Social Services Associate

Job Description

This position is open to current Department of Family and Community Services employees only.

Please check the definition below to determine if you qualify.

The Division of Juvenile Justice is recruiting to fill a Social Services Associate position located in Palmer at the Mat-Su Youth Facility.

Assisting Juvenile Probation Officers by providing a full range of clerical/support services and limited intake and field supervision duties. Establish and maintain case files and Juvenile Offender Management Information System files to meet compliance guidelines. Maintain office supplies and equipment, assist with timesheets, travel booking, and other duties as assigned.

Through Restorative Justice, we hold juvenile offenders accountable for their behavior; promote the safety and restoration of victims and communities; and assist offenders and their families in developing the skills to prevent crime. Our core values include:

• Prioritizing Safety of our youth, staff, families, and communities
• Responsiveness providing timely response to youth, families, victims, staff, and justice partners
• Professional Relationships recognizing that successful treatment services provided to our clients, coworkers, victims, and others rely on positive, respectful, collaborative relationships and a spirit of inclusiveness
• Dedication doing the right things for the right reasons and modeling relentless integrity and leadership
• Respect for the inherent value of each person's unique strengths and individual differences

Our team is committed to making a meaningful difference in youths’ lives using cutting-edge, evidence-based, and trauma informed practices. Our staff work closely with the courts to hold youth accountable, victims of juvenile offenses to repair the harm caused, and with youths’ families and the broader community to monitor youth and create an environment where youth can thrive. We take pride in working closely with the local entities including law enforcement, the court, attorneys, the school district, and many residential- and community-based treatment providers.

We believe in enhancing the strengths of our staff by promoting training and professional development. Take advantage of a unique opportunity to learn and grow professionally while serving Alaska’s youth and families and making our communities better.

This position is co-located with the Mat-Su Youth Facility, a 24-hour juvenile detention facility, located at 581 Outer Springer Loop in Palmer. The Mat-Su Juvenile Probation Office is comprised of six probation officers, two social services associates, two supervisors and the South-Central Chief. In addition to the office covering the Mat-Su area, it also covers the surrounding smaller communities of Kodiak, Valdez, Cordova, Glennallen and the Aleutian Chain.

This is a full-time position, Monday through Friday, with a 7.5-hour workday with an alternative work week available. Social Services Associates may have the opportunity to travel periodically to assist in the duties of the office.

In addition to the Minimum Qualifications below, we are looking for a candidate with the following competencies:

• Integrity/Honesty:
  Contributes to maintaining the integrity of the organization; displays high standards of ethical conduct and understands the impact of violating these standards on an organization, self, and others; is trustworthy
• Interpersonal
  
  Skills:
  
  Shows understanding, friendliness, courtesy, tact, empathy, concern, and politeness to others; develops and maintains effective relationships with others; may include effectively dealing with individuals who are difficult, hostile, or distressed; relates well to people from varied backgrounds and different situations; is sensitive to cultural diversity, race, gender, disabilities, and other individual differences
• Stress Tolerance:
  Deals calmly and effectively with high stress situations (for example, tight deadlines, hostile individuals, emergency situations, dangerous situations)
• Flexibility:
  Is open to change and new information; adapts behavior or work methods in response to new information, changing conditions, or unexpected obstacles; effectively deals with uncertainty

To view the general description and example of duties for a Social Services Associate, please go to the following link:

One year of any…