Working with the Division of Youth Services is more than it seems. You will be working with staff to create a safe, therapeutic, and educational environment for youth in our day treatment and residential programs. To succeed in this position you will need to be empathetic, nonjudgmental, cooperative, encouraging, able-bodied, professional, and respectful; you must be able to communicate clearly, honestly and openly. We also offer a variety of great benefits including health, dental, vision, paid holidays, cafeteria plans, retirement, and more. Join us and help make the difference for our youth today!

This is professional work in the coordination of comprehensive treatment and related services for youth placed with the Missouri Division of Youth Services. This position performs client assessment, classification, procurement, coordination, and evaluation of services to determine needed services.

The following tasks are the responsibility of the Youth Services Specialist:

• Develop a working relationship and therapeutic rapport with each youth and family.
• Update each family as needed on the youth’s progress and discuss family needs.
• Develop an integrated, individualized, comprehensive treatment plan to address each youth's needs then review plan with the client, family, and designated service providers, and prepares updates.
• Evaluate youth's responsiveness to the treatment plans continuously.
• Visit with youth and families in their homes.
• Prepare alternative educational and vocational plans.
• Ensure victim rights and sex offender notifications and registrations requirements and restitution obligations are met.
• Attend and assist in planning treatment assessment and transitional meetings.
• Represent the agency at staffing and hearings, Administrative Reviews, and meetings with service providers.
• Provide direct services, including counseling, crisis intervention, and other special client needs. This includes implementing treatment plans and providing Awareness Supervision to youth, with responsibility for their safety, personal conduct, care, education, and therapy. Awareness Supervision is defined as the ability to see, be seen by, and to hear and be heard by youth at all times in order to be capable of swift, appropriate response.
• Maintain security, including intervention and/or full participation in physical restraints of youth during emergencies or altercations to prevent escapes and gain physical control of youth.
• Intervene in youth medical emergencies defined as the ability to perform first-aid interventions for youth including, but not limited to Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).
• Recruit, develop, screen, and train foster placements, direct and indirect services, purchase of service contracts, social service aids, and other community resources to meet client needs.
• Provide shift coverage in the residential programs that operate 24/7 as needed.
• Maintain a telephone or other approved means of contact at all times.
• Transport and escort youth and families in everyday and emergency situations.
• Role model appropriate behavior.
• Perform other tasks as assigned.

One or more years of professional experience at or above the level of Education Specialist, Youth Services Specialist (Recreation Officer II), Registered Nurse, Addiction Counselor I, Vocational Education Instructor, or Youth Services Worker (Youth Specialist II) with the Missouri Division of Youth Services in the treatment of juveniles. OR A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum of 15 earned credit hours in one or a combination of the following: Criminal Justice, Psychology, Sociology, Social Work, Counseling, Education, or a closely related field; and One or more years of professional experience in the treatment of juveniles (12-17 years of age) which involved group or individual counseling techniques. OR A Bachelor’s degree and 1-3 years of youth treatment experience and/or relevant certification. (Substitutions may be allowed.)

Special Requirements: Possession of a valid driver’s license

(24 earned graduate credit hours from an accredited college or university in the specified areas may substitute on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.) (Additional qualifying experience may substitute for a year-for-year basis for the required deficiencies in the required education.)

Lack of post-secondary education will not be used as the sole basis denying consideration to any applicant.

The State of Missouri offers an excellent benefits package that includes a defined pension plan, generous amounts of leave and holiday time, and eligibility for health insurance coverage. Your total compensation is more than the dollars you receive in your paycheck. To help demonstrate the value of working for the State of Missouri, we have created an interactive Total Compensation Calculator. This tool provides a comprehensive view of benefits and more that are offered to prospective employees. The Total Compensation Calculator and other applicant resources can be found here

If you experience an accessibility issue while applying at mocareers.mo.gov, please contact courtney.a.hall@dss.mo.gov or call 573-526-0416. If you have questions about this position please contact: hrc@dss.mo.gov