Youth Diversion Truancy Specialist

Title: Youth Diversion & Truancy Specialist

Location: Hayward, WI

This is an hourly position; work occurs in the office and the field.

Hours: 40 hours/week: M-F Days – Core office hours are 8-4 with flexible scheduling to meet client needs.

Advance Our Mission along with Your Career!

We currently have an outstanding opportunity for a Youth Diversion & Truancy Specialist who is looking to be part of a dedicated and mission-driven team while enjoying excellent benefits, advancement opportunities, and the chance to see how their work directly improves the health and welfare of their community.

This position will play an important role in helping students learn socially acceptable behavior, employing techniques such as behavior modification and positive reinforcement. You will work with parents, teachers, and administrators to resolve students' behavioral and academic problems. You will also conduct individual and family meetings to monitor progress. This position will also work closely with the Sawyer County Youth Justice Program in monitoring dual clients. If you have a passion for working in the Child Welfare, Juvenile Justice, or Social Work fields, this is the job for you!

To be considered, qualified candidates will need an associate's degree in social work or a closely related field or at least 2-years of experience working with at-risk youth. Effective written and verbal communication is a must along with the ability to motivate youth through a dynamic, respectful, and creative approach.

While you work with great people committed to providing meaningful resources to our community, your efforts will be recognized and rewarded. Our benefits make Sawyer County Health & Human Services an exceptional employer. Some of what we offer includes:

• Comprehensive benefits package including: vacation time, sick time, paid holidays; medical, dental, and vision coverage; disability insurance; life insurance; ambulance insurance and more.

• Training, development, and promotional opportunities

· · Health Reimbursement Account with optional Flexible Spending Account

• Wisconsin Retirement System

• Commitment to diversity, inclusion, equity, and a welcoming environment. Affirmative action commitment.

Please note: This posting is not meant to be an all-inclusive list. It presents highlights of the position’s scope and function and the candidates’ requirements and rewards.

Position Description

TITLE: Youth Diversion & Truancy Specialist

DEPARTMENT: Sawyer County Health and Human Services

SUPERVISOR: Child, Youth, and Family Services Supervisor

Position Overview:

Under the supervision of the Child, Youth, and Family Services Supervisor, this position will play an important role in helping youth learn socially acceptable behavior, employing techniques such as behavior modification and positive reinforcement. You will work with parents, teachers, and administrators to resolve students' behavioral and academic problems. You will also conduct individual and family meetings to monitor progress. This position will also work closely with the Sawyer County Youth Justice Program in monitoring dual clients.

Essential Job Functions/Responsibilities:

Case Management: Conduct intake assessments, develop individualized case plans, and regularly monitor the progress of youth participants in the diversion program.

• Client Contact: Meet with youth diversion participants and their families to provide counseling, support, and guidance utilizing a family systems approach and strength-based practices that utilize and enhance the family’s natural, informal supports.

• Community Referrals: Identify and connect youth with appropriate community services like substance abuse treatment, mental health counseling, educational support, or job training programs.

• Compliance Monitoring: Ensure youth are adhering to the terms of their truancy or diversion agreement, including attending school, completing community service, attending required sessions, and following rules.

• Collaboration: Work closely with law enforcement, probation officers, schools, social service agencies, and the courts to coordinate interventions and share information.

• Reporting: Maintain detailed documentation of client interactions, progress, and non-compliance issues, preparing reports for the court and program supervisors.

County employees as disaster service workers

When a disaster strikes of natural or manmade origin, Sawyer County employees may be called upon to provide service to the community by assisting in emergency response efforts. This may require employees to work in other locations within Sawyer County and may be different working hours depending on the need.

QUALIFICATIONS, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Education/Experience: Bachelor’s degree (preferred) or Associates Degree in social work or other closely related field or 2 years of experience working with at-risk youth.

• Knowledge: Working knowledge of WI State Statutes 938 (the Juvenile Justice Code), WI truancy rules, mandated reporting requirements, and knowledge of adolescent development preferred.

• Skills: Skilled in motivating youth through a dynamic, respectful, encouraging, and creative approach to help them develop competencies and make amends for harm they may have caused.

• Abilities: Ability to thoroughly assess youth and family strengths, needs, safety, and risk factors with sensitivity to past traumatic experiences; and incorporate these into appropriate case plans developed in partnership with families. Ability to establish and maintain effective teaming relationships with fellow employees, consumers, volunteers, public service providers, and the general public; while working within the agency structure and utilizing supervisory guidance and instruction. Ability to effectively address and resolve conflict and to manage stress in a professional manner.

• Communication & Writing: Ability to gather information, organize facts, and communicate effectively, verbally and in writing. Possession of proficient computer skills to manage and complete case work, access information, and communicate effectively. Knowledge and application of effective, professional writing skills including utilization of proper grammar, punctuation, and spelling.

• Physical Requirements: This is largely a sedentary role, with most of the duties performed on a computer and phone. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, and filing cabinets. Work may take place in the office, at schools or other locations, or client’s homes.

o Must possess a valid Wisconsin driver’s license.

o Must provide evidence of meeting or exceeding the minimum automobile liability insurance.

CLOSING STATEMENT:

This description has been prepared to assist in evaluating responsibilities, duties and skills of the position. The duties listed above are intended as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed; the omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position. The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the County and employee and is subject to change by the County as the needs of the County and the requirements of the position change.