Training Specialist III.
This position is open only to Colorado state residents.
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 numerous 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, which includes but is not limited to parole supervision through case management to ensure community safety.
Explore the DYS website to learn about the services provided to youth, families, and local communities in the State of Colorado.
About the Role
The Office of Staff Development (OSD) exists to develop, coordinate, and implement training and staff development programs for all Division of Youth Services (DYS) employees. This includes training and/or oversight in areas such as:
- Treatment Modalities (Sanctuary, Dialectical Behavior Therapy)
- Mental Health Interventions
- Crisis Intervention Program
- Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation/Basic First Aid
- Prison Rape Elimination Act
- Leadership Training
- Code of Conduct
- Policy/Procedure
- Youth Rights
- Report Writing
- Adolescent Development
- Sex Offender Training
- Substance Abuse
- Suicide Assessment and Prevention
- Instructional Theory into Practice (train-the-trainer)
- Universal Precautions
- Strength-Based Approach
- Numerous other initiatives promoted by the Division
This position is responsible for writing and oversight of training directly related to the Division’s Policies and Initiatives. The work unit interprets, makes recommendations, trains, and presents new Policies and updates to all DYS employees.
Responsibilities
The position determines content, develops standardized curricula, coordinates, delivers, evaluates, and monitors programs trained at the DYS academy, including but not limited to:
- DYS Orientation
- Sanctuary
- Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation/First Aid
- Youth Rights and Responsibilities
- Suicide Precaution Monitoring
- Mandatory Reporting
- Prison Rape Elimination Act
- Report Writing
- Code of Conduct
- Informed Supervision
- Groups
- Searches
- Simulation
The position also develops training delivered by instructors at Youth Service Centers, including policy training, online training, and yearly staff requirements.
Crisis Prevention and Intervention Program / Protective Supports and Interventions
With guidance from the Lead Academy Trainer and the Director of Staff Development, this position helps train Protective Supports and Interventions (PSI), an internally developed crisis prevention and intervention program authorized for use in DYS youth centers. The role requires practical experience utilizing all elements of the program in daily operations and the ability to instruct courses addressing various learning styles. Responsibilities include:
- Motivational Interviewing Instructor: Teach students to use open-ended questions, affirmations, reflections, summaries, and other techniques to address resistance and support positive change without raising aggression or defensiveness.
- Verbal De-escalation Instructor: Utilize professional experience and adult learning theory to teach skills and ensure effective transfer of training into the milieu.
- Physical Responses Instructor: Teach physical responses designed to quickly intervene and stop emergencies as defined by statute, ensuring proficiency in skill application and instruction.
Training Liaison
The position assists youth centers by providing training for their trainers through formal classes, quarterly assistance training for PSI instructors, and recertification. It also represents CDHS, DYS, and Staff Development on assigned committees and inter-agency collaborative efforts, including shared training initiatives.
Training Delivery
With oversight from the lead trainer, the position trains DYS staff on interventions to build competencies in youth with mental health, sex offending, and/or substance abuse issues, helping them become responsible citizens using evidence-based modalities. Training ensures a systematic approach adhering to the model being taught and enhances knowledge retention. Areas include:
- DYS Orientation
- Youth Rights and Responsibilities
- Suicide Precaution Monitoring
- Mandatory Reporting
- Prison Rape Elimination Act
- Report Writing
- Code of Conduct
- Informed Supervision
- Groups
- Searches
- Simulation training
The position must be:
- A trainer of trainers certified through the Sanctuary Institute or their designee.
- An instructor and instructor trainer in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation/First Aid/Automated External Defibrillator from The Health and Safety Institute.
The role uses expertise in adult learning principles, technology, and learning strategies to enhance participant engagement, retention, and skill acquisition. Responsibilities include navigating PowerPoint presentations, incorporating audio/visual aids, using equipment, and employing techniques like anticipatory sets. The position fields questions, works through hypotheticals, and demonstrates problem-solving in direct or supportive care.
Training Development
With oversight from the Lead Academy Trainer, this position develops, writes, and implements standardized training programs/curricula for effective milieu management, policy, life safety skills, and cognitive behavioral services. The role uses current research, trends, standards, policies, and expertise to create training plans that educate DYS staff in:
- Evidence-based interventions and therapeutic strategies for mental health issues
- Effective milieu management
- Cognitive behavioral interventions
- Treatment models for violent and sexual offenders
- Proper use of CPR/FA skills
- Values and boundaries
- Report writing
- Adolescent development
- Supervisory responsibilities
- New employee training
The position also learns, implements, and serves as a resource for group facilitation to support Youth Centers and Leadership with conflicts, group dynamics, or cultural issues.
Other Duties
- Data entry
- Rosters and scheduling
- Making class materials
- Filing
- Work site security measures
Requirements
Applicants must meet the following minimum qualifications to continue in the selection process. Work experience must be specifically documented on the application.
Minimum Qualifications
- Experience Only: Six (6) years of relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned to this position.
- Education and Experience: A combination of related education and/or relevant experience equal to six (6) years.
Conditions of Employment
- Minimum age of 21 with no felony convictions or history of domestic violence.
- Full background check, including:
- CBI name check and fingerprint check
- ICON Colorado court database check
- Medicare fraud database check
- Reference checks
- Professional license verification (if applicable)
- Drug screen
- PREA (Division of Youth Services) check
- Trails check (for direct contact with children)
- CAPS check (for direct contact with adults in Mental Health Institutes, Regional Centers, Veterans Community Living Centers)
- Current, valid, and non-restricted Colorado Driver’s License.
- Motor vehicle record check for positions driving state or non-state fleet vehicles.
- Travel to DYS youth centers and regional offices around the state.
- Successful completion of the DYS Pre-service Training Academy, Field Training Program (FTO), and mandatory annual training in all applicable subject areas.
Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must disclose this information on the application. Absent extraordinary circumstances, prior disciplinary termination or resignation in lieu of termination will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with CDHS.
Benefits
Most State of Colorado employees are eligible for a comprehensive benefits package. See the Supplemental Information section for details.