JUVENILE JUSTICE YOUTH & FAMILY SPECIALIST OPTION I

Job Requisition ID: 49512

Opening Date/Time: 9/9/2025 11:00 am
Closing Date: 09/23/2025 11:59 pm
​Agency: Department of Juvenile Justice
Class Title: JUVENILE JUS YOUTH & FAM SPEC I - 21991
Skill Option: UMP Credential
Bilingual Option: None
Salary: Anticipated Starting Salary $5,928 a month; Full Range: $5,928 - $8,876
Job Type: Salaried
Category: Full Time
County: Sangamon
Number of Vacancies: 1
Bargaining Unit Code: RC062 Technical Employees, AFSCME
Merit Comp Code:

This position is a union position; therefore, provisions of the relevant collective bargaining agreement/labor contract apply to the filling of this position.

All applicants who want to be considered for this position MUST apply electronically through the illinois.jobs2web.com website. State of Illinois employees should click the link near the top left to apply through the SuccessFactors employee career portal.

Applications submitted via email or any paper manner (mail, fax, hand delivery) will not be considered.

Juvenile Justice Youth & Family Specialist I (49512)

Why Work for Illinois?

Working with the State of Illinois is a testament to the values of compassion, equity, and dedication that define our state. Whether you’re helping to improve schools, protect our natural resources, or support families in need, you’re part of something bigger—something that touches the lives of every person who calls Illinois home.

No matter what state career you’re looking for, we offer jobs that fit your life and your schedule—flexible jobs that provide the gold standard of benefits. Our employees can take advantage of various avenues to advance their careers and realize their dreams. Our top-tier benefits and great retirement packages can help you build a rewarding career and lasting future with the State of Illinois.

Position Overview:

The Department of Juvenile Justice is seeking a compassionate and motivated candidate to assist in the positive rehabilitation of the youth in our care. The ideal candidate for this position will possess a passion for positive change, the ability to apply a high degree of patience with residents and their families, and the ability to confidently develop and implement recommendations for positive behavior change and rehabilitation. The incumbent in this role will possess excellent communication skills both orally and in writing as they will have daily interaction with various youth, other staff both inside and outside the facilities, families of the residents, and members of the community. The Juvenile Justice Youth and Family Specialist plays a critical role in the maintenance and rehabilitation of the youth in our care. If this sounds like an opportunity that fits the career path you’re looking for, then IDJJ is looking for you! We encourage all interested and qualified candidates to apply!

Essential Functions:

• Coordinates and manages aftercare caseload.
• Communicates with institutional staff regarding youth needs and progress.
• Reviews documentation to determine family and youth eligibility for Federal funding participation and interacts with other agencies to verify documentation and eligibility enrollment are established and implemented.
• Conducts home visitations to establish, document, and report status of family dynamics and the suitability of the home for re-entry and/or continued placements.
• Monitors service providers to ensure compliance with agency requirements.
• Authorizes custodial responses by providers or conducts searches, monitoring of activities, responding to requests for detention, removal, imposition of restrictions or electronic monitoring, drug testing, and/or issuance of arrest warrants and executes warrants.
• Participates in continuing education programs, training and staff development to build skills and acquires knowledge of aftercare program process and procedures.
• Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Requires a bachelor's degree in counseling or a closely related social science degree. Requires two (2) years of professional experience working with youth in juvenile services. OR Requires a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. Requires three (3) years of professional experience in counseling or casework.
• Qualifying state employees in the employee Upward Mobility Program may complete combinations of specific proficiency tests and training programs leading to a certificate of proficiency in lieu of the stated requirements for this classification.

Preferred Qualifications (In Order of Significance):

• Requires extensive knowledge of counseling and guidance principles and techniques.
• Requires working knowledge of theories of personality and deviant behavior, delinquency and criminology.
• Requires working knowledge of the principles of cognitive behavioral treatment.
• Requires working knowledge of sociology of the family and of racial and cultural minorities urban sociology and social problems.
• Requires working knowledge of casework techniques and the writing of professional reports.
• Requires ability to prepare comprehensive evaluations and to develop recommendations for rehabilitation and positive behavioral change programs and for placement and supervision.
• Requires ability to apply a high degree of tact, patience, empathy and insight in the skillful counseling of residents, families, parents and relatives.
• Requires ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Requires ability to use a personal computer and office software in data tracking and preparation of work reports and case management.
• Requires ability to administer objective psychometric tests.

Conditions of Employment:

• Requires ability to travel.
• Requires the possession of a valid appropriate driver's license.
• Requires the successful completion of an initial pre-service training curriculum.
• Candidate must be over 21 years of age.
• These standards are set forth in the Juvenile Justice Act, [730 ILCS 5/3-2.5-15 (b).

The conditions of employment listed here are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job description.

About the Agency:

The mission of the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (IDJJ) is to build youth skills and strengthen families by promoting community safety and positive youth outcomes. Over 900 staff members from across various departments—security, programming, education, mental health, and more—collaborate with the understanding that youth are physically, emotionally, and cognitively different from adults. The department provides extensive services to young people through a developmental, treatment-focused model of care that builds youth resiliency, engages families, and promotes community safety at the five youth facilities it operates across the state. IDJJ serves and houses approximately 150 youth and is responsible for approximately 500 youth on Aftercare in various Illinois’ communities.

Work Hours:  M/T/W/Th/F/Sa/Su&Holidays: 7:00am-3:00pm, 10:00am-6:00pm, 11:00am-7:00pm.Days off Fri&Sat or Sun&Mon 
Work Location: 2715 W Monroe St Springfield, IL 62704-1323
Agency Contact:  IDJJ Springfield Office Human Resources
Email:  [email protected]
Posting Group:  Public Safety; Health Services; Social Services

This title is within the Upward Mobility Program (UMP) . General Program information can be found by clicking on the Upward Mobility Program link or for specific title information at UMP Titles . To utilize upward mobility contractual rights for this position, employees must apply internally and must upload a copy of the UMP grade notice to their application documents prior to submission . UMP grades can be uploaded to the Additional Documents OR Grade Documentation section of the application.

This position DOES NOT contain “Specialized Skills” (as that term is used in CBAs).

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Use the “Apply” button at the top right or bottom right of this posting to begin the application process.

If you are not already signed in, you will be prompted to do so. 

State employees should sign in to the career portal for State of Illinois employees – a link is available at the top left of the Illinois.jobs2web.com homepage in the blue ribbon.

Non-State employees should log in on the using the “View Profile” link in the top right of the Illinois.jobs2web.com homepage in the blue ribbon. If you have never before signed in, you will be prompted to create an account.

If you have questions about how to apply, please see the following resources:

State employees: Log in to the career portal for State employees and review the Internal Candidate Application Job Aid

Non-State employees: on Illinois.jobs2web.com – click “Application Procedures” in the footer of every page of the website.

The main form of communication will be through email. Please check your “junk mail”, “spam”, or “other” folder for communication(s) regarding any submitted application(s). You may receive emails from the following addresses:

• [email protected]
• [email protected]