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Application Deadline

Pay Range

What We Offer

We offer generous paid time off, paid sick leave, and 10 paid holidays! We have affordable medical, dental, and vision insurance, and our employees are entitled to coverage by one of several State-sponsored retirement pension plans, our employee assistance program, and wellness incentives. Additionally, our employees have the option of life insurance, disability, a group legal plan, and pet insurance. Under the current guidelines for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program, the Maricopa County Superior Court is a qualifying employer. Therefore, any full time Judicial Branch employee, who meets other eligibility criteria may be eligible for loan forgiveness under this program. Click here to learn more!

Job Type

Department

About the Position

The Program Specialist will assist the Juvenile Probation Department in developing and implementing training and youth engagement programs. The primary focus will be the provision of direct integrated cognitive behavioral change programming geared toward justice involved youth. The programming will focus on cognitive restructuring, social skills, problem-solving, and skill development. Direct services may also include the provision of training for parents to aid in better communication, reduction of family conflict, effective discipline, problem-solving, and limit-setting. Individuals in this role will develop and implement trainings to help youth and families navigate the court process, provide probation expectations, complete probation successfully, and reduce recidivism. The position will be an active member of an interdisciplinary team dedicated to addressing the needs of youth and families served by the Department.

ABOUT THE JUVENILE PROBATION DEPARTMENT:

The Juvenile Probation Department of the Judicial Branch of Arizona in Maricopa County is dedicated to providing innovative and efficient juvenile justice services grounded in evidenced-based practices and research. These services improve the safety of our community, hold youth accountable through developmentally appropriate orientation, and ensure the public’s trust and confidence in the Judicial Branch. Join our Juvenile Probation Department in its mission to promote public safety through positive change as we connect youth to the community and provide opportunities that are delivered with fairness, dignity and respect.

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS

We recognize your time is valuable, so please apply if you meet the following required qualifications:

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work or another closely related field

Other Requirements:

• Applicants must have or obtain a valid Arizona Driver License and reliable vehicle by time of hire. Employees will be reimbursed for the use of a privately owned vehicle for work purposes at the current mileage reimbursement rate established by the U.S. General Services Administration.

Our Preferred Candidate has one or more of the following:

• Experience working with adults or adolescents involved in the Criminal Justice System
• Experience developing and implementing training programs and facilitating groups
• Experience with the needs of children, adolescents and families
• Experience with the Phoenix community resources available in the Phoenix area
• Bilingual (Spanish/English)

Knowledge, skills, and abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices governing social work, counseling, and behavioral health
• Principles of group facilitation
• Principles of human behavior and adolescent development

Skill in:

• Establishing and maintaining working alliances with juveniles, their families, providers and community members
• Working independently and cooperatively as part of a team
• Active listening, critical thinking, and creative problem-solving
• Verbal and written communications
• Efficient time management  
• MS Office products
• English language structure and content; including meaning, spelling, grammar and rules of composition

Ability to:

• Be sensitive and non-judgmental with clients involved in the juvenile justice system
• Critically analyze situations and make sound decisions
• Make and maintain effective working relationships
• Process and handle confidential information with discretion
• Work in a fast-paced and constantly changing environment
• Demonstrate excellent customer service, even under adverse conditions
• Learn policies, procedures, and practices of Juvenile Court
• Critically analyze individuals or situations and make sound decisions
• Manage multiple priorities with appropriate prioritization
• Recognize and record significant individual and family behaviors

ESSENTIAL JOB TASKS

(This is not an all-inclusive list of all job duties that may be required; employees will be required to perform other related duties as assigned.)

• Develops, implements, organizes and leads youth programming and training activities  
• Provides training and programming to justice involved youth in small groups, psycho-educational groups, and as directed by the Supervisor
• Provides training and programming to families involved with Juvenile Court in small groups, psycho-educational groups, and as directed by the Supervisor
• Maintains informative and concise documentation for all client and family contacts and provided trainings
• May conduct pre- and post-training surveys with participants
• Collaborates and consults with various individuals such as Juvenile Probation Officers and Community Resource Coordinators
• Attends Community Resources Unit meetings and completes all mandatory education and training requirements in a timely manner
• Coordinates the training schedule, programming and training modules, and personal work schedule with Supervisor on a regular basis 
• Supports a diverse multi-cultural client that reflects the community, promotes equal opportunity at all levels of Juvenile Probation, and creates an inclusive environment that enables all individuals to perform to their fullest potential free from discrimination
• Follows department policies, procedures and protocols
• Work schedule may include day or evening hours including weekends to meet the needs of the youth and families served

Working conditions: 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to speak clearly and hear; see details of objects that are less than a few feet away; sit for long periods of time; stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and occasionally push, pull or lift up to 20 pounds. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions

Additional Information

Judicial Branch Human Resources reserves the right to move forward candidates based on the information provided directly on the application. The hiring authority will select the successful candidate based on departmental needs. 

Typically, successful candidates are hired at a salary rate up to the midpoint of the range, based on applicable experience, internal equity, and budgetary allowances. 

All Judicial Branch offers of employment and continued employment are contingent upon passing a thorough background and/or fingerprint check. Applicants must completely and fully answer any questions regarding felony and misdemeanor convictions including any convictions that have been expunged or set aside. Failure to include criminal history information is grounds for termination of an offer and employment. A conviction may not automatically disqualify an applicant. 

The Judicial Branch of Arizona in Maricopa County participates in the State Retirement systems ASRS or PSPRS. As such, mandatory membership for all full-time employees includes payroll deducted contributions consistent with each retirement system's requirements. The current contribution rate for ASRS is 12.27% and the current contribution rate for PSPRS is 5.84% and up for the defined contribution plan and 8.82% for the defined benefit plan. For more information about contributions and benefits of these plans visit https://www.azasrs.gov/ or https://www.psprs.com/corrections-officer/

Judicial Branch facilities are located throughout Maricopa County.  This position may be reassigned to other locations.  Assignments will be made based upon the needs of the department.

The Judicial Branch in Maricopa County is an EEO/ADA Reasonable Accommodation Employer. 

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