DJS Resident Advisor Trainee; Garrett & Allegany Counties

Location of Position

Grade: ASTD
11

Important note:

This recruitment is exclusively for the following DJS locations:

• Garrett County – Backbone Mountain Youth Center (BMYC), 124 Camp 4 Road, Swanton, MD 21561
• Allegany County – Green Ridge Youth Center (GRYC), 10700 Fifteen Mile Creek Road, Flintstone, MD 21530

The Maryland Department of Juvenile Services (DJS) is dedicated to transforming young lives, creating safer communities, and fostering equitable systems. We are seeking passionate individuals for the role of DJS Resident Advisor Trainee. The position is responsible for providing supervision and guidance to youth residing in a DJS-operated facility, observing, interacting, and assisting them with everyday life skills and advising on appropriate alternative behaviors.

The incumbent may work regular shifts and may be required to work other shifts, evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays. The position may be subject to call‑in based on staffing needs.

• Learns to escort groups of youth to and from daily activities and supervise their conduct during movement.
• Learns to observe individual and group behaviors and determine when intervention or guidance is needed.
• Learns to intervene in situations involving agitated or overwrought youth to prevent fights and de‑escalate potentially harmful behaviors.
• Learns to suggest alternative ways of reacting to problems and may be required to physically restrain youth.
• Learns to promote an environment conducive to learning helpful alternative behaviors by encouraging communication among youth and staff.
• Learns to monitor the behavior of youth and assist them in complying with daily and weekly schedules of attending classes, completing school assignments, sleeping, eating, and performing personal hygiene tasks.
• Learns to record behavior observations, prepare progress and incident reports for review by supervisors, and recommend behavioral sanctions.
• Learns to inspect residence areas for safety, security, and cleanliness.
• Learns to assess inappropriate behaviors and recommend behavioral sanctions to supervisors.
• Attends in‑service training on crisis prevention, suicide prevention, emergency medical treatments, behavioral modification models, and related topics to maintain knowledge of childcare needs, counseling methods, and trends in the juvenile justice field.
• Learns to assess emergency and crisis situations, make appropriate contacts and referrals, and provide interim emergency medical and other assistance until specialized assistance is available.
• May be assigned to a cottage or dormitory post at night.
• May accompany youth to community service activities outside the facility.
• Performs other related duties.
• When assigned to a Youth Center, functions as a member of the treatment team for individual youth and provides input and information to the DJS Case Management Specialist.
• When assigned to a Youth Center, implements and recommends modifications to youth treatment plans.
• When assigned to a Youth Center, facilitates daily behavioral modification meetings in the absence of the DJS Case Management Specialist.

• Education:
  
  High‑school graduation or high‑school equivalency certificate.
• Experience:
  
  None.
• Educational requirement mandated by the Maryland Correctional Training Commission.

• Employment experience within the past 18 months.
• Associate’s Degree in a related field (e.g., Criminal Justice, Social or Behavioral Sciences).

• Must complete and pass the Entrance Level Correctional Training Course for DJS staff and obtain the Maryland Correctional Training Commission certificate during the probationary period.
• May be required to possess a valid Maryland motor vehicle operator’s license if assigned duties that require operating a motor vehicle.

• U.S. Citizenship or Resident Alien status.
• Must be at least 21 years of age.
• Subject to a thorough background check, including fingerprinting and drug testing.
• Oral interview and physical and psychological examinations.
• Must comply with substance abuse testing as required by Code of Maryland Regulations .

DJS is an equal‑opportunity employer and is committed to diversity in the workplace. Specifically, we value diverse experiences regarding educational background and justice system contact. Veterans are welcome to apply for all current recruitments. Bilingual applicants and people with disabilities are welcome to apply. Candidates with lived experience relating to the criminal/juvenile legal system are encouraged to apply. We welcome experienced professionals transitioning from federal service to explore rewarding career opportunities.