JPD - Forensic Psychologist,Cook County Juvenile Court Job Chicago area,Illinois USA,Government

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF JUDGE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY JOB DESCRIPTION

POSITION: FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGIST, COOK COUNTY JUVENILE COURT CLINIC

GRADE: 22

UNION: TEAMSTERS LOCAL 743

SALARY: $111,318

LOCATION:

1100 SOUTH HAMILTON, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

Employer Profile:

The Cook County Juvenile Court Clinic was established in June 2003 as a non-judicial office in the Circuit Court of Cook County. The Clinic is operated through a partnership between the Circuit Court of Cook County and Northwestern University and is the primary provider of forensic consultation and evaluation services for Cook County’s Juvenile Court, which encompasses the Juvenile Justice and Child Protection Divisions.

The Clinic resides within the Juvenile Probation and Court Services Department and is located in the Cook County Juvenile Center, which contains the Juvenile Justice and Child Protection courtrooms, the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center (JTDC), and other entities affiliated with the Juvenile Court. This location permits the Clinic to be well-integrated with and responsive to the needs of the Juvenile Court, its constituents, and court-affiliated entities.

Director:
Philip

C. O’Donnell, M.J., Ph.D.

Associate Director:
Krissie Fernandez Smith, Ph.D., ABPP

Job Summary:

The Forensic Psychologist conducts court-ordered evaluations primarily for the Child Protection Division. These evaluations are focused on the parents of children who have experienced abuse or neglect and are used to inform legal decisions about visitation, reunification, termination of parental rights, and case closure. Using a multisource, multimethod approach, the Forensic Psychologist assesses various issues that contribute to parents’ fitness and their risk of future child maltreatment, including but not limited to mental health, substance abuse, intimate partner violence, trauma, parenting beliefs and practices, child development and behavior, and social support.

The Forensic Psychologist may also have opportunities to conduct evaluations of youth for the Juvenile Justice Division when needed.

Essential Duties:

Conduct forensic child protection evaluations to address pending legal questions such as visitation, change of permanency goal, termination of parental rights, return home, motion for case closure, and motion to vacate or transfer guardianship. Review relevant records; conduct multiple forensic interviews with evaluation subjects (generally parents or other caregivers who are parties to a child protection matter); interview children who are the subjects of a child protection petition;

interview caseworkers and other relevant collateral sources (e.g., community therapists); administer and interpret psychological tests; and write comprehensive, well-supported reports that answer the Court’s questions and comport with forensic best practices.

Provide on-call coverage (several times per month) for same-day evaluations of a parent’s capacity to consent to specific adoption and/or voluntarily relinquish parental rights. Review available records, conduct a brief clinical interview with the parent and prepare a brief report of findings.

Conduct court ordered forensic evaluations for the Juvenile Justice Division of the Cook County Juvenile Court to address pending legal questions such as sentencing alternatives, fitness to stand trial, risk assessments, and capacity to waive Miranda rights. Review relevant records; conduct multiple forensic interviews with evaluation subjects (youth who are the subjects of juvenile court petitions); interview parents/guardians and relevant collateral sources;

administer and interpret psychological tests; and write comprehensive, well-supported reports that answer the Court’s questions and comport with forensic best practices.

Testify in court as an expert witness regarding forensic evaluations tendered to court.

Participate in supervision and training initiatives, including but not limited to regular meetings with primary supervisor, monthly psychologist and staff meetings, and internal and external trainings related to child protection, juvenile justice and forensic evaluation.

Perform other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and…

JPD - Forensic Psychologist, Cook County Juvenile Court