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

Department Information

This position is open only to Colorado state residents.

Please note:

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.

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: https://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)./dys

This position functions as a mental health counselor and provides mental health and case management services to committed and detained youth in the Division of Youth Services. Services to be provided include clinical assessment, medication monitoring, individual, group, family and milieu therapies, suicide risk assessment and monitoring, report writing, and mental health service coordination with a Multi‑Disciplinary Team (MDT) of experts.

• Maintains a caseload and conducts individual, group, and family therapy sessions using evidence‑based treatment theories in mental health treatment for adolescents.
• Maintains a clear understanding of adolescent development, appropriate interventions for this population, and developmental needs.
• Uses theories relevant to the needs of the youth and their individual history, considering their age, ethnic, cultural, religious, and sexual issues to effect behavior change.
• Document and assess the effectiveness of specific interventions toward program progression and youth stabilization.
• Therapy needs may include substance abuse, mental health issues, trauma histories, cognitive limitations, and specific services for sexually abusive or violent youth.
• Provides therapeutic services using a strength‑based approach and holistic manner.
• Collaborate with the medical team and psychiatrist regarding psychotropic medication assessment or continuation to aid in youth stability.
• Collaborate with educational/vocational systems to ensure appropriate academic services are provided.
• Seek out additional resources as necessary to ensure the best approach to treating the youth based on their developmental and neurocognitive ability.
• Provide therapy 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.
• Support agency services of cognitive behavioral‑based interventions, social learning theory, and motivational interviewing.
• Position actively engages family/caregivers in the process of stabilizing and transitioning youth to placement.
• Assess progress, and barriers to progress, and document all case management and therapeutic services in the Fusion Electronic Health Record system.
• Follow Sanctuary/ROCK Program.
• Facilitate Community Review Teams as needed for Individual Growth and Change Plans and other interventions as they are developed.

• This position addresses mental health and other needs identified, taking into consideration the estimated length of stay.
• Review assessment data, when completed, and recommendations with youth, gather additional historical information from youth, develop therapeutic rapport, ensure the youth is engaged…