Behavioral Health Specialist, Social Work​/Counselor III - Prairie Vista Youth Services Center

Department Information

These positions are open only to Colorado state residents. This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies at the locations below.

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.

DYS also contracts with numerous private residential and non‑residential service providers throughout the state.

For more information, visit the DYS website at https://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..

This position functions as a mental health counselor, providing mental health and case management services to committed and detained youth. Services include clinical assessment, medication monitoring in conjunction with a facility psychiatrist, individual, group, family and milieu therapies, suicide risk assessment, report writing, and coordination with a multidisciplinary team.

• Maintain a caseload and conduct individual, group, and family therapy sessions using evidence‑based treatment theories in adolescent mental health.
• Apply developmental knowledge and culturally appropriate interventions that consider age, ethnicity, culture, religion, and sexual identity.
• Document and assess treatment effectiveness, and plan and monitor goals for behavioral change and substance‑use reduction.
• Collaborate with medical staff and psychiatrists for medication assessment and management.
• Engage with educational and vocational partners to ensure appropriate academic support.
• Use strength‑based and holistic approaches; adapt interventions to youth’s developmental and neurocognitive abilities.
• Maintain therapeutic rapport, facilitate crisis interventions, and protect youth confidentiality.
• Coordinate with the Sanctuary/ROCK Program and facilitate Community Review Teams as needed.
• Document all case‑management and therapeutic services in the Fusion Electronic Health Record system.
• Assist in the development and implementation of evidence‑based curriculum and treatment plans.

• Identify mental‑health needs and develop tailored treatment plans considering length of stay.
• Conduct brief mental health status exams and monitor symptom progression.
• Offer ongoing suicide risk assessments and manage escalation protocols.
• Collaborate with transition specialists to coordinate reintegration services.
• Set strengths‑based goals and objectives; identify appropriate providers per treatment plan.

• Maintain knowledge of federal and state confidentiality regulations, including 42 C.F.R. Part 2 and HIPAA.
• Keep current on literature and emerging research in juvenile mental health and substance use.
• Train staff on best‑practice treatment delivery and provide clinical supervision.
• Participate in orientation, workshops, and multidisciplinary team meetings.
• Maintain professional certifications and licensure; engage in continued education and CEU training.

• Document treatment notes for all individual and group sessions in the approved EHR using the DAP format.
• Ensure individualization of group documentation to reflect each youth’s participation.
• Determine the appropriate parties and modes of communication for information sharing.

• Current, valid Colorado or State‑participating licensure: LSW, LCSW, LPC, LMFT, or LAC.
• At least one (1) year of experience with current licensure in a role aligned with the duties of this position.

• Relatable experience as a current or former State of Colorado employee.

• Age 21 or older; no felony convictions or domestic‑violence history.
• Full background and reference checks required.
• State of Colorado residency required at application and throughout employment.
• Validity of a non‑restricted…