• The following is a composite representation of the actual positions which make up this classification. It is not intended to cover all possible job requirements or job factors which, if applicable, are included by reference. Lines of supervision and reporting are as shown on an organizational chart.

A. Position Definition & Summary:

Coordination of youth transition planning to include establishing support services for youth based on identified transitional needs. The Transitional Services Manager (TSM) assesses youth for independent living skills needs, facilitates individualized skill plans, maintains records of support services and will communicate on a regular basis with parent/guardian or foster care parent, and JPO both pre and post release with 30 day post release follow up activities. The TSM will also provide compliance monitoring for 30 days post release. The TSM will ensure community linkages and will follow up with identified transition needs to ensure appointments/meetings are in place, transportation is in place and necessary documentation has been completed for continuity of care. Participating treatment team member that assists in with developing youth transitional needs and post commitment plan.

B. Position Expectations and Essential Functions:

• Meet with each applicable youth on an individual basis to assess independent living skill needs and identify existing transition needs, new transition needs and progress towards goals;

• Develop an individualized skill plan (using ILS) and provides individual and group work as indicated to address areas of need.

• Work collaboratively with case manager to develop an individualized Transition Plan with each youth to include the input of all entities involved with this case, to target the right services at the right location, at the right time for each youth;

• Participate on the youths Circuit Transition Panel (if assigned) in his home circuit for discussion of his recommended needs upon release and the resources available in that area;

• Maintain a system to ensure those needs and services identified by the Circuit Transitional Panel are followed;

• Pursue home community support resources for the family, in the event a crisis occurs with the youths family (food bank, churches, etc.);

• Assist and secure living arrangements for the youth:

• If notified of a youth who is younger than 18 years old and cannot live independently, the TSM will contact the Department of Children (DCF) and Families to identify foster home placement. Once a foster home is identified, the TSM will include the foster care parent in treatment team meetings
• For a youth who becomes homeless while in the program, the TSM will initiate communication with DCF in his home Region, and will work together with the DCF staff to identify an alternative living situation. The TSM will place preference on locating a relative who can provide housing conducive to the needs of the youth.
• For a youth who is under 18 years old while in the program, but will be at least 18 years old by discharge, the TSM will initiate the petitioning process with the Court to extend jurisdiction up to a year and will assist the youth throughout the process.
• For a youth who is at least 18 years old and homeless, the TCM will provide him a list of community resources for temporary housing. Examples of community organizations are the Salvation Army and Metropolitan Ministries;

• Provide each youth with a comprehensive Transition Portfolio completed by the TSM as applicable to the needs of the youth. Examples of documents that may be included are:

• Education: Education transcript, GED or Diploma, certificate of completion; financial aid applications, including Florida Juvenile Justice Foundation; letters of recommendation from program and education;
• Social Services: The TSM will make diligent efforts to obtain a copy of the youths birth certificate, social security card, State I.D. card and any resources available under s.985.461, F.S. that may be additional support to the youth;
• Employment: The TSM will maintain industry-recognized certifications, Florida Ready-to-Work credentials, resume sample and/or any additional pre-employment documentation that will assist the youth in future jobs. These will be part of the youths Transition Portfolio that will be in his possession upon discharge from the facility. In addition, the TSM will provide the location of ONE STOP centers in the youths home community.
• Healthcare: The TSM will ensure appointments are in place for Determination of Medicaid eligibility and application. In addition to applicable healthcare screenings. The youths portfolio will include contact information for care review teams(under interagency agreement) if applicable;

• Monitor risk changes throughout the course of stay as they relate to transition needs;

• Conduct weekly post release follow up contacts with youth, parent/guardian and JPO for a thirty day period post release. Chronological documentation to be maintained for all contact as well as completion of a summary when ending post release follow up work.

• Effectively implements and consistently applies the programs Positive Performance System (PPS) / Behavior Management System.

• Provides oversight to the PPS / BMS system to ensure it is properly implemented by program staff.

• Monitors and provides feedback to ensure that the rewards and consequences are distributed in fair and consistent manner.

• Detect, respond and prevent abuse of youth.

• Performs other duties as assigned by supervisor.

C. Position Requirements:

Education:

• Credentials are preferred bachelors degree from an accredited university or college in the field of counseling, social work, psychology, rehabilitation, special education or in a related human services field and have two years experience in working with children with serious emotional disturbances or substance abuse problems.

Other Requirements:

• Must be 21 years of age or older.

• Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in the state where the work site is located only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.

D. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of basic theory and practice of human behavior and problems of group living.

• Knowledge of the nature of common behavior and mental health disorders of childhood and adolescence, and the appropriate responses.

• Knowledge of programmatic approaches to behavioral management including the principles of behavior modification.

• Knowledge of individual and group counseling techniques.

• Ability to maintain an attitude of objectivity and open-mindedness concerning new approaches and methods of dealing with children's problems.

• Ability to keep abreast of new ideas, attitudes and skills relevant to working with problem children.

• Ability to think clearly and act appropriately in an emergency or potentially dangerous situation.

• Ability to understand complex concepts of learning and behavior modification and their application to the client population served.

• Ability to participate in recreational activities.

• Knowledge of the rules and equipment used in popular games, sports and other leisure activities and their therapeutic applications.

• Ability to prepare required records and reports.

• Ability to maintain essential records, reports and files.

• Ability to participate in escape apprehension activities and to respond to emergency situation requirements.

• Knowledge of basic first aid and emergency medical care.

• Knowledge of governmental and private agencies that can offer treatment and rehabilitation assistance.

• Knowledge of and familiarity with techniques used in group and individual counseling.

• Ability to organize assigned work and develop effective and efficient work methods.

• Ability to interview persons who may be emotionally upset and antagonistic.

• Ability to comprehend and adjust to frameworks of references other than one's own cultural and educational standards.

• Ability to relate and adjust to individuals of varied types, including staff, residents and their families.

• Ability to acquire knowledge to analyze, comprehends, interpret and apply basic laws, rules, regulations and procedures to specific situations.

• Ability to learn to collect and make appraisals of factual information and the social relationships of individuals and families, to learn quickly the essential and significant facts in an individual or family situation, to weigh and evaluate such facts and to take appropriate action.

• Ability to maintain a firm, correct and professional attitude at all times.

• Ability to comprehend the problems of persons who are physically and/or emotionally maladjusted.

• Ability to prepare clear, sound, accurate and informative reports containing findings, conclusions and recommendations.

• Ability to demonstrate judgment and discretion in dealing with sensitive information and to function independently within a team- oriented atmosphere.

• Ability to move among work site buildings; occasional travel required.

• Ability to work with a variety of behaviors.

• Ability to tolerate verbal and mental abuse while maintaining a professional demeanor.

• Ability to perform appropriate crisis intervention, including physically breaking up fights.

• Ability to complete pre-service and annual in-service CPR and first aid certification training and self-defense and physical intervention training.

• Ability to pass drug and TB screening and testing.

• Ability to work under pressure; meet inflexible deadlines; set priorities; deal diplomatically with difficult individuals; supervise others; ability to manage multiple programs; lead small program management teams and work independently. Adherence to the highest ethical standards essential.

E. Equipment Utilized

• Ability to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.

F. Physical Requirements & Work Environment:

• Talking: Ability to express and exchange ideas via spoken word during activities in which they must convey details or important spoken instructions to others accurately, sometimes quickly and loudly. Hearing and Vision: Ability to perceive the nature of sounds with no less than 40 dB loss at Hz, 1000 Hz and 2000 Hz with or without correction. Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication. Work requires a minimum standard of visual acuity with or without correction that will enable employees to complete clerical tasks, and observe youth. Dexterity: Ability to stoop, kneel, crouch, reach, push, pull, lift, grasp, and be able to perceive the attributes of an object such as size, shape, and temperature. Movements frequently and regularly required using wrists, hands and/or fingers. Physical Strength: Ability to exert up to 50 pounds of force occasionally. Position is mainly sedentary work (office work), but may on occasion include physical force execution.
• Employee may be subject to temperature changes, but the employee is not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions as the work is predominantly inside. Language: Ability to write complex sentences, using proper punctuation, and ability to communicate in complex sentences using normal word order with present and past tenses. Processing and Reasoning: Ability to exercise self-control in potentially volatile situations such as in verbal and physical confrontations. Must be able to work and concentrate amidst distractions and noise. Ability to assist youth with problem solving and maintaining self-control in volatile situations.

• The work environment characteristics described are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this position the employee is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions as they relate to travel. The noise level is usually moderate as the primary work environment is a standard office setting.
• Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform the essential functions of the job after reasonable accommodation is made to their known limitations. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the company undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.