Description

Our vision is to ensure that “Washington state’s children and youth grow up safe and healthy—thriving physically, emotionally and academically, nurtured by family and community."

Job Title: Juvenile Rehabilitation Counselor 2 (JRC2)
Location: Lakewood, WA
Closes: Friday July 11, 2025
Salary: $4,632 - $6,227 Monthly. The salary does not include an on-site 24/7 facility 5% premium, or a 3% general wage increase and an additional 5% targeted increase effective July 1st, 2025.

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is accepting applications for a Juvenile Rehabilitation Counselor 2 to join our team to assist youth successfully transition back into the community by providing individual treatment, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills acquisition and generalization, a variety of educational, vocational, and employment opportunities, and support for family reintegration.

The Opportunity:

The Oakridge moto is “Growing together to build a better life”. You will provide comprehensive case management, transition planning and counseling, and treatment referral services for an assigned caseload of youth and young adults committed to Rehabilitation Administration care by the courts. Oakridge staff work with families and other natural supports to help youth successfully transition back into the community. You will work with residents to identify areas of growth, including independent living skills, education and career, and personal goals. If this sounds like a good fit for you, please apply!

Some of what you'll do:

• Provide supervision and cognitive/behavioral treatment to youth committed to Rehabilitation Administration care by the juvenile courts and who have a complex range of disorders and service needs.
• Interview and administer/interpret screening tools and assessments, assess behavior, prioritize treatment targets, develop treatment plans, and implement Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and other therapeutic treatment interventions.
• Facilitate various groups and activities and prepare youth and their families for the transition back to the community.
• Perform routine security duties.
• Supervise and/or serve meals to resident groups.
• Monitor movement of residents within the facility and in the community.
• Supervise and assign chores within a living unit to meet health and hygiene standards.

Required qualifications
An equivalent combination of education and relevant experience, totaling five years.
OR
One year as a Juvenile Rehabilitation Counselor Assistant (JRCA) or Juvenile Rehabilitation Counselor 1 (JRC1).
OR

A Bachelor's degree, AND one year of professional experience working with at-risk or justice system-involved youth as a case manager, counselor, probation officer, parole officer, or experience working in a social service capacity planning directing, supervising, or facilitating interventions with at-risk juvenile justice system youth or related field.

AND

Commitment to equity, inclusion, and respectful workplace principles.

Note: A Master's degree in Psychology, Sociology, Social Work, Social Sciences, or in an allied field will substitute for the one year of experience. Note: A degree in Social Work must be from an educational program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.

In addition to those required qualifications, our ideal applicant will also have some or all of the following:

• Effectively communicating verbally and in writing with management, coworkers, clients and community
  stakeholders as required to support successful transition/reentry of youth back to their families and communities
• Provide direct care to youth in a community environment,
• Monitor and manage youth in a non-secure residential setting in the community.
• Develop and maintain stakeholder relationships in the community that support successful transition/reentry of youth.
• Understanding of adolescent development and juvenile rehabilitation practices and principles; experience providing cognitive/behavioral therapeutic interventions.
• Competency in relating to clients from diverse backgrounds and cultural groups.
• Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences related to juvenile delinquency.
• Ability to use de-escalation techniques approved for intervention by JR with verbally and/or physically aggressive youth.

How do I apply?
Complete your applicant profile and attach the following documents:

• Letter of interest describing how you meet the specific qualifications for this position.
• Current resume detailing experience and education.

Supplemental Information:
The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is committed to Washington’s children and youth growing up safe, healthy, and thriving. We invite all candidates to join us in our mission to create a diverse and equitable workplace that reflects the communities we serve. If you are excited about this role but you believe that your education and/or experience might not align perfectly with every qualification in the job posting, we encourage you to apply anyway.

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, race, creed, color, national origin, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained service animal by a person with a disability.

Applicants selected for an interview are required to pass a national fingerprint background check and complete a questionnaire mandated by the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) inquiring about any sexual misconduct. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but is considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the job.

Have and maintain a valid First Aid/CPR/AED certification.

Have and maintain a Food Handler's Permit.

This position performs activities that meet the definition of counseling as defined in WAC 246-810-010 (7). Incumbent must possess and maintain a current Agency Affiliated Counselor or higher credential from the WA State Department of Health.

This position requires a minimum of at least two years of driving experience and a valid driver’s license.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies.

This position is in a bargaining unit represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE). For more information: https://wfse.org/.

If you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment or if you would like to request an accommodation throughout the application/interview process, contact David Ozment (Talent Acquisition Specialist) at david.ozment@dcyf.wa.gov If you're experiencing technical difficulties creating, accessing or completing your application, call NEOGOV toll-free at (855)524-5627 or email support@neogov.com.

Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this announcement in an alternative format may call (360) 902-2276 or the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) at (800) 833-6388.

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