Detention Diversion Specialist - Northeast Region

The Department of Youth Services (DYS) is the juvenile justice agency for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. We work with young people who are detained or committed and provide detention, custody, diagnosis, education, and support to young people ages 7-21. Most of the youth served are between the ages 14 and 18. The Department promotes positive change for the youth committed to our care, and has been on the forefront of de-institutionalization, in part, by providing adolescent-focused rehabilitation to youth in residential treatment.

 

Our mission is to make communities safer by improving the life outcomes for youth in our care.  We achieve our mission through investing in highly qualified staff and a service continuum that engages youth, families and communities in strategies that support positive youth development. 

 

For additional information about the Department of Youth Services and its programs please watch:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gyP0kCJ181nBakh9Cc0pNNEyPw7kAoI6/view

We are seeking a highly motivated individual for the position of Detention Diversion Specialist (Program Coordinator I), to work at the Northeast Region/Lawrence District Office located at 15 Union Street, Suite 407, Lawrence, MA  01840.

The Detention Diversion Specialist will provide support to local leadership to implement the Juvenile Detention Alternative Initiative (JDAI) with fidelity to the national model.

 

The major duties will include but are not limited to:

• Serves as subject matter expert for matters related to secure detention, detention alternatives, and juvenile detention reform.
• Anticipates and responds to barriers to reform, through relationship building, analyzing data trends, and understanding community public safety trends. 
• Communicates Departmental values, policies, procedures and practices in court hearings regarding detained and pre-adjudicated youth. 
• Provides case coordination, and limited case management, for youth to be expedited out of detention status.
• Meets with families and guardians at court to share information on detention status and services related to their child and share the dangers of detention information provided by the JDAI initiative.
• Transfers court referral information to the detention coordinators on all new and returning admissions.
• Advocates to Divert low-risk youth from the DYS detention continuum by identifying less restrictive, community based alternative settings with community-based, and court house.
• Reviews detention daily census of youth held and coordinates with partners regarding release planning, as needed.
• Attends weekly detention population meeting, and advocates with stakeholders for the release of detained youth to community-based services when appropriate.
•  In conjunction with the Regional Operations collaborates with partner agencies and sister agencies with the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) to develop release alternatives for detained youth, as appropriate. 
• Promotes collaboration among state agencies, the judiciary, communities, and youth services organizations.
• Partners with the Detention Program administrators to implement and monitor JDAI standards and educate and train new staff in the JDAI model and facility assessment standards.  
• Provides technical assistance to County Co-Chairs, and County Committee members to facilitate the implementation of JDAI initiatives. 
• Works with the regional facilities management to support periodic completion of the county-level System Assessments, Detention Utilization Studies, and Detention Facility Self-Assessments, with local and state JDAI staff as needed. 
• In conjunction with agency management, implement and support JDAI in Massachusetts Counties, through a planned process of leadership engagement, training, and support.
• Participates in JDAI County Committees; provides guidance and information regarding JDAI strategies and detention best-practices.
• Knowledgeable on implicit bias and applies racial equity lens to all facets of the work.
• Able to articulate data analysis and promote best practices in this area.
• Provides support to local leadership on ways to address racial and ethnic disparities including the promotion of best practices on data collection, race and ethnicity data disaggregation and analysis.
• Ensures cultural competency within the Detention continuum and within Alternatives to Detention through identified training, programming, and reduction of implicit biases.
• Prepares and reviews reports, memoranda, etc. for completeness, accuracy, and content in terms of local use of detention and which youth are served in the detention system.
• Confers with management staff and maintains liaison with various private, local, state, and federal agencies including juvenile court partners, in order to share information, address questions, and report progress on prevention of detention for low-risk youth.
• Develops training material and curriculum and provides training and education to Department staff and external stakeholders including juvenile justice professionals in the fundamentals of JDAI, via one-on-one meetings, group presentations and state and national conferences.
• Assists JDAI County committee to understand data collection and analysis; Encourages the use of data to guide decision-making and priority-making when creating alternatives to detention or when reforming case processing.
• Conducts community mapping to identify local stakeholders and services to partner in JDAI efforts, and supplement available Alternatives to Detention.
• Will have Knowledge of work simplification methods.
• Knowledge of the methods used in the preparation of charts, graphs and tables.
• Knowledge of the methods of general report writing.
• Will have the ability to understand, explain and apply the laws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, etc. governing traditional juvenile court processes.
• Ability to maintain accurate records.
• Ability to prepare and use charts, graphs and tables.
• Ability to prepare general reports.
• Ability to write concisely to express thoughts clearly and to develop ideas in logical sequence.
• Ability to follow written and oral instructions.
• Ability to give written and oral instruction in a precise, understandable manner.
• Ability to communicate effectively in oral expression.
• Ability to responsibly represent the Department amongst external stakeholders.
• Ability to supervise, including planning and assigning work according to the nature of the job to be accomplished, the capabilities of subordinates and available resources; controlling work through periodic reviews and/or evaluations; determining subordinate training needs and providing or arranging for such training; motivating subordinates to work effectively; determining the need for disciplinary action and either recommending or initiating disciplinary action.
• Ability to establish rapport with others.
• Ability to establish and maintain harmonious relationships with others.
• Ability to deal tactfully with others.
• Ability to adjust to varying or changing situations to meet emergency or changing program requirements.
• Ability to exercise sound judgement.
• Ability to exercise discretion in handling confidential information. 
• Ability to work collaboratively with JDAI County Co-chairs, JDAI Staff, and JDAI partners to implement reforms for youth and families served by the juvenile court.
• Ability to work with families in crisis, to support needs and problem solve to build on family strengths, with goal of reuniting youth and families. 

 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Knowledge of the laws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, specifications, standards, and guidelines governing juvenile court, including delinquency and child welfare cases.
• Knowledge of the organizational structure and functions of the assigned agency.
• Knowledge of the standards and Core Strategies for JDAI.
• Knowledge of the JDAI Massachusetts Strategic Plan, and skill in developing local action steps aligned with the Statewide Strategic plan.
• Ability to understand, explain and apply the laws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, etc. governing traditional juvenile court processes.
• Ability to analyze and determine the applicability of data, to draw conclusions and make appropriate recommendations.
• Ability to gather information by examining records and documents and by questioning individuals.
• Ability to assemble items of information in accordance with established procedures.
• Ability to determine proper format and procedure for assembling items of information.

 

Transportation requirement: Incumbents are required to possess a current and valid motor vehicle driver's license at a class level specific to assignment.

 Schedule: Monday through Friday 8:45 am - 5:00 pm; some flexibility is required.

About the Department of Youth Services:

As the Juvenile Justice agency for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Department of Youth Services promotes positive change in the youth in our care and custody. Our mission is to make communities safer by improving the life outcomes for youth in our care. We achieve our mission through investing in highly qualified staff and a service continuum that engages youth, families, and communities in strategies that support positive youth development.  For more information, please go to: https://www.mass.gov/orgs/department-of-youth-services.

Minimum Age Requirement: 21 years. 

 

Pre-Hire Process: 
Candidates must pass a pre-employment screening which includes: 

• Drug Screening
• Psychological Screening
• Medical Examination
• Physical Abilities Test (PAT) for direct care positions. 

If you would like more information, please log on to the DYS website www.mass.gov/dys to access detailed information on the Pre-Employment process.

Pre-Offer Process:

A criminal background check will be completed on the recommended candidate as required by the regulations set forth by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services prior to the candidate being hired. For more information, please visit http://www.mass.gov/hhs/cori

 

Education, licensure, and certifications will be verified in accordance with the Human Resources Division's Hiring Guidelines.

 

Education and license/certification information provided by the selected candidate(s) is subject to the Massachusetts Public Records Law and may be published on the Commonwealth's website.

 

If you require assistance with the application/interview process and would like to request an ADA accommodation, please click on the link and complete the Reasonable Accommodation Online Request Form.

 

For questions, please contact the Office of Human Resources at 1-800-510-4122 and select option #4.

 

First consideration will be given to those applicants that apply within the first 14 days.  

MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS: Applicants must have at least (A) two years of full-time, or equivalent part-time, professional, administrative or managerial experience in business administration, business management or public administration the major duties of which involved program management, program administration, program coordination, program planning and/or program analysis, or (B) any equivalent combination of the required experience and the substitutions below.

 

Substitutions:

I. A Bachelor's or higher degree with a major in business administration, business management or public administration may be substituted for the required experience.*

 

II. A Bachelor's or higher degree with a major other than in business administration, business management or public administration may be substituted for a maximum of one year of the required experience.*

 

*Education toward such a degree will be prorated on the basis of the proportion of the requirements actually completed.

 

 

Comprehensive Benefits

When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.

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COVID Vaccine: As a condition of employment, depending on job assignment and location, employees may be required to have received COVID-19 vaccination and/or other vaccinations, or to have been approved for a vaccination exemption prior to their start date. Details relating to demonstrating compliance with this requirement will be provided to applicants selected for employment.

 

 

An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer.  Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

 

The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law.  Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements.  We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.