Intensive Support Services Specialist (LTE)

Marathon County Public Library; United States; On-site; USD 34,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Marathon County Social Services seeks an LTE Intensive Support Specialist to work with at-risk youth at the Youth Opportunity Center. You will provide individual intervention, group activities, and family support to promote rehabilitation and prosocial behavior within a structured community-based environment.

The role involves creating treatment plans with Social Workers, coordinating with schools and agencies, monitoring safety (GPS/urinalysis), and documenting in Excel/eWiSACWIS.

Qualifications

• Two years of experience working with at-risk youth.
• Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation.
• Education levels considered; associate/bachelor’s preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide ongoing support services to youth to promote rehabilitation and stability.
• Create individualized treatment plans in collaboration with the Social Worker.
• Facilitate parent support/educational groups and communicate with families.
• Use motivational interviewing and de-escalation techniques in youth interactions.
• Document attendance, activities, behavior, and case notes in systems.
• Coordinate transportation logistics and connect families with community resources.

Skills

Active listening

Motivational interviewing

Boundary setting

Crisis de-escalation

Group facilitation

Documentation

Education

Associate or Bachelor degree in Social Work or related field

Tools

Excel

eWiSACWIS

GPS monitoring equipment

Job description

Job Posting End Date: 11-04-2026 Worker Sub-Type: Regular Scheduled Weekly Hours: 40

Position Summary

Are you passionate about making a positive impact in the lives of at-risk youth? Marathon County Social Services is hiring one Intensive Support Specialist to join our team, providing individual intervention along with programming at our Youth Opportunity Center (Y.O.C.). This position offers a unique opportunity to work directly with youth who are navigating behavioral, emotional, or legal challenges. The Y.O.C. provides structured programming, life skills development, and accountability in a supportive, community-based environment. This position also provides support and education to parents who need assistance with their teen’s behaviors. Limited-Term Employee (LTE) Intensive Support Specialist (I.S.S.) provides ongoing support services to youth and their families who are involved with the Youth Justice system. I.S.S. serves as mentor, facilitator, and positive role model - delivering both psychoeducation and recreational programming aimed at helping youth build resilience, reduce risk factors, and enhance prosocial behavior. The goal of this service is to provide rehabilitation services for youth to remain in the community without committing further law violations. Additionally, this service provides structure and accountability for youth aimed at reducing criminal behavior and building on the youth and family’s protective factors. The position will have a mix of duties and work assignments based on the needs of these two programs and where staff support is needed. As an employee of the Department of Social Services and Marathon County, you will play a crucial role in managing and safeguarding confidential and sensitive information. This position requires a high level of initiative, creativity, impartiality, integrity, confidentiality, the ability to establish boundaries with both youth and their parents, confidence in group facilitation, and the skill of assertiveness.

Examples of Work Performed

• Provide ongoing support services to youth to promote rehabilitation and stability within their home, community, and Youth Opportunity Center attendance based on their treatment plan. Areas that may be addressed are aggression, substance abuse, criminal thinking, family conflict, mental health, etc.
• Redirect youth behavior and thinking errors using active listening, motivational interviewing, problem-solving strategies, and boundary setting.
• Provide direct programming based on the individual needs of the youth such as anger management, healthy decision making, life skills, recreational interests, and facilitate treatment groups based on youth needs. This includes creating a monthly calendar of the structured activities that will be provided daily throughout the month.
• Communicate with parents/guardians regarding transportation logistics and behavioral updates. This includes providing transportation when necessary.
• Connect children and families with community resources.
• Support parents and their youth through face-to-face contact, phone contact, and text contact.
• Create individualized treatment plans for the youth assigned to this position, in collaboration with the Social Worker.
• Facilitate parent support and/or educational groups.
• Provide individual parent support and education.
• Collaborate with Community Agencies to schedule Community Service, educational presentations, and recreational opportunities.
• Teach independent living skills to include food preparation and cooking.
• Provide direct sight and sound supervision of youth.
• Complete assignments with youth given to youth by social workers and/or assist with schoolwork when needed.
• Provide electronic monitoring services such as placing the GPS monitor on a youth, providing logistical information to the monitor company to begin the monitoring process, monitor schedules and violations, maintain equipment, and maintain regular communication with the juvenile, family, referring social workers, and collaterals.
• Administer Urinalysis as requested by the social worker.
• Communicate with schools on attendance issues or academic needs.
• Participate in supervisory and team-based consultation regarding progress of cases assigned.
• Maintain accurate and timely electronic case documentation in Excel spreadsheets and eWiSACWIS.
• Court attendance as deemed necessary.
• Perform other job duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Adhere to professional boundaries, ethics, confidentiality and privacy practices, policies of Marathon County Department of Social Services, procedures, and regulations. Be creative and be willing to take initiative with development of new opportunities to further programming and services. Understanding of youth development principles, including adolescent behavior, risk factors, and strengths-based approaches to engagement. Effectively and appropriately interact and communicate with social workers, families, schools, and other community partners to build positive, constructive, and professional relationships. Ability to follow and comprehend written and verbal instructions with accuracy and attention to detail. Effective written and oral communication skills. Document incident reports. Accurately document attendance, activities the youth participated in, overall behavior, and anything that needs to be brought to the Social Worker’s attention. Ask questions and actively listen to better understand and build rapport. Familiarity with Motivational Interviewing techniques and de-escalation strategies to support effective and safe interactions with youth. Ability to remain calm and professional during crisis-related issues. Capacity to work independently, apply established guidelines, and exercise sound judgment within program procedures. Strong interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to speak empathetically with youth and their families, establish trust, and respond to needs with professionalism. Ability to organize and maintain information and keep records and file documentation current. Ability to work independently, apply standards and criteria, and exercise judgment in accordance with established program procedures. Ability to contribute to a positive work culture, fostering excellent customer service and teamwork. Maintain regular and predictable attendance, work extra hours as required, has the ability to be flexible to meet the needs of the youth, families, and agency. Proficiency in basic computer operations, including word processing, data entry, and use of electronic communication tools.

Qualifications

• Previous experience working with youth and their families, particularly in areas related to delinquency, behavioral challenges, or mental health—strongly preferred. Applicants with professional or lived experience are encouraged to apply.
• While an associate or bachelor’s degree from an accredited two-or four-year college or university in Social Work, Social Sciences, Sociology, Psychology, or a related field is preferred, all education levels will be considered.
• At minimum, applicants must have two years of experience working with at-risk youth.
• Possess a valid driver’s license, a driving record that meets County standards, and reliable transportation. A working vehicle must be available for use when needed to transport youth to activities, appointments, or other required engagements.

Compensation

Starting hourly rate of $29.53 + Marathon County benefits

Physical Requirements

Moderate Physical Requirements - Job requires a combination of desk work and moderate physical activity engaging youth in prosocial activities such as walking, riding bike, playing basketball, raking and shoveling, and gardening. Drive and maneuver an 8-passenger van. All physical requirements are described with the intent to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job.

Hours

Hours will be based on work assignment. Workday consists of 8 hours with varied start and end times that could include starting at 8 a.m. or working until 6 p.m. A 40-hour work week is required.

Selection Procedure

The selection of the successful candidate may be made by assessment of education and work experience, oral interview, review of references, and/or other job-related selection procedures. Depending on position requirements, the selected candidate may be required to satisfactorily complete post-offer assessments, including but not limited to education verification, background checks, driver license verification, paid for by the County.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Marathon County is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against based on age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetic information, or protected veteran status.

Special Accommodations

Marathon County will make arrangements to furnish appropriate auxiliary aids and services where necessary and reasonable to afford an individual with a disability the opportunity to participate in the recruitment process. Please notify the Employee Resources Department office or phone [phone] to request special accommodations prior to the application deadline.

Notice to Applicants

Wisconsin Statutes, Sections 19.36 (7), 64.09 (5), and 64.11 (7) require public employers to treat the following items as a public record: Each applicant’s application, records, recommendations, and qualifications except as provided in Section 19.36 (7), Wis. Stats. that allows the identity of an applicant to remain confidential if the applicant requests in writing that the County not provide access to this information. If you choose not to have this information become a public record, you must make such a request in writing to the Employee Resources Department. If you become a finalist for the position, your identity may be disclosed as required by law

Marathon County was officially established in 1850 and is the largest of Wisconsin’s 72 counties today. Centrally located, Marathon County is easy to find, but with 1,584 square miles of natural beauty set in the Wisconsin River Valley, it is hard to leave. Marathon County has a population of 137,958 including the Wausau metropolitan area of 70,000. Marathon County offers a combination of big city amenities with the look and feel of the great north-woods, surrounded by hills, lakes, and rivers; complete with small town hospitality. Our community takes pride in its natural beauty, abundant recreation opportunities, quality education, healthcare, diversity, industry, and overall quality of life. Whether you enjoy fishing, boating, biking, swimming, hiking, cross country or downhill skiing, snowmobiling, ATVing, camping, or anything in between, Marathon County is the place to be! In fact, Wausau and Central Wisconsin was voted as The BEST Place in Wisconsin for Outdoor Activities by the readers of Wisconsin Trails magazine. In addition to four seasons of recreation, Marathon County also has a thriving arts community, events and festivals, an active nightlife scene, diverse dining options, and a convenient regional airport. Basecamp Greater Wausau offers eligible out-of-state professionals a $10,000 relocation grant and additional benefits to help them build a life in the Greater Wausau region. The Greater Wausau Prosperity Partnership (GWPP) is facilitating the program in collaboration with regional project partners.

Marathon County is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against based on age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetic information or protected veteran status. Please contact us at 715-261-1457 OR 715-261-1451.