Youth Assistance Caseworker I

Overview & Benefits

Oakland County is more than just a workplace. It is a place where you can make a real difference. As one of Michigan’s leading public service organizations, we are committed to strengthening communities, delivering essential services, and improving the quality of life for nearly 1.3 million residents.

When you join our team, you become part of a mission-driven workforce guided by integrity, innovation, and a passion for public service. We offer competitive pay, comprehensive benefits, and the opportunity to do meaningful work that matters. Apply today and help shape the future of Oakland County, where we are All Ways Moving Forward.

For more information about Oakland County benefits and employee perks, please visit:

https://www.oakgov.com/government/human-resources/benefits/new-hire

General Summary

Minimum Qualifications

EXPERIENCE, TRAINING, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

REQUIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Have a Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university, with a major in psychology, social work, guidance and counseling, public relations or closely related area;AND
• Have had one (1) year full-time casework experience, involving establishing, coordinating and facilitating community based programs.
  • Volunteer organizational experience may be substituted for the casework experience specified above.
• Possess a valid motor vehicle operator's or chauffeur's license.
• Pass the complete examination, including the employment physical established for this class.
• Successfully complete the six-month probationary period.

ADDITIONAL DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

• Reasonable knowledge of social work practices, procedures and resources, including casework, group work and community organization methods.
• Reasonable ability to prepare and present technical written and oral reports, using standard computer software and keyboard, if available.
• Reasonable ability to communicate under adverse conditions with distressed people.
• Knowledge of, and skill in investigating, interviewing and counseling practices, procedures and techniques.
• Reasonable ability to present programs and reports to organized groups.
• Reasonable ability to develop and maintain effective relationships with people.
• Reasonable ability to cope with difficult situations requiring immediate decisions, in accordance with state licensing and County facility policies and objectives.
• Reasonable ability to establish rapport with clients in order that treatment goals can be achieved.
• Reasonable ability to communicate and establish a working relationship with various sources directly involved with the client to ensure a continuous exchange of information.
• Reasonable ability to maintain client confidentiality.
• Reasonable ability to assess client treatment needs, and develop written treatment plans addressing those needs.
• Reasonable ability to motivate and maintain volunteer participation.
• Reasonable ability to successfully match children to appropriate volunteers, based on compiled written and interview information.
• Reasonable ability to utilize current word processing, spreadsheet, database, e-mail and Internet software.
• Ability to use networked personal computers in the performance of job duties.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Maintain a valid motor vehicle operator's or chauffeur's license.
• Employees of this classification may be required to provide their own vehicle for personal transportation. Employees who use their own vehicle for County purposes are eligible to receive mileage reimbursement.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

• Instructs and checks the work of graduate and undergraduate students.  Supervises the functioning of a local community office staffed by volunteers and community clerical and program employees; instructs, assigns, and checks work.  Participates in the hiring process.

TYPICAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Interviews and communicates with parents, children, complainants, police, neighbors, teachers, clergymen, and other concerned parties to determine the economic, home, social, and other background conditions affecting the child involved and to monitor case progress.
• Communicates with children, parents, schools, police, and other agencies, as needed, to determine background information and client/parent needs for counseling.
• Conducts initial and ongoing interviews with referred clients to gather and subsequently analyze information and social history to resolve delinquency, neglect, or abuse problems.
• Recommends treatment alternatives to address the particular needs of each client after thorough review of clients’ social history, including referring client to other treatment sources.
• Provides crisis intervention, follow-up and casework services to clients and their families.
• Consults with and educates assigned communities in areas of delinquency, abuse, and neglect prevention programming, including explaining programs to volunteer and community groups, and consulting with schools, police, and others about program
• Arranges parent education programs in assigned communities and initiates other community efforts to eliminate conditions which cause delinquency, abuse, and neglect.
• Prepares reports for Youth Assistance files concerning the dynamics of each case and a description of the services provided, including regular progress reports.
• Provides statistical and other reports established as procedure.
• Serves as a consultant, on both a requested and routine basis, to volunteer Youth Assistance boards, programs, and community organizations offering delinquency prevention services to the community. Encourages effective program operation, providing guidance in such areas as participant organization, project focus, schedule, budget, expectations, and results identification.
• Performs a variety of public relations functions within each community to ensure the continuation or expansion of existing community-funded delinquency prevention programs, including preparing reports on program activities, speaking before local officials, media and community groups, and preparing news releases.
• Coordinates the activities of volunteer Youth Assistance boards, including organizing meetings, reports preparation, election of officers, and preparation of annual budgets for presentation to local governments to ensure successful operations and program progress.
• Acquires and coordinates office and clerical support for the Youth Assistance Program for the community served to meet administrative needs.
• Utilizes current county-wide and/or department specific software to complete assignments.

WITHIN YOUTH ASSISTANCE / VOLUNTEER PROGRAM

• Recruits volunteers by speaking before local civic groups and contacting community volunteer organizations to work with juveniles under the supervision of the Circuit Court.
• Orients and trains volunteers selected from interviews in order to provide casework clients with a positive and personal influence in their lives to avoid future social problems.
• Matches clients with the most appropriate volunteers, based upon interviews with volunteers and clients, consultations with other Youth & Family Caseworkers and/or Youth Assistance Caseworkers and a review of the clients’ files.
• Assists with supervision of client/volunteer relationship on a regular basis to ensure that positive influence is being exhibited by volunteers and client progress is being made.
• Coordinates, in conjunction with volunteers countywide, events for volunteers and their matches.
• Coordinates county-wide volunteer recognition event.
• Recruits volunteers for the Guardianship Unit and other units within the Probate Court.
• Arranges parent education programs in assigned communities and initiates other community efforts to eliminate conditions which cause delinquency, abuse, and neglect.
• Prepares reports for Youth Assistance files concerning the dynamics of each case and a description of the services provided, including regular progress reports.
• Provides statistical and other reports established as procedure.
• Serves as a consultant, on both a requested and routine basis, to volunteer Youth Assistance boards, programs, and community organizations offering delinquency prevention services to the community. Encourages effective program operation, providing guidance in such areas as participant organization, project focus, schedule, budget, expectations, and results identification.
• Performs a variety of public relations functions within each community to ensure the continuation or expansion of existing community-funded delinquency prevention programs, including preparing reports on program activities, speaking before local officials, media and community groups, and preparing news releases.
• Coordinates the activities of volunteer Youth Assistance boards, including organizing meetings, reports preparation, election of officers, and preparation of annual budgets for presentation to local governments to ensure successful operations and program progress.
• Acquires and coordinates office and clerical support for the Youth Assistance Program for the community served to meet administrative needs.
• Utilizes current county-wide and/or department specific software to complete assignments.

Additional Minimum Qualifications

Union*

*If applicable

EEO Statement

We are committed to a policy of Equal Employment Opportunity and will not discriminate against an applicant or employee on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, veteran or military status, genetic information, sexual orientation, marital status, or any other legally recognized protected basis under federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances.

Inclusion Statement

Oakland County is committed to welcoming applicants from all backgrounds, including those with prior convictions, as we believe in providing equal opportunities for all. We value the unique perspectives and experiences each individual brings to our team and are dedicated to fostering an inclusive, supportive workplace. If you have the skills and qualifications for the position, we encourage you to apply. All candidates are evaluated based on their ability to meet the job requirements, legal obligations and thrive in our organization. All ways, MOVING FORWARD.