Civil Service Status: Unclassified

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt (hourly based)

Department: 063-Behavioral Health Department

Appointment Status: Full-Time

Schedule:

• General Business hours 8:00am – 5:00pm
• Schedule may vary based on organizational and participant needs
• Payroll work week runs Thursday through Wednesday

Base Salary:

• $26.25 per hour with LSW, LISW, LPC, or LPCC licensure
• Current Employees moving from one base salary to another will have their current salary adjusted by the difference between the two bases.
• Bi-weekly pay, paid every other Wednesday

Supervision of Staff: None

Table of Organization:

• Direct Supervisor: Director of Behavioral Health Services

Deadline to Apply: Monday, May 18, 2026 at 12:00pm 

Position Overview:

The Allen County Probate and Juvenile Division is seeking a dedicated and compassionate Behavioral Health Specialist to provide evidence-based behavioral health services to youth and families involved in the juvenile justice system. This position works closely with participants, families, court staff, probation officers, schools, and community providers to assess behavioral health needs, develop treatment plans, provide counseling services, and support successful reentry into the community.

The ideal candidate will possess strong clinical judgment, effective communication skills, and the ability to work professionally within a fast-paced and emotionally demanding environment.

DISTINGUISHING JOB CHARACTERISTICS:

• Provides Evidence Based Behavioral Health Services to individuals (youth, parents, guardians, etc.) participating in various court programs and services.
• Work closely with participants to assess and treat a range of behavioral health conditions

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Domestic Violence CAST
• Responsible for leading all DV CAST meetings held at the detention center.
• Coordinate with the youth, guardian, and any collaborative agencies to identify needs of the family and provide linkage to appropriate resources to address identified needs.
• Complete appropriate referrals to identified resources.
• Refer to the ACCESS Center and follow up to ensure the family has been assigned to an Intervention Specialist.
• Assessment:
• Conducts behavioral health and substance abuse assessments to understand participant’s behavioral health needs, including their emotional, cognitive, and behavioral functioning.
• Review completed intake assessments/questionnaires and ensure appropriate follow-up occurs regarding identified safety concerns and behavioral health needs.
• Formulates an appropriate care plan.
• Reentry Services
• Monitor youth participating in reentry back to the community from juvenile detention centers, residential treatment programs, and/or community corrections facilities.
• Works with other members of the behavioral health services department and others (probation officers, counselors, service providers, etc.) to develop an individualized reentry plan.
• Works with other members of the behavioral health services department and others (probation officers, counselors, service providers, etc.) to develop an individualized relapse prevention plan when necessary.
• Maintains contact with the Court and collateral agencies to provide information and to collaboratively plan for youth’s individual treatment programs and post-release plan of services.
• Establishes post-release services prior to participant’s return to the community and ensures that all relevant parties (schools, counselors, service providers, etc.) are informed of the same.
• Individual Therapy:
• Provides individual therapy sessions to participants, providing a supportive environment for them to address their personal challenges, explore their thoughts & behaviors, improve self-awareness, and develop appropriate coping strategies, and work towards their treatment goals.
• Group Therapy:
• Conducts group counseling sessions which address clinical, emotional, and behavioral needs for program participants.
• Uses group therapy to foster peer support, understanding, and skill-building.
• Treatment Planning:
• As part of an inter-disciplinary team, collaborates with others including external & internal partners (i.e., psychiatrists, social workers, counselors, case managers, probation officers, school officials, etc.) to develop individualized care plans that address issues of criminogenic needs and responsivity by identifying problem areas based on information obtained from the participant’s records and interviews.
• Collaborates with parents, guardians, or custodians to develop a care plan.
• Crisis Intervention:
• In times of crisis or emergencies (i.e., suicide ideations/attempts, depression, grief, non-compliant or resistance, etc.), provides timely emotional and/or behavioral health support and intervention to participants, ensuring their safety and well-being.
• Review completed suicide lethality screens, monitor youth on suicide watch, re-evaluate and re-classify youth on suicide watch as appropriate and in accordance with policy.
• Psychoeducation:
• Educates participants, their families, and others about behavioral health conditions, treatment options, coping skills, and relapse prevention strategies.
• Empowers individuals to actively participate in their own recovery.
• Progress Monitoring:
• Regularly monitors and evaluates participants’ progress throughout their participation in assigned programs or services.
• Assesses the effectiveness of interventions and adjusts care plans as needed.
• Documents changes in behavioral health status and progress towards care plan completion.

OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

As directed, follow instructions and perform any duties required by the Judge, Court Administrator, or Director of Behavioral Health Services.

• Family Therapy: 
• When necessary, supports and assists the Behavioral Health Counselor by providing family therapy.
• Recognizes and supports an understanding that family therapy is a crucial part of the Court’s residential treatment program as well as the importance of involving the participant’s family/guardians in the treatment process.
• Provides a safe environment to foster open communication and understanding among family members.
• Works to improve family dynamics, resolve conflicts, and enhance support for the participant’s rehabilitation and return to the community.
• Assists family members, guardians, or custodians with gaining insight into the participant’s challenges and helps them learn how to provide effective support.
• Documentation and Records Management
• Create, prepare, write, and maintain required and applicable information in various records and reports, including: case notes, performance rating forms, progress reports, tracking reports, surveys, incident reports, intake logs, general forms, daily logs, medical charts, judgement entries, re-entry plans and other necessary forms and documents
•  Communication and Collaboration
• Maintain appropriate communications with key personnel, including: Judge, Court Administrator, Director of Behavioral Health Services, Director of Detention Services, Director of Community Control, Behavioral Health Supervisor, others as needed regarding concerns, problems, and treatment-related issues
• Training and Public Engagement
• Participate in various trainings and public relations events as required or requested
• Engage in other special projects when necessary
• Schedule and Safety Management
• Maintain a flexible working schedule for the safety and security of the facility
• Ensure personal safety and security while safeguarding co-workers, civilians, and participants
• Aim to ensure the overall safe, secure, sanitary, and efficient operations of the Center
• Resident Supervision and Transport
• Transport residents to scheduled appointments, emergent hospital visits, court appearances, etc.
• Maintain supervision of all residents under escort at all times
• Prevent the escape of any resident attempting such whenever possible
• Policy Compliance and Knowledge Sharing
• Maintain knowledge of and compliance with policies and procedures, including: Allen County Juvenile Court, Allen County Juvenile Detention Center, Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003, Chapter 5139-37 of the Ohio Administrative Code
• Impart these policies and procedures effectively
• Role Modeling and Decision Making
• Set a positive example for youth through professional conduct and responsible adult behavior
• Make sound, reasonable decisions and judgments regarding daily operations, job performance, and emergency situations
• Ethics and Professional Development:
• Comply with all applicable ethical, licensing, and continuing education guidelines.

JOB DUTIES DISCLAIMER:

This job description in no manner states or implies that these are the only duties and responsibilities to be performed by the employee filling this position.

SCOPE OF STAFF SUPERVISON:

This position provides non-administrative work direction to case manager(s) working in the behavioral health services department.

EQUIPMENT OPERATED:

• Motor vehicles
• Computers & related equipment (power point projector, document camera, etc.)
• Televisions & DVD players/recorders
• Radios, telephone system, smart phones, tablets, and other communication equipment
• Security equipment: video, audio, man-down alarms, weather alert radio, OC defensive aerosol, handcuffs, shackles, emergency restraint chair, metal detector (hand held & walk through)
• First aid equipment, A.E.D., bandages, infection control
• Security search equipment
• Vacuum, recreation equipment, water hose and cleaning tools.

CONTACT WITH OTHERS

• Frequent contact with other court employees, Judges, attorneys, and members of the public.
• Interaction with community partners, network agencies, legal entities, and State & Local governmental officials.
• Participants (youth detainees) and their parents, guardians, or custodians
• Law enforcement, medical, and other safety services professionals.

CONFIDENTIAL DATA

• All information, files, images, communications, documents, electronic data, etc. is to be considered confidential in nature unless otherwise indicated.
• Release of any information must be in accordance with court policy and legal standards or as directed by the Judge or Court Administrator.
• All employees of the Allen County Juvenile Court are required to sign a confidentiality agreement.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• The Allen County Juvenile Detention Center is a secured correctional facility housing pre and post adjudicated delinquent children. As in all correctional facilities, there is the potential for injury or even serious bodily harm or death. All participants of the facility should be considered dangerous as some participants have the potential to be threating, hostile, and violent.
• Additionally, there is a potential for exposure to threatening and/or hostile family members and/or friends of detained participants. Given the nature of the Center’s work and the type of clients serviced, an environment with elevated stressors is routine. Otherwise, the facility is a well-organized, maintained, and clean environment with good office working conditions.  

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of:

• Chapter 5139-37 of the Ohio Administrative Code
• Prison Rape Elimination Act
• Juvenile Detention Center chain of command and safety, security, and emergency procedures
• Probate & Juvenile Court Employee Handbook, Juvenile Detention Center Operating Guidelines & Procedures
• Juvenile Justice System and acceptable work ethics
• Principles, practices and theory of child and adolescent development
• Principles, practices, theories, methods and techniques of individual, group and family counseling
• Individual group behavior as it relates to the problems and behavior patterns of juveniles
• Methods and techniques of eliciting and evaluating sensitive information from persons of various social/economic backgrounds
• Resources available for treatment and rehabilitation of juvenile offenders
• Social, psychological and economic causes of behavior deviations
• Casework principles and practices used in the preparation of service/treatment plans
• Management of a varied caseload and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders

Ability to: 

• Impact leadership, direction and guidance to staff in practical work situations and emergencies. 
• Develop a positive rapport and maintain effective working relationships with participants, parents, staff, and the public. 
• Communicate and disseminate/reiterate information effectively and accurately.
• Exercise sound judgment in dealing with possible sensitive personnel issues. 
• Analyze problems and recommend viable solutions. 
• Detect noises and visually observe activities for safety and security. 
• Plan and organize work duties in addition to assigned or delegated duties and responsibilities in a manner acceptable to management. 
• Maintain operational focus, efficiency, professionalism, and positive work results in a high stress environment. 
• Recognize the symptoms of maladjusted behavior. 
• Deal constructively with hostility, aggression and other emotional attitudes. 
• Prepare and maintain accurate records. 
• Provide guidance and direction regarding case management. 

Skill in:

• Facilitation of small group programming, treatment planning, conducting interviews of a sensitive nature, development of service/treatment plans, individual, group, and family counseling
• Use of computers & other electronic devices such as cameras, recorders, radios, etc.
• Data processing through productivity software such as the Microsoft Office Suite & the Court’s case management system
• Verbal defense & influence, de-escalation of angry, hostile, or violent participants, response to resistance and defensive tactics
• Responding to and decision-making during emergency situations
• Detecting and mitigating threats to facility security and/or the safety of the participants, staff, and public 

QUALIFICATIONS:

• An appropriate combination of education, training, course work and experience may qualify an applicant to demonstrate required knowledge, skills and abilities.
• Requires a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Social Work or a related field, with an LSW, LISW, LPC, or LPCC or have the ability to obtain.
• Work experience which evidences a general understanding of the juvenile justice system & correctional facility operations, knowledge of programmatic services & interventions, knowledge of case management which includes assessing, planning, developing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating options and services to meet an individual’s human service needs, knowledge of making recommendations as part of a participant’s treatment plan such as clinical treatment, counseling, or determining eligibility for health or human services, benefits, knowledge of behavior management such as understanding, explaining, describing and predicting behavior, studying the connection between behavior and its causes and identifying appropriate behavior modification strategies for individual situations, experience in interpreting laws, rules, regulations, standards, policies, and procedures, experience in narrative report writing, history of sound decision-making & program compliance.
• In compliance with Immigration Reform and Control Act requirements:
• The ability to document and verify employment eligibility within three (3) days of original appointment.

LICENSURE OR CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

• Valid Ohio Motor Vehicle Operator's License & Proof of Financial Responsibility
• Complete required number of training hours, as set by the State of Ohio
• Complete required number of CEU’s as set by Ohio Specialist, social Work and Marriage and Family Therapist Board

TO APPLY: Current employees may apply for this position via email or letter to the Human Resources Manager which must include an updated resume. Non-Employees must submit an employee application which can be downloaded from the web at:

https://allenohioprobate.com/court-administration/human-resources/employment-opportunities/

Non-Employee applicants are encouraged to submit an updated resume and post-secondary educational credentials along with their completed application to trent.wise@jfs.ohio.gov  Non-Employee applicants are required to bring their driver’s license, social security card, high school diploma (or equivalent), and DD-214 (if applicable) to their initial interview.