Youth Justice Therapist

Agency Summary:

Applewood Centers is a private, nonprofit agency providing mental health services, social services and education to children, adolescents and families living in Cuyahoga and Lorain counties. Dedicated to addressing a variety of behavioral, emotional and learning problems, we provide a continuum of care from outpatient counseling to residential treatment.

Program Summary:

It has been estimated that nearly 70% of children currently involved in the Juvenile Justice System experience psychological issues or distress. We have been working within this setting since January of 2016 and in 2020, 76% of the youth seen by Applewood mental health providers had improved behavioral and emotional symptomology during their stay within the facility.  We are passionate about this work and are currently seeking qualified mental health professionals to help us continue to address this issue within the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Detention Center. 

Position Summary: 

The Youth Justice Therapist provides intensive assessment and therapeutic services for difficult incarcerated youth within the Cuyahoga Hills Ohio Department of Youth Services (ODYS) Correctional Facility. The Youth Justice Therapist works closely with ODYS staff, jurists and other court officials to ensure client treatment needs are addressed. The Youth Justice Therapist works with clients in the ODYS correctional facility providing assessment, treatment and making recommendations for ongoing services and therapy upon client's discharge from the facility. 

Essential Duties:

• Provide high quality, detailed and in depth bio/psycho/social assessment for youth referred to program.
• Gather information for ongoing treatment needs and goals and prepare detailed recommendations for clients upon discharge from the facility
• Assess and develop treatment goals and interventions, implement interventions, and identify and targeting of barriers to treatment progress.
• Develop comprehensive, diagnostic case conceptualization as well as focused, measurable and achievable service plans that are consistent with the client's identified needs and cultural assessment-cultivating and maintaining professional alignment and engagement with families.
• Appropriately articulate and present clinical findings, therapeutic goals/targets, and recommendations to court officials/staff in a professional manner. Collaborate with ODYS staff to identify clinical interventions that best support youth in the correctional facility (i.e. safety planning, suicide watch protocols, mental health interventions, and linkage to stepdown programming).
• Form and maintain collaborative working relationships with collateral professionals and/or agencies concerning individual cases.
• Develop and maintain the clinical record through timely and legible completion of assigned documentation according to applicable licensing and accreditation regulations and standards.
• Close cases in a timely manner, accurately completing aftercare plans and related paperwork, including treatment summaries, based on goal achievement and/or agency policy/procedure.
• Attend weekly team meetings and supervisions on time and as scheduled.  Be open to feedback and suggestion from others, be prepared for meetings, actively participate as a supportive team member, and maintain a positive working relationship with co-workers.
• Actively and consistently participate in trainings.
• Has/Maintains a good on-time and attendance record.
• Set and maintain appropriate boundaries with incarcerated youth, family members and ODYS staff.

• Education: Minimum Bachelor’s degree in Social Work or Clinical Mental Health Counseling required. Master's degree preferred.
• Licensure:  Valid Ohio LSW, LPC or MFT required. LISW, LPCC or IMFT preferred.
• Experience:  In lieu of Master’s degree, Bachelor’s degree with 2 or more years of experience providing therapy and/or assessments to youth plus valid Ohio LSW required.
• Other: A valid driver's license with approved driving record(less than 6 points), personal transportation and insurance, if required to drive on behalf of the agency.

Benefits:

At Applewood, we prioritize our employees and their wellbeing. We provide competitive benefit options to our employees and their families, including domestic partners.

Our offerings include:

• Comprehensive health and Rx plans, including a flat rate ($5, $10, $15) option.
• Wellness program including free preventative care
• Generous paid time off and holidays
• 50% tuition reduction at Case Western Reserve University for the MNO and MSW programs
•  403(b) retirement plan with an employer match
• Pet insurance
• Employer paid life insurance and long-term disability
• Employee Assistance Program
• Support for continuing education and credential renewal
• Ancillary benefits including: dental, vision, voluntary life, short term disability, hospital indemnity, accident, critical illness
• Flexible Spending Account for Health and Dependent Care

Applewood Centers, Inc. (“Applewood”) is a private, nonprofit agency providing mental health services, social services and education to children, adolescents and families living in Cuyahoga and Lorain counties. Dedicated to addressing a variety of behavioral, emotional and learning problems, we provide a continuum of care from outpatient counseling to residential treatment. Applewood is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Applewood’s policy is not to discriminate against any applicant or employee based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, age (40 and over), disability, military status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. Applewood also prohibits harassment of applicants or employees based on any of these protected categories.