11/01/1982 40160

COURT LIAISON PROGRAM SPECIALIST

DEFINITION: This is journey-level professional and administrative work of a consultative and technical assistance nature in the Office of Children, Youth and Families.

An employee in this class is responsible for providing consultation and technical assistance in ensuring that an appropriate program or facility placement is made to address the rehabilitation needs of adjudicated delinquent juveniles in an assigned geographical region. Work involves serving as liaison between those clients needing rehabilitation services, the court in its adjudication process, and those facilities offering rehabilitation services. Work includes representing the Department in providing technical assistance to courts, agencies, and facilities on a providing technical assistance to courts, agencies, and facilities on a wide range of professional and administrative matters such as policy interpretation and intake, placement and release procedures related to adjudicated juveniles. Employees provide technical and case management services involving delinquent youth referred for placement in facilities, group homes, foster care placement, supervised independent living, and in facility population control procedures. Work is performed with high degree of independence under the general direction of the Court Liaison Program Supervisor and is reviewed for conformance to overall departmental policies and program objectives through reports and conferences.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: Consults with and provides technical assistance to courts, agencies and facilities in providing rehabilitative services to adjudicated delinquent juveniles in an assigned geographical region.

Serves as liaison between juvenile court judges, probation officers, attorneys, and facilities to ensure that the adjudicated delinquent juvenile is placed in the least restrictive setting.

Develops placement plans in conjunction with probation officers, attorneys, and/or referring agencies, and presents plans in court.

Serves as resource person to the courts and may appear in court on difficult cases; prepares written reports and recommendations for judges prior to hearing; and consults with court officials on those cases where the court concludes a secure placement is required.

Visits facilities to become familiar with programs, and assists facility management in population control when facility is near or at capacity.

Consults in or actively controls intake for secure units in an assigned area.

Writes narrative reports concerning the status or effectiveness of placements, individual cases, problem areas, or other reports concerning the court liaison program.

Performs related work as assigned.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: Knowledge of the regulations governing the juvenile justice court system.

Knowledge of the basic principles and practices of administrative processes relating to treatment, placement, or case management services, goals and objectives for delinquent youth.

Knowledge of individual and group behavior, with special emphasis on the special needs of delinquent juveniles.

Knowledge of casework principles and methods.

Knowledge of current social, economic and health problems and resources, with special emphasis on factors related to delinquent juveniles.

Ability to learn the regulations, departmental standards, Juvenile Court Act, and policies governing the Children, Youth and Families Court Liaison Program.

Ability to work effectively with juveniles, officials of the court, attorneys, probation officers, and facility management and treatment staff in pursuing the rehabilitation of the adjudicated delinquent.

Ability to exercise judgment and initiative in dealing with community agencies and facilities on the standards and requirements of the Department.

Ability to analyze, interpret and evaluate case records and recommend sound courses of action based on professional expertise.

Ability to express ideas effectively, both orally and in writing.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: Three years of experience working with juveniles, including one year of counseling experience in the area of rehabilitation of delinquent juveniles; and a bachelor's degree.

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Any equivalent combination of experience and training.