Training Specialist III

Department Information

This position is open only to Colorado state residents.

Most State of Colorado employees are eligible for a great benefit package! Please see the Supplemental Information section below for details.

The Division of Youth Services (DYS) provides a continuum of residential and non‑residential services that encompass juvenile detention, commitment, and parole. DYS is the agency statutorily mandated to provide for the care and supervision of youth committed by the District Court to the custody of the Colorado Department of Human Services. The Division operates numerous secure facilities that serve youth between the ages of 10 and 21, who are pre‑adjudicated, sentenced, or committed.

The Division also contracts with numerous private residential and non‑residential service providers throughout the State. For pre‑adjudicated youth, the Division is also responsible for the management and oversight of Colorado Youth Detention Continuum, a State‑funded, locally administered program that provides services to youth at risk of further progressing into the juvenile justice system.

In addition to residential programming, the Division administers juvenile parole services throughout the State, which includes but is not limited to parole supervision through case management to ensure community safety.

The Office of Staff Development (OSD) exists to develop, coordinate, implement training and staff development programs for all Division of Youth Services employees. This includes but is not limited to training and/or oversight in the areas of Treatment Modalities such as Sanctuary and Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Mental Health Interventions, Crisis Intervention Program, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation/Basic First Aid, Prison Rape Elimination Act, Leadership Training, Code of Conduct, Policy/Procedure, Youth Rights, Report Writing, Adolescent Development, Sex Offender Training, Substance Abuse, Suicide Assessment and Prevention, Instructional Theory into Practice training the trainer, Universal Precautions, Strength‑Based Approach, and numerous other initiatives that the Division promotes.

This position is responsible for writing and oversight of training that directly relates to the Division’s Policies and Initiatives. In addition, the work unit is responsible for the interpretation, recommendation, training and presentation of new policies and updates to all DYS employees.

The position is responsible for determining content, developing standardized curricula, coordinating, delivering, evaluating and monitoring programs at the DYS academy. This includes but is not limited to DYS Orientation, Sanctuary, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation/First Aid, Youth Rights and Responsibilities, Suicide Precaution Monitoring, Mandatory Reporting, Prison Rape Elimination Act, Report Writing, Code of Conduct, Informed Supervision, Groups, Searches, Simulation, and the Protective Supports and Interventions crisis prevention program.

The position also develops training that will be given by instructors at Youth Service Centers, including policy training, online training, and yearly requirements for staff.

With guidance from the Lead Academy Trainer and the Director of Staff Development, this position will help train Protective Supports and Interventions, the only authorized crisis prevention and intervention program used in Division youth centers.

• As a Motivational Interviewing instructor, the position utilizes professional experience to instruct students on how to effectively use open‑ended questions, affirmations, reflections, summaries, and other MI techniques to address resistance and support positive change.
• As a verbal de‑escalation instructor, the position leverages knowledge of adult learning theory to teach students how to apply the program skills in the youth center milieu.
• As an experienced end user and certified instructor, the position teaches the physical responses designed to quickly intervene in emergencies, ensuring proficiency in skill application in a…