Youth Services Specialist II; YSSII​/Activities Specialist

Position Overview

Department Information

This position is open only to Colorado state residents
.

Please note:

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies.

Physical

Job location:

Gilliam Youth Services Center, 2844 North Downing St., Denver, CO 80205.

About the Division of Youth Services (DYS):
The mission of DYS is to protect, restore and improve public safety by providing effective supervision, promoting accountability to victims and communities, and helping youth lead constructive lives through positive youth development. DYS operates 15 secure facilities serving youth ages 10‑21 who are pre‑adjudicated, sentenced, or committed. It also manages the Colorado Youth Detention Continuum, a state‑funded program that offers services to youth at risk of further progressing into the juvenile justice system.

DYS provides juvenile parole services throughout the state. For more information, visit https://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..

We are committed to increasing the diversity of our staff and to providing culturally responsive programs and services. We encourage responses from people of diverse backgrounds and abilities.

This position provides 24‑hour/7 days per week supervision of youth in DYS State‑Operated Secure Facilities. It is a direct‑care and essential role.

Responsibilities include:

• Maintaining safety and security through appropriate supervision, staff location, mobility, and continual observation of youth.
• Enforcing established security rules, supervising and directing daily living and leisure activities, and orienting youth to unit rules and routines.
• Providing immediate intervention in crisis situations, employing sound judgment and emotional control, and evaluating possible crises promptly.
• Participating in debriefings and defusing incidents pursuant to DYS Policy.
• Conducting searches of persons, property, and areas, ensuring procedures are followed for pat, personal, or full searches and adhering to policies regarding transgender or intersex youth searches.
• Identifying, documenting, and seizing contraband and monitoring escape risk procedures.
• Monitoring and documenting suicidal, medical, escape risk, special needs, and room restrictions, as well as following Suicide Precaution Monitoring (SPM) and Special Management Program (SMP) Standards.
• Utilizing verbal de‑escalation and strength‑based communication skills with youth and staff.
• Managing physical interventions when de‑escalation efforts fail, following approved physical management policy and seclusion protocols, and monitoring behavioral management plans.
• Preventing sexual contact, adhering to PREA Policies and Federal Standards.

Activities Services

Provides therapeutic and habilitative services and supports to youth in custody.

Responsibilities include:

• Implementing and documenting objectives and achievements identified by Individual Plans.
• Developing, organizing, and leading program activities that promote social, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral growth, including high‑incentive programs, psychoeducation, and skill‑building groups.
• Monitoring therapeutic programs continuously and initiating necessary changes promptly.
• Participating in interdisciplinary team processes and leading Collaborative Review Team processes as needed.
• Assisting in the development of individual growth and change plans and submitting drafts for supervisor approval.
• Ensuring safe transportation of participants to work area, program area, medical appointments, and community activities, and scheduling and facilitating monthly Sanctuary Meetings with minutes.
• Planning and preparing activities for non‑school days, including holidays, and establishing a level‑based incentive program.

General Programming

Actively implement and follow the facility behavioral management program. Activities include:

• Creating, conducting, and tracking psycho‑educational groups focused on trauma‑responsive environments, restorative practices, and Dialectical Behavior Treatment (DBT).
• Engaging youth in program implementation aligned with Division initiatives and strategic goals.
• Observing, monitoring, detecting, recording, and reporting problem behaviors and communicating expectations…