This position is in the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS), Youth and Family Programs (YFP) Division. The YFP Division is responsible for the care and custody of youth awaiting court processing placed in secure detention or shelter care by the DC Superior Court. The Administration also advocates for alternatives to secure detention or shelter care for youth who can be supervised in a non-residential setting and operates a home detention program for youth who can be supervised at home while awaiting trial or disposition.

The mission of DYRS is to improve public safety and allow court-involved youth to become more productive citizens by building on the strengths of youths and their families in the least restrictive, most homelike environment consistent with public safety. DYRS provides the nation's best continuum of care for court-involved youth and their families through programs that emphasize individual strengths, personal accountability, public safety, skill development, family involvement, and community support. The incumbent in this position will serve as the Community Placement Program Manager in the Placement Unit. Incumbent will possess expert placement knowledge of adjudicated youth in juvenile placement settings and will have demonstrated broad responsibility for the placement, planning, and engagement with placement providers.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Community Placement Program Manager is responsible for overseeing the full implementation, coordination, and direction of supervised community-based placement procedures for youth committed to DYRS custody. Manages the placement of youth committed to DYRS by conducting staff and placement review meetings with Care Coordination team members. Works collaboratively with the DC Juvenile placement workgroup committees to implement procedures for placing youth in out of home venues. Serves as a subject matter expert about the purpose and use of secure detention and community placements and in the principles and language of the juvenile justice system. Monitors the progress of youth awaiting placement, documents policies, evaluates outcomes, prepares reports, and provides recommendations. Assists in training and educating staff and juvenile justice personnel in awaiting placement principles. Keeps the YFP Deputy Director apprised of unusual complexities of the residential programs. Assesses operating problems and procedures; develops recommended solutions to the affected areas.

The Incumbent will assist the YFP Deputy Director with employee selection, retention, and promotion. Manage performance evaluations and plans for staff. Initiate personnel actions, approve leave, investigate complaints, and resolve employee differences. Partners with community agencies and stakeholders responsible for youth placement and case management once the youth are returned to the community. Assists care coordination team in developing re-entry plans for youth returning to the Community. Maintains detailed census records on programs, prepares weekly reports, and oversees the ongoing development of systems, policies, and practices that enhance the quality of services to youth. Ensures that youths’ rights are not violated and admissions to each program/service are not delayed. Provides overall guidance and program management to all YFP Division staff. Collaborates with DYRS staff, sharing relevant information about program/service demographics and other data as needed or requested. May complete placement site visits with the DYRS Contract and Monitoring Team.

Qualifications and Education:

Degree: behavioral or social science; or related disciplines appropriate to the position.

OR

Combination of education and experience that provided the applicant with knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field.

OR

Four years of appropriate experience that demonstrated that the applicant has acquired knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field.

Knowledge of available resources in the community, juvenile justice organizations, local and federal government agencies that support or enhance program goals and objectives and knowledge of the relevant policies of pertinent agencies, including law enforcement, and understanding the philosophy of the juvenile/family court is highly preferred.

Licenses and Certifications:

Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license.

Working Conditions / Environment

The incumbent works primarily in an office setting; however, some tasks will require fieldwork in juvenile correctional facilities or community based residential or nonresidential settings.

Other Significant Facts:

Tour of Duty: 8:30am to 5:00pm Monday – Friday. Incumbent subject to flexible work schedule to be accessible to youth and their families during visitation on weekends, evenings.

Promotion Potential: No Known Promotion Potential

Duration of Appointment: MSS At-Will. Positions in the Management Supervisory Service (MSS) serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority and may be terminated at any time with or without cause.

Pay Plan, Series and Grade: MS-0101-13

Collective Bargaining Unit (Non-Union): This position is not in a collective bargaining unit.

Position Designation: The incumbent in this position will be subject to enhanced suitability screening pursuant to Chapter 4 of DC Personnel regulations, Suitability. This position has been designated as a protection-sensitive position.

Emergency Designation: This position is designated as Emergency pursuant to Chapter 12 of the D.C. Personnel Regulations, Hours of Work, Legal Holidays, and Leave.

EEO Statement: The District of Columbia Government is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, family responsibilities, matriculation, physical handicap, or political affiliation.