Social Worker - Youth Justice

Are you passionate about serving your community and eager to grow in a supportive environment? Join La Crosse County and take the next step in your career. Embrace a full-time position with a work schedule that allows for work-life balance. We are committed to creating a supportive and inclusive work environment and offer the opportunity to become part of an organization that values all team members and respects diversity.

 

A youth justice social worker plays a crucial role in supporting and empowering young people who are involved with the justice system. These professionals work alongside youths who have experienced challenges with the law, focusing on their strengths and potential for positive change. Youth justice social workers collaborate with individuals under the age of 18 who are navigating the complexities of the legal system.

 

Their primary goal is to help these young people enhance their strengths, develop their skills, and create opportunities for growth and rehabilitation. By emphasizing each youth's unique abilities and resilience, social workers aim to foster a path towards positive outcomes and maintain youth in their communities.

We offer:

A supportive, collaborative, inclusive, and diverse workforce.
Ample opportunities for career learning, development, and growth.
A culture of respect, teamwork, honesty, and integrity.
The chance to serve your community in a purposeful and meaningful way.
Flexibility with generous paid time-off benefits.
In addition, we provide excellent benefits, including:

The Wisconsin Retirement System
Great health insurance
Comprehensive dental coverage
Life insurance with disability options
Essential Job Functions
Demonstrates self-leadership, seeks out opportunities for personal growth and development, accepts feedback, and demonstrates ability to learn and apply.

 

Shares ideas and demonstrates respect, humility, honesty, and open-minded thinking.

 

Demonstrates flexibility, acceptance of change, and emotional intelligence.

 

Takes initiative and demonstrates the ability to think critically and strategically.

 

Participates as a contributing member of the team and brings authentic self to discussions regarding all aspects of the work.

 

Demonstrates ability to build and maintain effective relationships.

 

Contributes positively to an inclusive workplace.

 

Provides social services per Wisconsin Statutes, court policies, and/or requirements of the program, state, or federal guidelines.

 

Accepts requests and referrals for agency services.

 

Utilizes a family systems approach and implements strength-based practices to enhance the family's natural, informal supports.

 

Conducts assessment and planning: Develops, implements, monitors, and modifies case plans in partnership with youth and their families.

 

Explains the scope of the agency's services and discusses the client's rights and responsibilities in relation to the use of such services.

 

Arranges or provides appropriate social services for clients based on assessments of needs.

 

Provides comprehensive and supportive coaching, modeling, and guidance to address social, emotional, educational, and health issues.

 

Conducts regular case evaluations and develops and updates service plans accordingly.

Maintains case records containing pertinent, accurate, and current information. Ensures timely, accurate, and client-focused case documentation, including preparation of legal documents for juvenile court.

 

Prepares correspondence, reports, and other records as required.

 

Fully completes required documentation in a timely fashion and in accordance with program requirements.

 

Coordinates or participates in team meetings.

 

Participates in committees and task forces as assigned.

 

Attends court proceedings to testify, as necessary or required, and provides dispositional reports within appropriate timeframes.

 

Performs duties and responsibilities as defined in Chapter 938 of the Wisconsin Statutes and established court procedures.

 

Works cooperatively with team members and participates in collaborative efforts both internally and with external agencies.

 

Participates in on-call rotation including nights, weekends, and holidays, and responds to calls for Youth Justice after-hours calls.

 

Maintains confidentiality of client-related information, maintains respectful treatment of clients, and adheres to the La Crosse County Standards of Conduct in the Administrative Code (3.13).

 

Adheres to approved social worker principles, methods, and practices, including the National Association of Social Workers' (NASW) code of ethics.

 

Maintains skill and competence levels as policies and regulations change by attending department/staff meetings and by participating in continuing training as required and appropriate.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Knowledge of the philosophy, history and development of social welfare programs.
Basic knowledge and understanding of human growth and behavior.
Knowledge of current social and economic problems and the way in which these problems affect families and individuals.
Knowledge of laws, regulations and practices pertaining to federal and state public welfare programs.
Knowledge of resources for community welfare and health, and ways in which these resources may be used by people in need.
Ability to work with diverse populations.
Ability to relate to people in an unprejudiced and understanding manner with concerns for their circumstances and feelings.
Ability to communicate clearly and effectively.
Ability to plan and organize work to most effectively achieve program objectives.
Ability to participate in, and appropriately use, available supervision.
Ability to participate meaningfully in training provided by the agency, State Department, the University of Wisconsin Extension, and other resources.
Knowledge of the dynamics of behavior of justice involved youth and adolescent development.
Ability to deal effectively with justice involved youth and their families.
Ability to invoke the judicial process and use authority granted by Statute.
Ability to make decisions with limited information while under pressure.
Training, Experience and Other Requirements
Requires graduation from an accredited college or university with a major in Social Work (or a related degree of Sociology, Psychology or Criminal Justice).
Strong preference for minimum of one year of experience working with youth and families, and familiarity with community resources available to them.
Requires basic computer keyboarding skills for entering data related to clients.
Must have valid driver's license and access to personal transportation, or other reliable means for city and rural travel.
Requires certification by the State of Wisconsin as a Social Worker.  If not certified at the time of application for employment with La Crosse County, must have applied to the State of Wisconsin for a Temporary or Training Certificate and obtain regular Certification within specified time limits.  Strong preference for certification at time of hire.
Must be versed in Chapters 48, 51, 55 and 938 of the Wisconsin Statutes and Administrative Rules relating to detention.
Must be available to work outside normal work hours and be available for on-call duties.
Must have (or obtain within one year) 30 hours of Juvenile Court Intake training.
Preference will be given for knowledge in eWISACWIS.