Job Description

This Work Matters… 

Are you an experienced case manager with a passion for helping justice-involved youth turn their lives around and create a better future? Do you have experience working with teens in residential treatment programs?  Are you bilingual Spanish and comfortable conversing with native Spanish speakers?

The Department of Community Justice, Juvenile Services is hiring for both Bilingual English/Spanish and non-bilingual positions.  

Juvenile Counselors are primarily responsible for the case management of at-risk youth (within the framework of the juvenile code) who are in their homes or in residential placements.  They provide counseling, casework, and social services to juveniles and their families; as well as, address community safety, youth accountability and skill development.  They may be involved with intake evaluation, assessment, investigation, skill development, special programs, and adjudication. Juvenile Counselors must also have the ability to build and maintain relationships with community partners.

Juvenile Counselors are responsible for youth on diversion and probation. They are responsible for ensuring a youth’s compliance with a Judge’s court order. Much of the probation work done with a youth involves engaging the family to be proactive in providing support and guidance to the youth during and after their termination of probation services.

Juvenile Counselors use the Functional Family Probation Services (FFPS) case management model in their daily work with juveniles.  FFPS is an evidence-based, integrative supervision and case management model for engaging, motivating, assessing and working successfully with high risk youth and families.  They conduct home visits both in the home and in the community.

The Department of Community Justice is looking for experienced counselors who can demonstrate expertise in the following areas:

• Bilingual Spanish/English speak/read/write (Bilingual position only)
• Knowledge of the juvenile justice system.
• Knowledge of the symptoms of physical and mental disorders, substance abuse and adjustment problems of juvenile offenders.
• Knowledge of the theories, methods and techniques of social casework, counseling, motivational and strength based interviewing, child psychology and adolescent development.
• Knowledge and experience working with youth and families from culturally diverse communities.
• Appreciation and understanding of family dynamics, gender issues, cultural diversity, gender non-conforming persons and individual differences.
• Familiarity with community resources available to support youth and their families.
• Exceptional collaboration, communication and interpersonal skills and an ability to build relationships with diverse communities and stakeholders.
• Highly self-reliant, extremely organized, skilled in time management, good at coordinating, prioritizing and distributing information.
• Ability to prepare well written reports to the Court.
• Extreme flexibility in terms of both work style, and hours and comfortable delivering services in client homes.

ABOUT THE JUVENILE SERVICES DIVISION:

The Juvenile Services Division (JSD) ensures that the juvenile system will protect the public, provide fair and equitable accountability and deliver cost-effective, evidence-based services to justice involved youth and their families.  JSD provides a continuum of juvenile services ranging from informal handling (diversion) and formal probation, shelter care, electronic monitoring, mental health assessments and care coordination, outpatient and secure residential treatment, and detention.

The Juvenile Services Division provides community supervision and diversion services for high-risk youth, and operates the Donald E. Long Juvenile Detention Facility. The Division is committed  to reducing ethnic and racial disparities in juvenile justice, both increasing resources for at-risk youth and ceasing disparities in their treatment.

Workforce Equity:  At Multnomah County we are committed to maintaining an effective, respectful and inclusive workplace. We value collaborative problem solving and strive for continuous improvement. We strongly believe in workforce equity, diversity and inclusion. Visit our Workforce Equity Strategies Plan (WESP) to see where Multnomah County is headed with these values.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY JUSTICE:

Vision ~ Community Safety through Positive Change 

The Department of Community Justice (DCJ) is recognized as a national leader in both adult and juvenile community justice. DCJ routinely consults and makes use of evidence-based practices in our program and policy development. The Department’s commitment to data-informed decision-making has led DCJ to make smart investments of taxpayer dollars in supervision, sanctions, and services for the county’s highest risk and highest need justice-involved individuals. DCJ makes long-term investments in its employees through the provision of education and training. The Department believes that in order to enhance public safety we must work collaboratively with the judiciary, law enforcement, schools, treatment agencies, and the community.

The Department shares information with community members, partners, and staff to keep communities safe by preventing and reducing crime and routinely evaluating which local policies support best practices. DCJ operates 24 hours a day, with nearly 600 permanent, on-call, and temporary employees. The Department supervises approximately 9,000 justice-involved individuals annually and those defendants requiring pretrial services. DCJ’s Juvenile Services Division operates the Donald E. Long Juvenile Detention Facility and is responsible for approximately 360 youth on formal and informal community supervision.

More general information about the Department of Community Justice including our mission, vision, and strategies can be found at: www.multco.us/dcj.

The Department of Community Justice’s Strategic Plan (Executive Summary and Full report) can be found at: https://multco.us/file/68223/download.

TO QUALIFY:

We will consider any combination of relevant work experience, volunteering, education, and transferable skills as qualifying unless an item or section is labeled required. Please be clear and specific about how your background is relevant. For details about how we typically screen applications, review our overview of the selection process page.

Minimum Qualifications/Transferable Skills*:

• Bilingual Spanish/English language skills (for Bilingual position only)
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent with major coursework in child psychology, social work, counseling, criminal justice or a related field.
• Two (2) years of professional counseling and/or case management experience working with clients in a social service or rehabilitative setting, with one year in a setting working with delinquent and/or disturbed youth, clients and families.
• Valid driver’s license.

Preferred Qualifications/Transferable Skills*: You do not need to have the following preferred qualifications/transferable skills to qualify. However, keep in mind we may consider some or all of the following when identifying the most qualified candidates. Please clearly explain on your application how you meet any of the following preferred qualifications/transferable skills.

• Experience facilitating groups, and providing case management to youth (ages 13-17)
• Knowledge of the Juvenile Justice System
• Training or experience in cultural competency
• Strong skills in Microsoft Office Suite or other software programs
• Strong organizational/time management skills

*Transferable skills: Your transferable skills are any skills you have gained through education, work experience (including the military) or life experience that are relevant for this position. Be sure to describe any transferable skills on your application and clearly explain how they apply to this position.

SCREENING AND EVALUATION:

The Application Packet:

Please be sure to provide all the materials below in your application submission:

• Online application: Explain all related experience (paid or unpaid) and training in the education and work experience sections of the application.
• Attach a resume (optional): Please indicate how you meet the required minimum qualifications. Attach the document to the on-line application. Be sure to explain in detail, including dates, all related work experience, paid or unpaid.
• Cover Letter (optional): Please explain why you are applying for this position and describe your leadership experience in a public safety setting or in a human services setting.

The Selection Process: For details about how we typically screen applications, review our overview of the selection process page. We expect to evaluate candidates for this recruitment as follows:

• Initial review of minimum qualifications
• An evaluation of application materials to identify the most qualified candidates
• Consideration of top candidates/Interviews
• Background Investigation/Fingerprinting

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Type of Position: This hourly position is eligible for overtime.

Type: Represented

FLSA: Non-Exempt

Schedule: Monday – Friday, 40 hours per week

Location: Juvenile Justice Complex, 1401 NE 68th Ave, Portland OR 97213

Multnomah County offers a comprehensive benefit package to all eligible employees. A few highlights include:

• Health insurance (medical, dental, vision).
• Qualify for a defined benefit pension after five years of vesting; we pick up the employee’s share of the retirement contribution (6% of subject wages).
• Generous paid leave (vacation, sick, parental, bereavement, military etc.)
• Life insurance, short-term and long-term disability insurance
• Optional deferred compensation and flexible spending accounts
• Access to a free annual Trimet bus pass
• Access to wellness resources

The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill future full-time, part-time, regular, temporary, limited duration, and on-call positions. Application information may be used throughout the entire selection process. This process is subject to change without notice. 

Diversity and Inclusion: At Multnomah County, we don’t just accept difference; we value it and support it to create a culture of dignity and respect for our employees.

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran or protected veteran status, genetic information and other legally protected characteristics. The EEO Know Your Rights poster is available for your reference. Multnomah County is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor. We request priority protected veteran referrals.

Veterans’ Preference: Under Oregon Law, qualifying veterans may apply for veterans’ preference. Review our veterans’ preference page for details about eligibility and how to apply.

Accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act: We gladly provide reasonable accommodation to anyone whose specific disability prevents them from completing an application or participating in this recruitment process. Please contact the recruiter below in advance to request assistance. Individuals with hearing or speech impairments may contact the recruiter through the Telecommunications Relay Service by dialing 711.

How to Apply

Job Categories: Equal Opportunities. Job Types: Full-Time. Job Tags: civil service, corrections, Government, juvenile criminal justice, and trauma informed. Salaries: 60,000 - 80,000.

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