Youth Specialist

Position: Youth Specialist (Full-Time)
Location: West Olive

This listing closes on 9/18/2026 at 5:00 PM Eastern Time (US & Canada).

Employer

Ottawa County

Salary

$24.06 - $31.28 Hourly

Location

Juvenile Detention Center: 12110 Fillmore Street, West Olive, MI

Job Type

Full-Time

Job Number

Department

Juvenile Detention

Opening Date

08/28/2026

Closing Date

9/18/2026 at 5:00 PM Eastern Time (US & Canada)

FLSA

Determined by Position

Bargaining Unit

Juvenile Court / Family Court, Juvenile Services

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Job Description Provides services, including guidance counseling, behavioral observation and custodial care, to youth detained in the Juvenile Detention facility. This position serves as a direct caregiver under the direction of a Shift Supervisor, providing structure and supervision for youth in detention. This is a full-time, benefited position working out of the Juvenile Detention Center located at 12110 Fillmore Street, West Olive, MI 49460.

Typical working hours are 2:45pm-10:45pm on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.

Essential Job Functions

The essential functions of this position include, but are not limited to, the following:

Provides custodial care and supervision for youths remanded to juvenile detention facilities.

Operates electronic control board strictly controlling ingress and egress of the facility.

Provides individual and group orientations and guidance, and ensures that youths in detention participate in educational, counseling, treatment and other programs to which they have been referred or in which they are required to participate by order of the court.

Searches residents and resident living quarters for weapons and other contraband articles.

Maintains logs of observed behaviors and participation in programs.

Maintains security by following established policies and procedures.

Organizes and supervises recreational and other group activities.

Responds to crisis situations with appropriate intervention techniques and restrains/secures individual residents as necessary to maintain the safety and security of all facility residents and staff.

Serves as a positive role model for residents.

Assists and instructs residents in daily living skills including personal hygiene and maintenance of living areas (i.e., bed making, cleaning, vacuuming, etc.).

Implements a behavior management program that strives to engage, foster accountability, teach responsibility and reinforce appropriate behavior choices from youth.

Escorts residents to and from court hearings.

Provides initial response to medical emergencies in the facility, performing CPR while emergency medical services are contacted, and administering first aid in both emergency and non-emergency situations.

Inspects living and sleeping quarters to ensure that conditions are safe, sanitary, and appropriate.

Performs other functions as required.

Required Education, Training and Experience

Associate's degree or successful completion of sixty (60) semester credit hours or equivalent quarter credit hours in psychology, sociology, child development, criminal justice, or a closely related field, with a minimum of one year of experience in a child/youth care facility or institution serving at-risk youth, preferred.

Additional Requirements and Information

Required Knowledge and Skills:

Good working knowledge of accepted principles and practices of guidance and treatment as related to the rehabilitation of delinquent, emotionally impaired, mentally ill and socially maladjusted adolescents.

Working knowledge of the juvenile justice system and federal, state and local statutes and regulations with respect to the involuntary detention of juveniles.

Working knowledge of crowd control, crisis prevention and restraint techniques.

Working knowledge of child and adolescent development and court programs.

Knowledge…