Behavioral Health Specialist, Social Work/Counselor

Department Information

This position is open to current Colorado residents only.

Please note: This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies at the locations below

About the Division of Youth Services : The Division of Youth Services (DYS) provides a continuum of residential and non-residential services that encompass juvenile detention, commitment, and parole. DYS is the agency statutorily mandated to provide for the care and supervision of youth committed by the District Court to the custody of the Colorado Department of Human Services. The Division operates fifteen secure facilities that serve youth between the ages of 10 and 21, who are pre-adjudicated, sentenced, or committed. The Division also contracts with numerous private residential and non-residential service providers throughout the State. For pre-adjudicated youth, the Division is also responsible for the management and oversight of Colorado Youth Detention Continuum, a State-funded, locally administered program that provides services to youth at risk of further progressing into the juvenile justice system. In addition to residential programming, the Division administers juvenile parole services throughout the State.

We invite you to explore the DYS website and learn about the services provided to youth, families, and local communities in the State of Colorado at:

Description Of Job

You are required to work at your assigned work location during your scheduled work times.

Shift schedule may vary, typical shift is M-F 9am-5pm.

Please note: Work arrangements are subject to change at any time.

Summary Of Work Unit

This work unit exists to provide clinical mental health services to committed treatment level youth and their families, in a secure facility. It provides individual, family and group services in support of and in alignment with the Division of Youth Services (DYS) strategic plan and within a trauma informed environment. This work unit identifies youth needs and develops interventions to mitigate risk and enhance protective factors to ensure successful reintegration into the community. It works collaboratively with milieu staff, education, family, client management, and community stakeholders to provide evidence-based services to complex youth

Summary Of The Position

This position exists to provide mental health/crisis management services for a caseload of DYS committed youth. DYS committed youth often have behavioral and/or psychiatric problems resulting from trauma-related issues such as neglect, abuse, or severe family problems. This position provides individual, group and family services to this population. This position uses Evidence Based Curricula in working with this population. It provides approved treatment services to youth who have engaged in delinquent behaviors, in a secure state operated treatment facility. This position provides treatment planning, individual, family and group counseling, ongoing assessment, case management, record keeping, and service coordination in conjunction with a Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) responsible for the overall treatment, supervision and transition of the youth. These youth often have behavioral and psychiatric issues resulting from trauma related exposure such as neglect, abuse or severe family problems. This position completes an integrated and comprehensive strength-based treatment plan and provides expertise in the area of mental health, co-occurring, special needs and family issues. This position utilizes the Colorado Juvenile Risk Assessment and other validated assessment tools to address criminogenic risk factors and what is driving underlying behavior by using a strength-based approach and a youth’s protective factors and resources. This position utilizes a case conceptualization model which gathers the facts about the youth, determines needs, identifies strengths and develops treatment plans. Training and consultation to staff in regard to treatment and milieu interventions specific to juveniles who have complex mental health needs is also a responsibility along with the development and implementation of transition plans in coordination with the multidisciplinary team of client manager, family, youth facility staff and community programs. This position takes a lead role on the clinical team in the unit, assists in conducting in service trainings and communicates youth’s needs to milieu staff. Behavioral Health Specialists will utilize Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral therapy, Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports and the Sanctuary model, in their work with youth and families.

Job Duties

Assessment and Treatment Planning

• This position utilizes and presents a case conceptualization model of youth on caseload upon entering the facility and discusses this with supervisor and presents to Department chairs for collaboration and decision making around appropriate services. Within the first 30 days of a youth’s arrival, this position thoroughly assesses youth’s treatment needs by reviewing the youth’s main and medical files and making initial and collateral contacts as appropriate. Collaborate and coordinate treatment needs of youth with DYS client manager, and assessment services to match treatment with estimated length of stay and client need, within 30 days of admission. Interviews the resident ensuring assessment data is reliable as possible, that the resident is engaged in a supportive and educative manner, that confidentiality is maximized, and that problematic symptoms and behaviors are thoroughly evaluated and handled in a sensitive and safe manner. Contacts/engages parents/family members, significant others, guardians, and referring agents to interview and obtain relevant collateral and supportive data to enhance the understanding and dynamics of the youth’s situation. Collaborates and coordinates with direct staff, education, client manager, youth, and other pertinent treatment team members in the development of a treatment service plan. Provides oversight to the treatment plans and identify goals and measurable objectives, interventions and those responsible for providing them, frequency of interventions, and responsibility of the youth. Treatment plan objectives include skills that youth is working on in addition to individual and group session objectives. A multi-disciplinary integrated and comprehensive approach is applied to treatment planning, involving the youth, and family members as well as professionals utilizing best practice strength-based approach. Utilizing a case conceptualization model gathers facts about the youth, determining needs, identifying protective factors and developing treatment needs and results are presented to supervisor and discussed with multi-disciplinary team. Emphasis is placed on facilitating a review, making recommendations, and developing alternative interventions to be implemented by team staff and client for cases that represent a negative or no change response to treatment. Treatment planning is cognizant of gender, cultural, religious or spiritual and sexual identity issues to affect behavior change and reduction of symptoms in the adolescent and family. This position guides transition planning and services to aid in successful youth reintegration into the community. Collaboration with client manager and MDT in recommending transition and aftercare programming as appropriate. Participate in the assessment of safety and intervention/and monitoring plans for suicidal youth, with the direct supervision of a licensed behavioral health specialist, only for youth on their caseload.

Treatment Provision & Documentation

• This position maintains a caseload and conducts individual, group, and family psychotherapy sessions using evidence-based treatment theories and curriculum in complex mental health treatment for adolescents. Conducts counseling in accordance with training and expertise gained through specific training and knowledge of Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) standards and ethics. Conducts treatment needs include substance abuse, mental health issues, trauma histories, cognitive limitations, offense specific services for sexually abusive or violent youth. Consults with supervisor about treatment issues, problems, expectation, and changes in behavior for residents and families. Documents the youth’s response to specific interventions toward meeting the objectives and goals of treatment plan. Treatment will incorporate and address the youth’s risk/needs and protective factors and how criminal conduct, sex offense specific, substance abuse and mental health issues are related. Consults and collaborate with medical team and psychiatrist regarding psychotropic medication use in treatment. Collaborates with client manager and assists in developing wrap-around transition and aftercare services for the youth nearing parole. Collaborates with educational/vocational systems to ensure appropriate academic services are provided. Discusses in supervision and identify any need for additional resources as necessary to ensure the best approach to treatment with the youth based on their developmental and neurocognitive ability. Provides psychotherapy in a manner that is consistent with the youth’s ability, taking into account any necessary modification needed as a result of trauma, substance abuse, brain injury and mental health disorders. Supports agency services of cognitive behavioral based interventions, social learning theory, and motivational interviewing. Position actively engages family/care givers in the process of treatment with the youth and transition to the community. Facilitates daily groups and multifamily groups as necessary. Will assess progress, barriers to progress, collaborate with multidisciplinary team, communicate pertinent information to milieu staff and education, document all case management and therapeutic services in TRAILS system. Documents summary of progress in monthly treatment plans for youth on caseload. Documents all assessments, sessions, court reports, transition plans, community passes and staffing sessions in a timely manner as indicated in policy to be within the next working shift. Communicates effectively in verbal and written formats, that demonstrates progress youth has completed while in treatment. Position elaborates on risk, protective factors, progress and barriers to progress in a manner that is understandable to all audiences and partners, to include the youth, family, client management, education staff, parole boards, private providers, courts, etc. All treatment services are conducted in accordance with DORA standards and agency policy in order to mitigate risk and improve overall health. Treatment will be provided using a strength based approach and holistic manner and the use of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Social Learning, and Motivational Interviewing techniques are completed with the youth. This position recommends to the mental health team best practices in evidence-based curriculum, issues with staff and/or facility and changes in programming based on the individual needs of the population (for example, gender specific). Recommends to the team resources necessary to meet the needs of DYS youth based on severity of service needs and facility ADP. This position recommends to the mental health team best practices in evidence-based curriculum, issues with staff and/or facility and changes in programming based on the individual needs of the population (for example, gender specific). Recommends to the team resources necessary to meet the needs of DYS youth based on severity of service needs and facility ADP.

Other Duties As Assigned

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

Minimum Qualifications

Current, valid Colorado or State participating in the Social Work Licensure Compact licensure as a:

• Licensed Social Worker (LSW) OR
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) OR
• Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate (LPCC)
• Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist Candidate (LMFTC)
• Addiction Counselor Candidate (AC-C)

Preferred Qualifications

• Relevant years of state experience

Highly Desired Competencies

• CAC III or LAC to support coaching and oversight of Behavioral Health Specialists working towards CAC credentialing

Conditions Of Employment

• Full Background - Name check, TRAILS and Fingerprinting
• Must be 21 years of age, with no felony convictions or history of domestic violence
• This position requires State of Colorado residency at the time of application (unless otherwise identified in the posting), and residency within the state throughout the duration of employment in this position.
• Motor Vehicle Check, (MVR) required
• Must possess a valid, non-restricted Colorado Driver’s License
• Essential Services Designation: Required to report without delay or interruption to provide essential or emergency services to ensure health, safety, and welfare.
• Travel to assigned trainings and/or alternate work sites.
• The Diana Screen, a sexual risk screening tool, is administered to all applicants to the Division of Youth Services (DYS) seeking positions of trust with children and teens to help ensure that ethical boundaries between children and adults are maintained. At the DYS, the safety and protection of the youth who have been entrusted to us is our #1 priority. Your results of the Diana Screen will be provided to the DYS and may be used as part of the Division's decision to select you.
• Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must:
• Disclose that information on the application.
• Explain why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify you from the current position.
• Provide your employee number from your prior State employment. Absent extraordinary circumstances, prior disciplinary termination or resignation in lieu of termination and failure to provide this information will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with CDHS.

CDHS Selection Process Explanation

• Employment history is calculated on a full-time basis (40/hrs per week). Part-time employment is calculated on a prorated basis to determine qualifications. Be sure your application specifically addresses your qualifications, experience, work products, and accomplishments as they relate to the position and minimum requirements.

Minimum Qualification Screening Process

• A Human Resources Analyst will review the work experience/job duties sections of the online job application to determine whether your experience meets the minimum qualifications for the position. You must complete the official State of Colorado online application. Cover letters and resumes WILL NOT be reviewed during the minimum qualifications screening process. You must specifically document your work experience and qualifications in the application form. Do not use "see resume" or "see attached."
• You must meet the minimum qualifications to continue in the selection process. Part-time work experience will be prorated.

Comparative Analysis Process – Structured Application Review

• After minimum qualification screening, the comparative analysis process will involve reviewing and rating of all the information you submit. The comparative analysis step may also include your results from standardized testing.

Your Work Experience/Job Duties

• Document your work experience/job duties to the extent to which you possess the skills, education, experience, minimum qualifications, and preferred qualifications.
• If listed, answer all supplemental questions as your answers to these questions will be evaluated during this phase. Provide at least 4-8 sentences for each supplemental question.

Supplemental Questions

• Answer the supplemental questions completely and thoughtfully. We will rate your answers based on the content of your response and your writing skills (spelling, grammar, and clarity of your writing).

Appeal Rights: You may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director if your application is eliminated. You will find the appeals process, the official appeal form, and how to deliver it on the State Personnel Board website.

• You or your representative must sign and submit the official appeal form for review.
• You can find the official appeal form here .
• You must be deliver the official appeal form to the State Personnel Board:
• By email (***email_hidden***), or
• Postmarked in US Mail to(1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203, or
• Hand delivered (1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203), or
• Faxed View phone number on jobradars.com) within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgement of the department’s action.

Contact The State Personnel Board For Assistance

• At View phone number on jobradars.com, or
• Refer to the Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, within the Rules webpage.

Supplemental Information

How To Apply

The Assessment Process

For additional recruiting questions, please contact View email address on jobradars.com

About Us & Benefits

If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference, join the dedicated people of the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS). Our professionals strive to design and deliver high quality human and health services that improve the safety, independence, and well-being of the people of Colorado. Each of us is committed to contributing to a safe and accessible CDHS . In addition to a great location and rewarding and meaningful work, we offer:

• Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including a PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan plus 401(k) and 457 plans
• Medical and dental health plans
• Employer supplemented Health Savings Account
• Paid life insurance
• Short- and long-term disability coverage
• 11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave
• State of Colorado Employee BenefitHub Resource Center
• Employee Wellness program
• Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules, training and more
• Remote work arrangements for eligible positions
• *Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program .

Our Values

• We believe in a people-first approach: We prioritize the needs, well-being, and dignity of the individuals, families and communities we serve. We commit to respect, fairness and access in every decision, policy and interaction. We engage client voices and experiences in the development and implementation of the services we provide.
• Balance creates quality of life: We want our team to be resilient through a supportive workplace that values flexibility, health and wellness, and employee engagement.
• We hold ourselves accountable: We take responsibility through our actions, programs, and results for the state of health and human services in Colorado.
• Transparency matters: We are open and honest with employees, our partners, the Coloradans we serve, and the public.
• We are ethical: We abide by what is best for those we serve by doing what is right, not what is easy.
• Collaboration helps us rise together: We work together with all partners, employees, and clients to achieve the best outcomes for Coloradans.

ADA Accommodations

• We are committed to increasing a “Colorado for ALL" of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services. Therefore, we encourage responses from people of all backgrounds and abilities.
• This includes completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or performing essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to View email address on jobradars.com .

EEO Statement: The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer

• We are committed to increasing a “Colorado for ALL" of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services. Therefore, we encourage responses from people of all backgrounds and abilities. The State of Colorado believes that a “Colorado for ALL” drives our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.

Additional Support For Your Application: Toll Free Applicant Technical Support

• If you experience technical difficulty with the NEOGOV system (e.g. uploading or attaching documents to your online application) call NEOGOV technical support at View phone number on jobradars.com Mon-Fri between 6 am and 6 pm (Pacific Time).
• Helpful hints: if you are having difficulty uploading or attaching documents to your application 1) ensure your documents are PDF or Microsoft Word files and 2) close the document before you attempt to upload (attach) it.