Juvenile Counselor

Multnomah County • Portland, OR

3d • $36 - $44 • Onsite

About The Position

THIS WORK MATTERS! Do you want to help shape the next chapter for justice-involved youth and help them build a foundation for success? Do you believe that all youth are capable of turning their lives around? If you answered yes to these questions, this job may be for you! The Department of Community Justice Juvenile Services Division (JSD) is seeking committed and compassionate Juvenile Counselors (JC) to join our team! This recruitment may be used to fill both bilingual English/Spanish language required and non-bilingual positions. Juvenile Counselors (JCs) serve as essential navigators for at-risk youth and their families within the court system, operating under the legal framework of ORS 419A.012. JCs perform comprehensive and complex case management, evaluation, and supervision for at-risk youth and their families, ensuring community safety, accountability, and skill development. Central to their work is the Juvenile Services Division’s evidence-based case management model, which emphasizes an integrative and holistic approach. JCs do not simply monitor behavior; they actively foster long-term change by tailoring strategies to a youth’s specific strengths, cultural background, and environmental needs. By building strong relationships with community partners and engaging families to provide proactive support, JCs aim to balance accountability with the skill development necessary for a youth's successful transition out of the justice system.

Requirements

• Knowledge of the juvenile justice system and court process.
• Knowledge of the symptoms of physical and mental disorders, substance abuse and adjustment problems of justice involved youth.
• Knowledge of the theories, methods and techniques of social casework, counseling, motivational and strength-based interviewing, child psychology and adolescent development.
• Knowledge and experience working with youth and families from culturally diverse communities.
• Appreciation and understanding of family dynamics, gender issues, cultural diversity, gender non-conforming persons and individual differences.
• Familiarity with community resources available to support youth and their families.
• Exceptional collaboration, communication and interpersonal skills and an ability to build relationships with diverse clients and communities and interdisciplinary teams, including legal, law enforcement, and therapeutic partners.
• Highly self-reliant, extremely organized, skilled in time management, good at coordinating, prioritizing and distributing information.
• Ability to prepare well written reports to the Court.
• Extreme flexibility in terms of both work style and hours, and comfortable delivering services in client homes.
• Bilingual Spanish/English language proficiency (speak/read/write) for bilingual Spanish language required positions only.
• Skilled in the areas of Multnomah County Core Competencies
• Bachelor’s degree with major coursework in child psychology, social work, counseling, criminal justice or related field or equivalent years of related experience; AND
• Two (2) years of professional counseling and/or case management experience working with clients in social service or rehabilitative setting and includes one (1) year of working with high risk and/or high need youth, clients and families; AND
• Valid driver’s license in good standing; AND
• Proficient in Bilingual Spanish/English language (for Bilingual Spanish/English language requirement positions only. Final candidate must successfully pass the proficiency assessment through our language testing vendor.); AND
• Must pass a thorough background investigation which includes, but is not limited to a review of applicant’s criminal, civil, driving, military, educational and employment history prior to employment.

Nice To Haves

• Two (2) or more years of professional counseling and/or case management experience working with clients in social service or rehabilitative setting and includes one (1) year of working with justice involved and/or complex trauma youth, clients and families
• Knowledge of the Juvenile Justice System
• Experience with Juvenile Justice Information System (JJIS)
• Experience using evidence based practices such as Motivational Interviewing (MI), and Effective Practices In Community Supervision (EPICS) or related techniques
• Experience writing reports to convey information clearly, accurately and efficiently
• Ability to analyze information and provide appropriate recommendation
• Training and experience working with youth and families from culturally diverse communities
• Understand the stages of change (Prochaska and DiClemente) or related models
• Experience practicing trauma informed care and approach
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Experience setting SMART goals or using related methods
• Proficiency in using case management software, Microsoft Office Suite, Google Suite or other standard office software and equipment
• Transferable skills: Your transferable skills are any skills you have gained through education, work experience (including the military) or life experience that are relevant for this position. Be sure to describe any transferable skills on your application and clearly explain how they apply to this position.

Responsibilities

• Assist youth and families through the pre- and post-adjudication process in the court system using best practices of intake, investigation and supervision.
• Provide probation supervision for low, medium, and high-risk youth, utilizing evidence-based strategies tailored to each youth’s issues, strengths, needs, culture, and environmental influences.
• Be responsible for youth on diversion and probation, ensuring strict compliance with a Judge’s court order.
• Monitor multiple dockets, conduct thorough evaluations and make critical recommendations regarding a youth’s placement during the court process.
• Assess and make recommendations to the court to address the youth's and family's needs, including for youth found within the jurisdiction or in violation of release or probation conditions.
• Provide evaluation, investigation, counseling, case planning, social services, and adjudication for juveniles and their families.
• Effective records management and documentation of all contacts with youth.
• Actively engage the family to provide proactive support and guidance during and after the termination of probation services.
• Utilize the Juvenile Services Division’s prescribed, evidence-based, integrative supervision and case management model.
• Maintain frequent direct contact through office, home, and community visits or other youth community events to implement specialized programs and foster long-term behavioral change.
• Transport youth when needed between detention locations, court or placements.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with community partners, including local law enforcement, to ensure a holistic approach to meeting the needs of juveniles and their families.

Benefits

• Health insurance (medical, dental, vision)
• Defined benefit retirement plan (pension); Multnomah County pays for the employee's share of the state retirement contribution (6% of wages)
• Generous paid leave (vacation, holidays, sick, parental, military, etc...)
• Life insurance, short-term and long-term disability insurance
• Optional deferred compensation and flexible spending accounts
• Free annual Trimet bus pass
• Alternative wellness resources
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF )

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level