JUVENILE PROBATION DEPARTMENT – SPECIAL PROGRAMS – PLACEMENT COORDINATOR

Minimum Qualifications
Acceptable Experience and Education

Must possess a bachelor’s degree from accredited college or university in Corrections, Criminal Justice, Social Work or related field.
Must possess a minimum of one year experience in casework, or supervision, . Experience working with juveniles is preferred.
Must have vehicle for transportation and show proof of automobile liability insurance coverage.
Must have telephone and report residence.
Must be willing to travel on a frequent basis using various methods of transportation such as: air, ground, and railway.
Must successfully complete the department’s pre-employment requirements and background investigation.
Bilingual in Spanish and English desired.

Typical Duties
Essential Duties

Supervises and monitors contracted residential treatment facilities and juvenile placements; identifies potential new facilities, audits current facilities, and conducts on-site visits; assists with drafting, reviewing, and scoring RFP/RFQ’s; conducts initial on-site visits, performs audit of facility, and interviews youth and staff to ensure safety and compliance with program standards and requirements; attends Commissioner’s Court for contract approval, answers questions, and provides testimony as needed.

Oversees and reviews data collection and audit processes to ensure service providers are in compliance with laws, regulations, policies, and procedures; performs desk audits, on-site audits, and other reviews to ensure compliance and prepare for TJJD audit; performs interviews with administration, staff, and youth; reviews facility documentation for staff training, certifications, background checks, and performance; performs review of case plan completions, facility information on TJJD/DFPS websites, request financials and recidivism rates of facility, prepare presentation for executive team and Judges, and present completed audit information.

Coordinates referral and placement processes; performs screening and eligibility for youth, review packets for placements, attends staffing’s to develop plan of action, and makes determinations for placements; attends hearings, provides testimony regarding services, and submits supporting documentation; ensures that placements and facilities are compliant with state and federal standards. Facilitates and monitors the Texas Juvenile Justice Regionalization process for diversion grant funds to include those youth placed in the Samual F. Santana Challenge Academy through the post-adjudication diversion grant.

Ensures the safety and well-being of youth placed in residential treatment facilities; maintains contact with families, youth, facilities, service providers and Department staff through email, telephone calls, and other means of communication; coordinates information and communication between families, Child Protective Services, attorneys, and Department staff regarding juvenile placements, issues, and outcomes; travels to facilities to review allegations as needed.

Maintains and updates all records of youth in placement and reports appropriate information to designated officers; collects, reviews, and manages records, audit data, protected youth information, and other documentation; facilitates information and document transfer to appropriate personnel, facilities, and service providers.

Performs budgeting in conjunction with placements, contracts, and travel requirements; completes statistical budget forms for all youth in placement; coordinates travel arrangements for self and youth and advises Probation Officers of availability of funding within programs; serves as the designated TJJD Medicaid Tracker Coordinator/Medicaid Navigator Site Manager and oversees the Department Medicaid Navigators.

Performs case management duties; maintains a case load as needed and develops case plans in conjunction with the assigned probation officer; schedules and conducts detention, pre-placement visits with youth, family, and probation officer; attends multi-disciplinary treatment team meetings, schedules and conducts home visits, identifies services needed for family while youth is in placement, and assists family in preparation for youth’s return; performs crisis interventions; advocates on behalf of youth and family to ensure all needs are being met to include cultural needs.

Reviews, updates and/or creates policies and procedures.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Skills and Abilities

1. Maintain knowledge of fidelity models and program requirements and have the ability to learn and apply current juvenile justice theories and practices and evidence-based programs and practices relevant to case management practices for individuals with a behavioral and/or mental health disorder.
2. Must be willing to work in a pre and post adjudication secure residential setting.
3. Must possess a high degree of maturity coupled with an interest in working with children/adolescents, their families and ability to work positively and effectively with maladjusted youth.
4. Knowledge and ability to assist in developing case plans aligned to treatment recommendations.
5. Knowledge of and identification of services and community resources that may be utilized to facilitate the rehabilitative and reintegration process as well as aid in the amelioration of identified symptoms/behaviors associated with a behavioral health and/or mental health disorder.
6. Knowledge and ability to effectively apply crisis stabilization techniques and/or resources.
7. Knowledge and ability to effectively facilitate socialization, life skills and independent living groups and/or services.
8. Knowledge of and ability to monitor and adhere to Departmental, TJJD, TDSHS and licensing standards.
9. Must be able to work non- traditional hours to include weekends, holidays and shift work to meet client and Departmental needs.
10. Must demonstrate regular and reliable attendance.
11. Must possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills in order to engage youth and family members in the therapeutic and rehabilitative processes as well as foster teamwork and partnerships with co-workers, departmental personnel and community stakeholders.
12. Must have the ability to work positively and effectively with all types of children including severely maladjusted youth.
13. Must possess organizational and time management skills coupled with accurate record keeping in order to ensure that services are prioritized and adhere to Departmental, State and Federal standards and laws regarding treatment records.
14. Must be able to work efficiently independently and demonstrate the ability to work well with others and participate fully in a team-oriented environment.
15. Must be able to establish and maintain effective working relationships with departmental personnel, clients, other County employees and officials, clinical service providers, law enforcement, the courts, contracted facility staff, and the general public.
16. Ability to be flexible to the needs of the department and program and make required changes to fulfill those needs.
17. Must be able to identify appropriate placements for youth depending on their particular needs.
18. Ability to assist in the development and monitoring of residential placement contracts, negotiate the Residential Treatment Contracts with facilities and submit agreements/contracts to Commissioners’ Court for approval
19. Must maintain strict confidentiality.
20. Must project positive support of the department at all times.

Job Summary
Summary of Position

The Placement Coordinator facilitates staffing of all cases and coordinates placements with designated facilities and programs; monitors and oversees compliancy and reliability of various placement programs and contracted residential facilities, supervises the application and certification process as well as all placement requirements.

Additional Information
Organizational Relationships

Reports to: Juvenile Probation Manager – Special Programs and Director of Special Programs

Directs: This is a non-supervisory position

Other: Has contact with Department staff, County departments, youth and family members, community service agency personnel, case managers, school personnel, and service providers

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands and fingers, to handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to sit. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

Office environment. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate; may be exposed to violent situations or the aftermath. The execution of these duties requires the employee to travel on a regular basis via air or ground transportation. May be required to make contact with youth in a secure correctional setting to include working in locked and/or secured spaces.

Field Environment. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to visit homes of youth which may entail walking on different levels of terrain, as well as, climbing stairs. This requires the employee to be out in the physical elements of weather, including possible exposure to the sun, rain, etc. Home visits may be with individuals with mental, emotional, and/or behavioral health disorder.

The above is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by this position. The statements are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties required of personnel so classified.