Correctional Program Specialist

Ohio Department of Youth Services; Highland Hills (OH); On-site; USD 57,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Dental & Vision

Paid time off

Job summary

Ohio Department of Youth Services in Highland Hills, OH is seeking an experienced Case Manager [Correctional Program Specialist] to plan and deliver social services within a juvenile correctional facility. The role requires managing treatment goals, collaborating with families, and ensuring program compliance across IDT committees.

The position involves direct youth interaction, program facilitation, and coordination with staff, parole, schools, and community partners to support successful

Qualifications

• 18 mos. experience in social or behavioral science, criminal justice, or human services.
• 6 mos. experience in report writing, record keeping, interviewing, counseling or contact with social service agencies.
• Or completion of associate/undergraduate core programs in relevant fields; or equivalent qualifications.

Responsibilities

• Plan and/or deliver habilitative program services (e.g., treatment planning, individual/group and/or family interventions/sessions, and crisis intervention).
• Serve as a liaison with family, community, and internal staff (e.g., regional office, juvenile parole officers, release authority, school, courts, and other community support services).
• Develop and facilitate unit programming; coordinate with reentry staff to plan for release of youth.
• Provide facility orientation including treatment, behavioral expectations and how to access behavioral health and medical services.
• Provide orientation material to parents/guardians; manage visitation lists and collect family information.
• Represent habilitative programming on the Interdisciplinary Treatment Team (IDT) and coordinate IDT meetings.
• Access and maintain documentation to satisfy agency requirements and ensure policy compliance.
• Ensure unit activities align with the unit plan/schedule.
• Monitor student interns and volunteers in the absence of the unit manager.

Skills

Coaching

Developing Others

Ethics and Values

Managing Meetings

Confidentiality

Education

Associate core program in social or behavioral science or criminal justice or human services

Undergraduate core program in social or behavioral science or criminal justice or human services

Equivalent of Minimum Class Qualifications for Employment

Job description

What You'll Do

DYS is seeking an experienced Case Manager [Correctional Program Specialist] to plan and deliver social services programs for assigned unit in a juvenile correctional facility. The ideal candidate will have experience and knowledge in program facilitation, monitoring and evaluating treatment goals, social services policy and program planning, as well as exceptional communication skills in order to handle sensitive contacts with youth and family members.

Duties Include, But Are Not Limited To

• Plan and/or deliver habilitative program services (e.g., treatment planning, individual/group and/or family interventions/sessions, and crisis intervention);
• Serve as a liaison with family, community, and internal staff (e.g., regional office, juvenile parole officers, release authority, school, courts, and other community support services);
• Develop and facilitate unit programming; collaborate with reentry staff to plan for release of youth;
• Provide facility orientation including treatment, behavioral expectations and how to access behavioral health services and medical services;
• Provide orientation material to parents/guardians of newly committed youth; creates, approves, and manages visitation list and collects personal and family information;
• Represent habilitative programming on the Interdisciplinary Treatment Team (i.e. IDT); coordinate IDT meetings (e.g., attendance and participation of all team members, including parents/guardians, parole officers, appropriate facility staff);
• Access, develop, maintain, and synthesize written and/or electronic documentation to satisfy requirements of federal, state, and local agencies and ensures compliance with DYS policy;
• Ensure all unit activities are compliant with unit plan/schedule;
• Monitor student interns and volunteers in the absence of the unit manager.

What's In It For You

At the State of Ohio, we take care of the team that cares for Ohioans. We provide a variety of quality, competitive benefits to eligible full-time and part-time employees. For a list of all the State of Ohio Benefits, visit our Total Rewards website! Our benefits package includes:

Medical Coverage

• Quality, affordable, and competitive medical benefits are offered through the available Ohio Med plans.

Dental, Vision and Basic Life Insurance

• Dental, vision, and basic life insurance premiums are free after completed eligibility period. Length of eligibility period 365 days, a one year probationary period.

Time Away From Work and Work/Life Balance

• Paid time off, including vacation, personal, and sick leave
• 11 paid holidays per year
• Childbirth/Adoption leave

Employee Development Funds

• The State of Ohio offers a variety of educational and professional development funding that varies based on whether you are a union-exempt employee or a union-represented employee.

Ohio Public Employees Retirement System

• OPERS is the retirement system for State of Ohio employees. The employee contributes 10% of their salary towards their retirement. The employer contributes an amount equal to 14% of the employee’s salary. Visit the OPERS website for more information.

Deferred Compensation

• The Ohio Deferred Compensation program is a 457(b) voluntary retirement savings plan. Visit the Ohio Deferred Compensation website for more information.

Ohio is a Disability Inclusion State and strives to be a Model Employer of Individuals with disabilities. The State of Ohio is committed to providing access and inclusion and reasonable accommodation in its services, activities, programs and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws.

Qualifications

18 mos. experience in social or behavioral science or criminal justice or human services; and 6 mos. experience in one or more of the following: report writing, record keeping, interviewing, counseling or contact with social service agencies.

• Or completion of associate core program in social or behavioral science or criminal justice or human services; and 6 mos. experience in one or more of the following: report writing, record keeping, interviewing, counseling or contact with social service agencies.
• Or completion of undergraduate core program in social or behavioral science or criminal justice or human services.
• Or equivalent of Minimum Class Qualifications for Employment noted above.

Job Skills

Counseling and Rehabilitation

Organization

Youth Services - Cuyahoga Hills Juvenile Correctional Facility

Agency Contact Name and Information

[e-mail]

Unposting Date

Sep 17, 2026, 10:59:00 PM

Work Location

Cuyahoga Juvenile Correctional

Primary Location

United States of America-OHIO-Cuyahoga County-Highland Hills

Compensation

$27.48 per hour

Schedule

Full-time

Work Hours

40 hrs per week

Classified Indicator

Classified

Union

1199

Professional Skills

Coaching, Developing Others, Ethics and Values, Managing Meetings, Confidentiality

Agency Overview

We are transforming and saving lives at DYS! A safer Ohio: one youth, one family and one community at a time.

About Us…

Our mission at the Ohio Department of Youth Services (DYS) is to improve Ohio's future by habilitating youth and empowering families and communities. We believe that all youth will be given an opportunity to live up to their greatest potential and staff are our greatest resource.

Our Guiding Principles…

• Demonstrate staff are our greatest resource
• Treat everyone with respect
• Cultivate a trauma responsive environment for staff and youth to thrive
• Provide the best support and services for youth and families
• Advance our culture of inclusion through understanding and appreciating staff and youth differences
• Commit to and encourage collaboration and continuous improvement to produce better outcomes for those we serve
• Celebrate collective successes and support one another through opportunities to improve