Youth Services Specialist - Rocky Mountain Youth Services Center

This position is open to current Colorado residents only.

Please note:

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies (full time and part time). Most State of Colorado employees are eligible for a great benefit package! Please see the Supplemental Information section below for details!

Rocky Mountain Youth Services Center
7862 West Mansfield Parkway
Lakewood, CO 80235

The mission of the Division of Youth Services (DYS) is to protect, restore and improve public safety utilizing a continuum of care that provides effective supervision, promotes accountability to victims and communities, and helps youth lead constructive lives through positive youth development. The strategic goal of DYS is to operate healthy trauma‑responsive organizational environments as demonstrated through prosocial, safe, and non‑violent interactions.

DYS provides a continuum of services that encompass juvenile detention, assessment, 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 15 secure facilities that serve youth between the ages of 10 and 21, who are pre‑adjudicated, sentenced, or committed.

For pre‑adjudicated youth, the Division is also responsible for the management and oversight of the 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. We have many opportunities within DYS to positively impact youth and families.

We invite you to explore the DYS website at https://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..

We are committed to increasing the diversity of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services. Therefore, we encourage responses from people of diverse backgrounds and abilities.

Back‑End swing shift (BES) – Wednesday, 12pm–10pm;
Thursday and Friday, 1pm–10pm;
Saturday, 10am–10pm.
Front‑End swing shift (FES) – Sunday, 10am–10pm;
Monday, 1pm–8pm;
Tuesday, 1pm–10pm;
Wednesday, 12pm–10pm.
Front‑End overnight shift (FEON) – Monday through Thursday, 10pm–8:30am.
These working arrangements are subject to change.

WE WANT TO HIRE YOU IF:

• You have a passion for youth and a desire to improve your community
• You love learning new skills and teaching them to others
• You desire a job that teaches you what safe supervision is all about – physical, social, psychological, and moral
• You thrive on developing healthy relationships, professionalism, and teamwork

This position is a direct care/essential role that provides direct and engaging supervision of youth in DYS State‑Operated Secure Facilities. Specific duties and expectations include safety/security, youth center programming, documentation/recording and reporting, training, and organizational accountability. Positions may be required to work overtime on a rotating basis, based on business needs.

• Safety/Security – Provide direct care, safety, security, and supervision of adjudicated and/or pre‑adjudicated youth in a secure setting. Monitor, support, and enforce behavioral management plans, oversee youth or groups, conduct crisis interventions, de‑escalate incidents, use physical response/restraint when necessary, debrief incidents, and conduct searches.
• Youth Center Programming – Actively implement and follow the Youth Center’s behavioral management program, teach, coach, and redirect youth within the program. Support DYS initiatives and strategies related to youth programming and crisis intervention.
• Documentation/Recording and Reporting – Record observations of youth behavior and responses to programs; document all unit activities in appropriate logs and record systems; maintain youth group activity logs.
• Organizational Accountability – Demonstrate, support, and contribute to a healthy, positive, and respectful culture. Adhere to organizational values and the CDHS Code of…