaborate and coordinate treatment needs of youth with DYS client manager, and assessment services to match treatment with estimated length of stay and client need, within 30 days of admission.
  Interview the resident ensuring that the assessment data is as reliable as possible, that the resident is engaged in a supportive and educative manner, that confidentiality is maximized, and that problematic symptoms and behaviors are thoroughly evaluated and handled in a sensitive and safe manner.
  Contact/engage parents/family members, significant others, guardians, and referring agents to interview and obtain relevant collateral and supportive data to enhance the understanding and dynamics of the youth’s situation. 

• Collaborate with and coordinate with direct staff, education, client manager, youth, and other pertinent treatment team members in the development of a treatment service plan.
  Provide oversight to the treatment plans and identify goals and measurable objectives, interventions and those responsible for providing them, frequency of interventions, and responsibility of the youth.
  Treatment plan objectives include skills that youth is working on in addition to individual and group session objectives.
  A multi-disciplinary integrated and comprehensive approach is applied to treatment planning, involving the youth, and family members as well as professionals utilizing best practice strength-based approach.
  This position utilizes a case conceptualization model in gathering facts about the youth, determining needs, identifying protective factors and developing treatment needs, this is presented to supervisor and discussed with a multidisciplinary team.
  This position places an emphasis on facilitating a review, making recommendations, and developing alternative interventions to be implemented by team staff and client for cases that represent a negative or no change response to treatment.
  Treatment planning is cognizant of gender, cultural, religious, or spiritual and sexual identity issues to affect behavior change and reduction of symptoms in the adolescent and family. This position guides transition planning and services to aid in successful youth reintegration into the community.

• Collaborate with client manager and MDT in recommending transition and aftercare programming as appropriate.

Other Duties as Assigned 

Minimum Qualifications:

Current, valid Colorado or State participating in the Social Work Licensure Compact licensure as a:

• Licensed Social Worker (LSW) OR
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) OR
• Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) OR 
• Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)
• Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC)

One (1) year of experience with current, valid licensure from a state participating in the Social Work Licensure Compact based on the work assigned to the position.

Highly Desired Competencies:

• CAC III or LAC to support coaching and oversight of Behavioral Health Specialists working towards CAC credentialing
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)  
• Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) 
• Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)

Preferred Qualifications:

• Relevant years of state experience

Conditions of Employment:

• Full Background - Name check, TRAILS and Fingerprinting
• Must be 21 years of age, with no felony convictions or history of domestic violence
• Must possess a valid, unrestricted U.S. Driver's License
• Travel to assigned trainings and/or alternate work sites.
• Continued employment is contingent upon successful completion of the DYS Pre-service Training Academy, Field Training Program (FTO) and mandatory annual training in all subject areas.
• Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must (1) disclose that information on the application (2) provide an explanation why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify the applicant from the current position, (3) provide the employee number from the applicant’s prior State employment. Absent extraordinary circumstances, prior disciplinary termination or resignation in lieu of termination and failure to provide this information will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with CDHS.

Appeal Rights:

 

If you receive notice that you have been eliminated from consideration for this position, you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director.

An appeal or review must be submitted on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative. This form must be delivered to the State Personnel Board by email (dpa_state.personnelboard@state.co.us), postmarked in US Mail or hand delivered (1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203), or faxed (303.866.5038) within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgement of the department’s action.

For more information about the appeals process, the official appeal form, and how to deliver it to the State Personnel Board; go to  spb.colorado.gov ; contact the State Personnel Board for assistance at (303) 866-3300; or refer to 4 Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, at  spb.colorado.gov under Rules.

 

For additional recruiting questions, please contact oga.caraman @state.co .us

 

About Us: 

If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference, consider joining the dedicated people of the  Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS). Our professionals strive to design and deliver high quality human and health services that improve the safety, independence, and well-being of the people of Colorado. In addition to a great location and rewarding and meaningful work, we offer:

• Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including a  PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan  plus 401(k) and 457 plans

• Employer supplemented  Health Savings Account

• Paid life insurance

• Short- and long-term disability coverage

• 11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave

• BenefitHub state employee discount program

• Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules, training and more

• Remote work arrangements for eligible positions

*Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more

information, go to  .

Our Values:

We believe in a people-first approach:  To serve the people of Colorado, we develop a culture and work environment that creates an energized, inspired, and healthy team capable of giving their best to Coloradans .

Balance creates quality of life:  We want our team to be resilient through a supportive workplace that values flexibility, health and wellness, and employee engagement.

We hold ourselves accountable:  We take responsibility through our actions, programs, and results for the state of health and human services in Colorado.

Transparency matters:  We are open and honest with employees, our partners, the Coloradans we serve, and the public.

We are ethical:  We abide by what is best for those we serve by doing what is right, not what is easy.

Collaboration helps us rise together:  We work together with all partners, employees, and clients to achieve the best outcomes for Coloradans.

We are committed to increasing the diversity of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services. Therefore, we encourage responses from people of diverse backgrounds and abilities.

ADAA Accommodations: CDHS is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our ADAA Coordinator, Nancy Schmelzer, at cdhs_ada@state.co.us or call 1-800-929-0791.

Job Tags

Remote job, Holiday work, Full time, Temporary work, Local area, Flexible hours,

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