Region Housing Specialist (Youth Services Counselor II) - Division Of Youth Services Northern Region

Department Information

This position is for residents of Colorado only.

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

Most State of Colorado employees are eligible for a great benefit package! Please see the Supplemental Information section below for details!

About the Division of Youth Services Region Office:

The regional offices exist to provide a continuum of services for detained youth and youth who are committed to the Colorado Department of Human Services, Division of Youth Services. They are divided into Central, Northeast, Southern, and Western regions with regional offices respectively located in Denver, Thornton, Colorado Springs, and Grand Junction. The Northeast Region Office also has satellite offices located in Greeley and Fort Collins. The regions are charged with ensuring the safety and security of each youth, staff, and community according to Colorado law. Regional offices are responsible for resource development and management to facilitate service provision and include, but are not limited to, personnel and contract programs throughout the counties and judicial districts located in each region. Their client management staff provide case management and juvenile parole services to youth committed to the custody of the Division of Youth Services. This includes planning and oversight for youth in residential placement, facilitation of multi-disciplinary teams, the development of transition plans and parole plans, and the active monitoring of juvenile parolees in the community. Regional offices also serve to represent the Division with local juvenile justice partnerships, committees, statutorily mandated boards, and governmental/private entities including, but not limited to, district attorneys, public defenders, county departments of human services, judicial officers, juvenile probation, local school districts, and mental health centers. Region management teams provide oversight and fiscal support for detention services that may include screening, assessment, community supervision, and treatment of pre-adjudicated youth through the Colorado Youth Detention Continuum.

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: https://www.colorado.gov/cdhs/dys

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Description of Job

The Division of Youth Services has adopted trauma-informed and evidence-based practices through collaboration within a Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) approach. Services include providing transition programming to youth while working with the parole officer and community support to guide a successful process of re-entry into the community. This program works to safely and efficiently treat and return youth back to the community by providing a trauma-responsive environment that ensures safety for youth, staff, and the community.

The position serves as the subject matter expert on housing resources for the regional offices (RO), identifies resources for youth who will transition from a DYS secure facility or contract residential program to independent living while in need of housing resources, and develops and maintains a network of community resources in the primary geographical areas of the region. These resources include and are not limited to available housing options, food assistance, employment, setting up an apartment, finding & sustaining mental and medical resources, and any other essential services that youth may require at the time of transition. The position will act as a liaison between State and local entities for the region in identifying, obtaining, and retaining housing vouchers for transitioning youth, and will participate in relevant committees, workgroups, boards, and housing initiatives. The position will partner with the supervising client manager when a youth is awarded a housing voucher, will assist in case management duties, and will collaborate in planning for DYS discharge at the end of the parole period. The position will develop sustainability plans for youth and provide case management services up to a youth's 26th birthday for youth who participate on a voluntary basis. This position differs from a Youth Services Counselor II Client Manager/Parole Officer in that the housing specialist plays no role in the juvenile parole process, does not possess the authority of a Client Manager/Parole Officer, and continues to serve clients beyond their discharge from parole.

Duties:

• Partner with the client manager assigned to committed youth who are referred for a housing voucher and jointly develop the parole plan.

• Develop a housing sustainability plan for each youth awarded a housing voucher to meet their needs in areas of employment, education, mental health, health, basic needs, and other needs that may arise.

• Develop a working relationship with youth awaiting the award of a housing voucher 90-120 days before parole.

• Assist youth in navigating the housing voucher application process.

• Create and maintain the "Post-Discharge" Client file with all necessary documentation as identified in DYS policy or regional operating procedure.

• Partner with the Client Manager throughout the transition and parole process for youth who have been or will be awarded a housing voucher.

• Serve as secondary case manager beginning in transition and through parole for youth who have been or will be awarded a housing voucher.

• Engage with involved family members and develop positive working relationships and positive support systems in the community.

• Provide case management services for youth awarded with a housing voucher from the date of parole discharge and until they reach their 26th birthday or no longer have the voucher.

• Housing Navigation: Assist youth in housing search, landlord relationship development, and utility connections.

• Counsel youth in budget development and management.

• Connect youth with prosocial activities and community resources.

• Track the risk of youth awarded housing vouchers through the use of the Youth Assessment and Screening Instrument (YASI).

• Connect youth awarded with housing vouchers to sustainable community resources that match YASI need domains and address responsivity needs such as mental health services, substance use treatment services, medical services, transportation, food assistance, etc.

• Develop a bank of resources for use by the region with youth who are transitioning to independent living.

• Provide expert guidance to the region's client managers on accessing and using services in local communities in the region.

• Provide subject matter expertise to the region on child welfare guidance and processes regarding housing vouchers, Chaffee, the Division of Housing, and other housing programs.

• Act as a liaison between State and County level committees and workgroups for the region.

• Participate in State and County committees as necessary, jointly representing the regional perspective.

• Work in collaboration with Housing Specialists in all DYS regions to ensure a unified, consistent approach to the use of housing vouchers, and available resources, and interpretation of child welfare memos and DYS' housing practices.

• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

• YOUR APPLICATION MUST CLEARLY STATE YOUR RELATED QUALIFICATIONS *

Minimum Qualifications:

• 6 Years of professional experience in youth counseling or criminal justice with detained and/or adjudicated youth or an occupational field related to the work assigned.

~OR~

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in the study of behavioral science, counseling, psychology, criminal justice, criminology, human services, social work, sociology, or youth and adult corrections, or a similar field. AND two (2) years of professional experience in an occupational field related to the work assigned to the position.

Substitutions:

• Additional appropriate experience will substitute for the degree requirement on a year-for-year basis.

• Additional appropriate education will substitute for the required experience on a year-for-year basis.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Previous Client management or case management experience

• Ability to establish collaborative relationships with internal and external customers, ie; contract programs, state facilities, community providers, Courts, Community Review Boards, Parole Boards, and Law Enforcement agencies.

• Experience implementing and utilizing DYS initiatives

• Previous experience in program monitoring or evaluation

• Collaborative work experience with diverse populations and organizations

• Experience providing technical assistance and training

Conditions of Employment:

• Be a minimum of 21 years of age, with no felony convictions or history of domestic violence

• A pre-employment criminal background check will be conducted as part of the selection process as this position is deemed to have direct contact with vulnerable persons. Felony convictions, conviction of crimes of moral turpitude, or convictions of misdemeanors related to job duties may disqualify you from being considered for this position. Should your background check reveal any charges or convictions, it is your responsibility to provide the CDHS Background Unit with an official disposition of any charges. Additionally, you will be required take a drug screen.

• Included in the background investigation is a current/previous employer check. Your current and previous employers within the last 10 years must be listed on your application even if the job duties are unrelated to Correctional Youth Security Officer I position. Incomplete employer information (address, phone, supervisor name) or omission of former employers may result in application disqualification.

• Must possess a valid, unrestricted U.S. Driver's License

• Travel to state-wide regional offices as well as attending meetings at different

locations across the State.

• Travel within the region across multiple counties and judicial districts.

• 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 acknowledgment 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.

Supplemental Information

Link to: How to Apply

Link to: The Assessment Process

For additional recruiting questions, please contact Isaac.Phelps@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 www.copera.org plus 401(k) and 457 plans

• Medical and dental health 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

• Employee Wellness program MotivateMe

• 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 https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/dhr/student-loan-forgiveness-programs.

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 ADAAA Coordinator, Nancy Schmelzer, at cdhs_ada@state.co.us or call 1-800-929-0791.

~THE STATE OF COLORADO IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER~

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