Why you'll love this position:

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!

What you'll do:

• 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.
• 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.
• Transport and escort youth and families in everyday and emergency situations.
• Perform other tasks as assigned.

Qualifications:

One or more years of experience as a higher level Youth Services Worker (Youth Specialist II) with Missouri Division of Youth Services in the treatment of juveniles; and possession of a high school diploma or high school equivalency. 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.)

(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.)

Special Requirement: Possession of a valid vehicle operator’s license.

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

The State of Missouri is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.