Youth Treatment Specialist - Bakari

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Wisconsin Community Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer (M/F/Disability/Vet).

Job Code: 2025-SPECIALI-022

Location:

Milwaukee
Department:
Residential Treatment Center
Status:
Full Time

Exciting opportunity to work in a therapeutic milieu environment serving youth at a State licensed residential care center serving male youth, ages 13-17. The Youth Treatment Specialist embraces working one to three with youth teaching skills and empowering youth through a 6-month treatment program. Youth treatment specialists provide supervision of the youth and are responsible for implementing the daily schedule of activities, including teaching and role modeling skills, providing group educational activities, recreational activities, educational support, and serving as a role model for youth.

• Serve as a treatment specialist in the milieu supporting therapeutic interactions by coaching skill use throughout daily activities, modeling appropriate behavior, teaching and reinforcing use and generalization of skills through a token economy system.
• Use evidence-based best practices for youth with mental health, substance use and life needs, including the innovative Integrated Treatment Model (ITM) with Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), trauma informed care, motivational interviewing, youth centered and culturally reverent approaches.
• Use motivation and engagement strategies to encourage youth involved in systems such as the Division of Youth and Family Services and Department of Children and Families to participate in treatment programming.
• Co‑facilitate Dialectical Behavior Therapy groups and other topics such as healthy relationships, fatherhood, independent living skills, substance use education, and cultural identity development curriculums.
• Organize, participate, and monitor scheduled activities for youth (one‑to‑three), engaging them in on‑site and off‑site programming including clubs, school, art activities, recreation, community outings, and field trips.
• Support youth’s education by serving as a learning coach in the classroom on‑site and at school through an interactive, competency‑based educational model.
• Always provide active sight and sound supervision to youth and families with complex needs.
• Assess youth behavior for risk to self and others, or behavioral changes within the treatment milieu and communicate with supervisory and/or clinical staff regarding appropriate support.
• Perform milieu management and coaching with youth experiencing emotional dysregulation and/or crisis according to their treatment plans, including one‑on‑one support for extra help.
• Calmly and responsibly respond during crisis situations and intervene to de‑escalate using trained and approved methods and techniques of verbal and physical intervention to maintain safety.
• Interact with youth in a professional, positive and therapeutic manner according to policy, procedure, training and agency values.
• Work closely as part of a team to maintain clear communication with other staff to ensure youth receive high quality and seamless care.
• Observe and document youth participation in activities and interactions with others per program standards (youth logs and youth related reports) in an electronic database.
• Assist youth by transporting and attending medical appointments, court, community appointments, and family visits.
• Complete building or structural functions as required, assisting with meal preparation, general building cleanliness and organization.
• Monitor and support youth in completing activities of daily living such as chores and health and hygiene standards.
• Maintain youth and family confidentiality within all written and verbal communications.
• Adhere to State licensing requirements.
• Adhere to WCS Policies and Procedures.
• Other duties as assigned.

Other job‑related duties may be necessary to carry out the responsibilities of the position.

Knowledge, Skills,…