Non-exempt; part-time; 20 hours per work; Monday-Friday; 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.; no benefits 
 
The Youth Opportunity & Diversion Alternatives Program (YODA) Social Worker position works within the State’s Attorney’s Offices Juvenile Division and will allow meaningful diversion opportunities for youth exhibiting behaviors that put them at risk of future delinquency. YODA was established to allow youth the opportunity to learn from their mistakes without becoming part of the formal juvenile court system. These youth will be educated and offered services without the stigma of prosecution. The YODA Social Worker will be responsible for assessing youth that are referred to the diversion programs and utilize a mental health lens to determine their needs and their strengths. In addition to the initial assessment, the YODA Social Worker will manage a case load of youth and will provide short-term mentorship by referring the family to services for a longer-term connection. The YODA Social Worker will be responsible for collecting feedback from every youth and family involved, for collecting youth-voice from the community on the programming offered in the YODA Program, as well as for reporting the YODA program’s accessibility and effectiveness with all races, ethnicities, and genders. Supervision is received from the Chief Assistant State’s Attorney for the Juvenile Division.

• Provide case management including short-term mentoring, assistance, crisis management to juveniles and their caregivers; connect juveniles to longer-term community resources
• Screen requests for YODA services, collect intake documents; conduct initial assessment to assess youth needs; develop plan of action
• Review and analyze referrals into the YODA program from the SAO Juvenile Division, police agencies, schools, and caregivers
• Evaluate and screen each juvenile using an evidence-based assessment tool to determine the youth’s strengths, needs and root cause for problems
• Analyze assessments and all other information to formulate a diversion contract with the youth and his/her caregivers; review contract regularly with the YODA Program Team
• Contact juveniles regularly to monitor needs and service delivery; provide frequent contact to caregivers
• Conduct juvenile in-home visits as determined necessary by the YODA Program Team 
• Attend weekly YODA Program Team Meetings; collaborate with the team regarding the needs of the youth
• Provide all case documentation to the YODA Program Team; recommend case closures
• Communicate with the referring party at initial assessment and at the time of case closure
• Collaborate with family members, caregivers, and service providers to ensure clients' needs are met
• Attend and facilitate agency related meetings
• Perform public outreach regarding the YODA Program 
• Develop and facilitate prevention and education programs that support child safety and crime prevention in our community and schools
• Drive county vehicle to meet with youth, families and community members in their homes or schools
• Perform other duties as required

The qualifications/requirements, knowledge/skills/abilities and physical demands or working conditions described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.The qualifications/requirements, knowledge/skills/abilities and physical demands or working conditions described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Master's degree in Social Work
• Current Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) licensure issued from the Maryland State Board of Social Work Examiners
• Possession of a valid automobile operator’s license

KNOWLEDGE / SKILLS / ABILITIES:

• Ability to maintain County Authorized Driver privileges
• Considerable knowledge of community resources with a focus on the juvenile population and resources available to youth
• Considerable knowledge of issues that impact the juvenile population
• Knowledge of human behavior, human growth and development, interviewing techniques and social work principles and methods
• Knowledge of the effects of trauma, ACEs, and mental health disorders on the juvenile population
• Ability to assess juveniles for their strengths, needs, and ACEs
• Ability to implement juvenile diversion contracts, ie., service plans
• Ability to recognize and overcome barriers to service implementation
• Strong case management skills including the ability to demonstrate creativity and initiative coordinating appropriate referrals to community agencies and resources.
• Strong and effective spoken and written (English) communication skills including the ability to effectively conduct client interviews; clearly convey client needs and participate in case management team meetings, and the ability to effectively complete initial and on-going client assessments, and service plans
• Ability to effectively access and use computerized systems and equipment
• Ability to function as a member of team
• Ability to work with sensitive, personal information and maintain appropriate confidentiality
• Ability to effectively organize work, establish priorities, and complete assigned duties with minimal supervision
• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with juveniles, hard-to-sere populations, co-workers, professionals and other colleagues as well as the general public, with special sensitivity to the needs and priorities of youth
• Ability to compile and prepare unbiased, factual reports of findings
• Ability to advocate for client needs
• Ability to work with persons who have mental health issues and risk factors

PREFERENCE MAY BE GIVEN FOR:

• Experience working with juveniles
• Case management work experience

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS / WORKING CONDITIONS:

• While working in this position, the employee is required to frequently sit and walk; and occasionally climb, stoop and drive
• While working in this position, the employee is required to constantly work indoors; frequently work outdoors and walk on uneven ground

• Ability to provide own transportation to training sessions, home visits, meetings
• Available for varied working hours to accommodate meetings and appointments
• Required licenses must be current throughout employment with Frederick County
• This position is subject to random drug testing

EXAMINATION PROCESS (may include): 
1. An evaluation of training and experience
2. Job related office skills testing
3. One or more interviews
4. A pre-employment background investigation conducted, reviewed and approved by the SAO
5. A pre-employment drug test to include marijuana