Department Information

Please note: This recruitment may 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!

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Description of Job

• Maintains a caseload and will provide oversight of Behavioral Health Specialists assigned to individual 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 for sexually abusive or violent youth.
• Treatment is provided using the DYS treatment model. Use of behavioral interventions, sensory integration and modalities, CBT, and Motivational Interviewing techniques with youth are used. Interpret treatment issues, needs, expectations, and changes in behavior for residents and families.
• Treatment is provided using strengths-based approach and holistic manner.
• Maintains a clear understanding of adolescent development, appropriate interventions for this population, and developmental needs.
• Uses theories relevant to the needs of the youth and their individual history, considering their age, ethnic, cultural, religious and sexual issues to affect behavior change. Interpret treatment issues, problems, expectation, and changes in behavior for residents and families.
• Document and assess the effectiveness of specific interventions toward meeting the objectives and goals of 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.
• Behavioral health services are relevant to the needs of the youth and the individual needs and protective factors, when identified, considering their age, ethnic, cultural, religious and sexual issues to affect behavior change and the reduction of substance abuse activity and symptoms in the individual and family. Provides therapeutic services using a strength based approach and holistic manner.
• Collaborate with medical team and psychiatrist regarding psychotropic medication assessment or continuation to aid in youth stability.
• Collaborate with educational/vocational systems to ensure appropriate academic services are provided. Seek out additional resources as necessary to ensure the best approach to treating the youth based on their developmental and neurocognitive ability.
• Provide therapy in a manner that is consistent with the youth’s ability, taking into account any necessary modification needed as a result of trauma, substance abuse, brain injury and mental health disorders. Support agency services of cognitive behavioral based interventions, social learning theory, and motivational interviewing.
• Position actively engages family/caregivers in the process of stabilizing and transitioning youth to placement.
• Assess progress, barriers to progress, document all case management and therapeutic services in the Electronic Health Record system.
• Facilitate Collaborative Review Teams (CRT) as needed for Individual Growth and Change Plans (IGCP) and other interventions as they are developed.
• Determine appropriate interventions for youth based on assessment data and youth treatment progress
• Determine appropriate transition plan and needs for youth.

• Determine whether there is a need for outside referrals or additional treatment services for youth.

• This position addresses mental health and other needs identified, taking into consideration the estimated length of stay.

• Review assessment data, when completed, and recommendations with youth, gather additional historical information from youth, develop therapeutic rapport, ensure the youth is engaged in a supportive and educative manner, that confidentiality is maximized and problematic symptoms are thoroughly evaluated and handled in a sensitive and safe manner.
• 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.
• This position recognizes signs and symptoms of serious mental illness (per DSM-5) standards), exacerbation of symptoms, decompensation or improvement of mental health status is imperative for monitoring each youth’s progress.
• An ability to complete a brief mental health status exam is expected.
• This position places an emphasis on, making recommendations, and developing alternate interventions for youth not responding positively to programming. Knowledge of suicide risk indicators is required, with ability to offer on-going suicide risk assessments of youth.
• Providing input in conjunction with other transition specialists to transition planning and services to aid in successful reintegration of youth into the community. Coordination with YSSIII, Client Managers and milieu staff in the implementation of milieu interventions in order to achieve program success. Collaborate with client manager and MDT initial MDT staffing when needed. Refer to psychiatrists as needed.
• Determine appropriate, strengths-based treatment goals and objectives for youth.

• Determine appropriate individuals to provide treatment and other services to youth per treatment plan.

• This position has a thorough knowledge of the federal confidentiality regulations 42 C.F.R. Part 2 and HIPAA, and all Colorado Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division Rules for treatment practice.

• Takes responsibility for being current on literature and emerging research in the best practices of treating juvenile mental health, substance abuse issues and co-occurring disorders with a complex population.
• Trains others in the facility in best practice treatment delivery approaches.
• Participates in orientation, educational workshops, mental health, co-occurring disorders, and substance abuse discipline meetings, and trainings to assure and maintain competency in the provision of evidence-based substance abuse treatment services.
• This position guides staff by modeling interventions, recommending practices and resident assignments that may be implemented.
• Participates in initial case reviews of all new youth, assists in group placement, and assists in case consultation.
• Provides trainings and consultation on a local/agency level. Is responsible for maintaining all professional certifications and licensure.
• Actively participates in own professional growth and continued trainings, research and CEU’s. Participates in clinical supervision with the clinical director.
• Participates in supervision to remain in good standing for license renewals. Participates in treatment team meetings and briefings.
• Provide input on decisions around milieu programming.
• Provide input on implementation of treatment goals and objectives within the milieu.

• Provide input in the development of additional treatment program options.

• Document in approved EHR a treatment note for all individual and group sessions in DAP format.

• Group documentations must be individualized, reflecting how each particular youth participated in each group session.
• Identifying appropriate information to be recorded and the appropriate place to record it.

• Identifying appropriate parties to receive information on youth treatment and most appropriate mode of communication.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

Minimum Qualifications:
General Counseling Only: Current, valid licensure as a Professional Counselor (LPC) from the Colorado State Board of Licensed Professional Counselor Examiners or current, valid licensure as a Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) from the Colorado State Board of Social Work Examiners.
AND
One year of experience as a licensed clinical social worker or licensed professional counselor.
**Note, nothing in these Minimum Qualifications alleviates the criteria to transfer licensing or any requirements by the respective board under the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA).
Substitutions:

• Current and valid licensure as a Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) will substitute for the Professional Counseling license (LPC) or the Clinical Social Worker license (LCSW).

• CAC III or LAC to support coaching and oversight of Behavioral Health Specialists working towards CAC credentialing

• Must posses a licensure as a Professional Counselor (LPC) from the Colorado State Board of Licensed Professional Counselor Examiners or as a Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) from the Colorado State Board of Social Work Examiners.
• 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
• Essential Services Designation: Required to report without delay or interruption to provide essential or emergency services to ensure health, safety, and welfare.
• Transportation of youth in State vehicles, Travel to assigned trainings and/or alternate work sites.
• Social workers, addiction counselors, marriage family therapists, \and professional counselors may practice in Colorado for a cumulative period of 20 days under C.R.S. §12-245-217(2)(e), as long as the services performed meet the individual's scope of practice.
• 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.

Supplemental Information

• 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
• 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

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.

~THE STATE OF COLORADO IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER~