DEPT OF JUVENILE CORRECTIONS

Address:

Community Corrections/ Parole Office

100 N. 15th Ave

Phoenix, AZ 85007

Salary: $61,156 

Grade: 19

Closing Date: September 6, 2026

The Youth Transition Specialist is responsible for managing a diverse caseload of juveniles and young adults, providing comprehensive case management services throughout their transition from the ADJC Adobe Mountain facility to community-based settings. Key responsibilities include facilitating access to inpatient and outpatient services, insurance benefits and residential programs, as well as coordinating educational, vocational, employment, and treatment resources to ensure individuals and their families are effectively connected with essential community services. Serving as the primary liaison, the Specialist collaborates with various key stakeholders, including the Arizona Department of Economic Security (ADES), the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), the Arizona Department of Child Safety (ADCS) and residential stakeholders throughout AZ. Furthermore, this role may be involved in crisis intervention, assessments and follow-up.

Responsibilities include but is not limited to:
Facilitating pre- and post-reentry service coordination for juveniles releasing or discharging from the ADJC Adobe Mountain facility
Connecting resources by linking juveniles and families to local programs and insurance benefits
​Weekly travel to the Adobe Mountain Phoenix facility and throughout Arizona ​as required
Providing educational support to juveniles to bridge the transition between academic programming and post-release educational or vocational opportunities
Participating in multidisciplinary team meetings, including Child and Family Team and Adult Recovery
Team meetings
Collaborating effectively within a team environment to ensure program objectives are met
Conducting comprehensive case reviews and maintaining consistent communication with case managers to ensure program integrity
Performing initial in-home assessments
Coordinating essential services for juveniles and their families
Assisting in the development of transitional plans for juveniles and young adults
Engaging and maintaining professional relationships with internal​, external stakeholders, service providers, community agencies, and partner entities
Compiling statistical data and generating reports regarding program services
Managing case files, documentation, and data entry
Operating a vehicle for official State business
​Provide additional support and guidance to assist the juveniles in securing viable employment
opportunities
Performing other duties as assigned within the scope of the position
Facilitating pre- and post-reentry service coordination for juveniles releasing/discharging from the
Adobe Mountain facility.
​Weekly travel to/from the Adobe Mountain facility and throughout Arizona ​as required
Providing educational support to juveniles to bridge the transition between academic programming and post-release educational or vocational opportunities.
Participating in weekly multidisciplinary team meetings, including Child and Family Team and Adult
Recovery Team meetings
Collaborating effectively within a team environment to ensure program objectives are met.
Conducting comprehensive case reviews and maintaining consistent communication with case managers to ensure program integrity
Performing initial in-home assessments.
Coordinating essential services for juveniles and their families
Assisting in the development of transitional plans for juveniles and young adults
Engaging and maintaining professional relationships with internal​, external stakeholders, service providers, community agencies, and partner entities
Compiling statistical data and generating reports regarding program services
Managing case files, documentation, and data entry.
Operating a vehicle for official State business.
​Provide additional support and guidance to assist the juveniles in securing viable employment opportunities
Performing other duties as assigned

Knowledge of:
Transition and reentry planning
Health and Human Services
Micro level community organization
Components of Family dynamics
Diagnostics and assessment terminology
Components of a home assessment
Case planning and case management processes
Adolescent development
Educational and vocational resources
Employment resources
AZ State Medicaid program, eligibility, enrollment and services
Local, state and federal programs and resources
Research methodologies and report preparation
Best practices in community reentry
Computer operations and programs including Google Suite and Microsoft Office

Skill in:
Transition and reentry planning
Interpersonal skills regarding interactions with difficult and complex families
Conducting and evaluating family systems and therapeutic modalities
Assessing juvenile and families’needs and providing appropriate referral for intervention
Understanding family dynamics, communication and interaction patterns in families
Crisis intervention, mediation and interpersonal dynamics
Establishing and maintaining interpersonal relationships
Multi-tasking, organization and time management
Discharge and reintegration planning
Coaching and Motivational Interviewing
Research and connection to potential employment placements
Collaborating with community providers and various educational establishments
Establish linkages between academic coursework and post release educational or vocational options
Being digitally literate
Public speaking
Professional report writing
Collecting and maintaining accurate data/documentation and program records
Maintaining confidentiality
Areas of analysis, problem solving, formulation of alternatives and strategy development
Development and maintaining positive working relationship with internal and external customers
Strong written and verbal communication skills are essential
Problemsolving
Working independently with minimal supervision

Ability to:
Travel frequently throughout the state of AZ, including overnight stays, as needed
Manage a varied caseload by prioritizing and strategizing
Manage time effectively
Work well with others individually and in a group setting
Work on a variety of assignments with minimal supervision
Prioritize assignments with crisis situations taking precedence
Recognize emergency or dangerous psychiatric emergencies and take appropriate interventions to ensure safety of juveniles and families
Collaborate with human service, educational, vocational, and employment entities to enhance well-being and help meet basic and complex needs of juveniles and young adults
Work in a secure care facility
Work closely with adjudicated youth and their families

The preferred candidate will possess:
A Post-Secondary Degree in Social Services/Social Work OR; 60 hours of college credits and two (2) years of experience working with at risk youth in a social services arena.
Bilingual skills in Spanish/English preferred but not required

Employment is contingent on the selected applicant passing a comprehensive background investigation, drug screening and pre-placement physical examination.

This position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function on the job. The following requirements apply. Any employee operating a motor vehicle on State business must possess and retain a current, valid class-appropriate driver’s license, complete all required training, and successfully pass all necessary driver’s license records checks. The license must be current, unexpired, and neither revoked or suspended. Employees who drive on state business are subject to driver’s license record checks, must maintain acceptable driving records, and must complete all driver training. An employee who operates a personally owned vehicle on state business shall maintain the statutorily required liability insurance (see Arizona Administrative Code (A.A.C.) R2-10-207.010).

Current State of Arizona employees: In order to be considered for this position, it requires acceptable performance history as demonstrated by not have been issued a letter of suspension or have been involuntarily demoted within one year preceding this job posting close date, and have an overall rating of “meets expectations” or higher on the most recent employee performance evaluation.

All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

The State of Arizona provides an excellent comprehensive benefits package including:
-Affordable medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and short-term disability plans
-Top-ranked retirement and long-term disability plans
-10 paid holidays per year
-Vacation time accrued at 4.00 hours bi-weekly for the first 3 years
-Sick time accrued at 3.42 hours bi-weekly
-Deferred Compensation Program
-Wellness Plans

For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

This position participates in the Corrections Officer Retirement Plan (CORP).

CORP Tier 3 is a Defined Contribution, 401 (a) retirement plan
Employer matches contributions
Contributions are made on a pre-taxed basis
Employees can choose investments that suit their goals and risk tolerance
Employees are fully vested after 3 years of service

Attention if you are a current Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) member with a minimum of five years you may request to remain in ASRS. Should you have any questions, please reach out to our Human Resources Office by calling 602.542.9268 or emailing employment@azdjc.gov.

The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer. Persons with a disability may request reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter or an alternative format by calling (602)542-9261. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow sufficient time to arrange the accommodation.