Behavioral Health Specialist (Assessment), Social Work/Counselor III - Youth Services Center.

This position is open to legal residents of the United States. If appointed, relocation to Colorado prior to the start date is required at the employee’s expense. This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies.

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 statutorily mandated to provide care and supervision for youth committed by the District Court to the custody of the Colorado Department of Human Services. The Division operates fifteen secure facilities serving youth aged 10 to 21 who are pre-adjudicated, sentenced, or committed. DYS also contracts with private residential and non-residential service providers statewide and administers juvenile parole services.

About the Role

This position administers and interprets criminogenic, mental health, trauma, and substance abuse screening and assessment tools to provide accurate and effective recommendations for placement and treatment goals for juveniles committed to the Division of Youth Services. The role involves working within a multidisciplinary team to deliver empirically supported evaluation services to youth and families.

Responsibilities

• Conduct clinical interviews, criminogenic risk assessments, drug and alcohol screening and assessments, mental health evaluations, trauma assessments, and neuropsychological screenings for juvenile offenders.
• Administer and interpret assessment tools, including the Colorado Juvenile Risk Assessment (CJRA), Juvenile Automated Substance Abuse Evaluation (JASAE), and UCLA PTSD-Reaction Index (UCLA PTSD-RI), to evaluate areas such as delinquent behaviors, mental health, criminogenic needs, family issues, peer relationships, substance use, and personal goals.
• Conduct family interviews to identify strengths, needs, perspectives, and treatment goals.
• Outline the assessment process to youth and families, including expectations, and obtain signed authorizations for release of information.
• Review collateral data, legal documents, and previous evaluation findings, incorporating them into finalized assessment reports.
• Review Court Orders for compliance with Colorado Children’s Code and contact DYS Quality Assurance or courts for clarification or amendments as needed.
• Complete commitment classification paperwork, calculate security level designations, and enter results into the Trails database system.
• Communicate assessment findings and treatment recommendations with interdisciplinary teams to inform Service Plan goals and placement decisions.
• Participate in DYS Multidisciplinary team meetings to discuss assessment findings and arrive at consensus on placement, service plans, and transition goals.
• Incorporate assessment findings into comprehensive, individualized, strengths-based written Assessment Reports and enter pertinent information into the Colorado Trails database.
• Perform quality reviews of Assessment Reports to ensure accuracy, clarity, and adherence to standards.
• Contact collateral agencies to verify or request additional information on newly committed juveniles.
• Review judicial database information for accuracy of mittimi, charges, sentencing requirements, and restitution orders, noting discrepancies in reports.
• Provide clinical oversight, expertise, and quality assurance regarding evaluation findings for juveniles committed to DYS.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of assessment instruments (e.g., CJRA, JASAE) and recommend improvements to statewide Assessment Services practices and policies.
• Participate in training on assessment-related topics, including strengths-based evaluation, report writing, mental health identification, criminogenic needs, and motivational interviewing.
• Represent DYS Assessment Services at mental health and juvenile justice conferences.
• Maintain ongoing communication with Assessment Specialist colleagues, service providers, and client managers to ensure continuity of services across the DYS continuum of care.

Requirements

• Current, valid licensure in Colorado or a state participating in the Social Work Licensure Compact as one of the following:
  • Licensed Social Worker (LSW)
  • Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
  • Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
  • 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.

Preferred Qualifications

• Relatable experience as a current or previous State of Colorado employee.