JUV JUSTICE YTH & FAM SPEC OPT 1

State of Illinois; Matteson (IL); On-site; USD 71,000 - 103,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, Life, Vision, and Dental

Pension Plan

Paid parental leave

Flexible work schedules

Job summary

The Department of Juvenile Justice (IDJJ) is seeking a compassionate and motivated candidate to assist in the positive rehabilitation of the youth in our care. The ideal candidate will apply patience, empathy, and strong communication as they work daily with youth, families, and staff to support rehabilitation goals.

The role requires a bachelor's degree in counseling or a related field and relevant experience in juvenile services, with a focus on collaboration and aftercare planning.

Qualifications

• Requires a bachelor's degree in counseling or a closely related social sciences degree.
• Requires two years of professional experience with youth in juvenile services.
• Two or three years of relevant experience may be required depending on path.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and manage aftercare caseload.
• Communicate with institutional staff regarding youth needs and progress.
• Review documentation for Federal funding eligibility and enrollment.
• Conduct home visitations to assess family dynamics for re-entry.
• Monitor service providers for compliance with agency requirements.

Skills

Counseling

Communication

Patience

Empathy

Teamwork

Education

Bachelor's degree in counseling or related social sciences

Tools

Office software

Job description

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We continually strive for a workforce that reflects the growing diversity within the State of Illinois. A variety of employee backgrounds, perspectives, ideas and experiences are crucial to our ability to most effectively serve the public. Bilingual skills welcome

Reasonable Accommodation Statement

The State of Illinois is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to people with disabilities. Further, federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job, interview for a job, or for any other activity related to the hiring process. Examples of reasonable accommodation include, but are not limited to, making a change to the application process (if possible), providing documents in an alternate format, using a sign language interpreter, or using specialized equipment.

To be provided a Reasonable Accommodation during the hiring process, you will need to provide a certification of disability from a physician, psychiatrist, school official or an Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS) Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Counselor. Supporting documentation should be uploaded under My Documents to Additional Documents section for each application.

Any questions on Reasonable Accommodations can be directed to Central Management Services Disability Resource Center at [e-mail] or call [phone] for further information and to request or discuss an accommodation.

Sponsorship for Employment

The State of Illinois does not provide sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g. H-1B visa status), nor is the State able to provide extensions of optional practical training (OPT) under the STEM-designated degree program for F-1 students. To be considered for permanent employment with the State of Illinois, applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.

Disclosure of Salary Information

The Illinois Equal Pay Act, 820 ILCS 112/1 et seq., requires that the State does not seek, request, or require a job applicant’s wage or salary history. Employment decisions are not made based on an applicant’s wage or salary history. To that end, please do not include wage or salary information in your resume or other profile or application materials.

Job Requisition ID:57641
Opening Date: 10/02/2026
Closing Date: 10/20/2026 11:59 pm
Agency: Department of Juvenile Justice
Class Title:JUV JUSTICE YTH & FAM SPEC OPT 1 (21991)
Skill Option:UMP Credential
Bilingual Option:None
Salary: Anticipated Starting Salary $6,404/month; Full Range $6,404-$9,187/month
Job Type: Salaried
Category:Full Time
Number of Vacancies: 1
Bargaining Unit Code:RC062 Technical Employees, AFSCME
Merit Comp Code:
Work Hours: Sun-Mon: 7:00a-3:00p; Tues-Th: 11:00a-7:00p; Fri-Sat: Off
Anticipated Hybrid Work Schedule Availability: Not available, fully in office
Headquarter Location: 600 Town Center Road.
Work County: Cook
Agency Contact: [e-mail]

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

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 (IDJJ) 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:

• Under general supervision of the Juvenile Justice Youth and Family Supervisor, 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 an 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 placement.
• Monitors service providers to ensure compliance with agency requirements.
• Attends continuing education, training, and staff development activities to enhance skills and expand knowledge of aftercare program processes 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 sciences degree. Requires two years of professional experience working with youth in juvenile services.
  
  OR
  
  
• Requires a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. Requires three years of professional experience in counseling or casework.

This class title is included as an Upward Mobility Program credential title.

Preferred Qualifications (In Order of Significance):

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

Conditions of Employment:

• Requires the ability to pass an IDOC/IDJJ background check.
• Requires ability to pass a drug screen. The use of unauthorized drugs by an employee, regardless of position held, is prohibited.
• All candidates must be over the age of 21.
• Requires ability to travel in the performance of duties, with overnight stays as appropriate. Requires appropriate, valid driver's license.
• Overtime is a condition of employment, and you may be requested or required/mandated to work overtime including scheduled, unscheduled, or last-minute overtime. This may require the ability to work evenings and weekends.

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.

The Department of Juvenile Justice offers an excellent benefits package including:

• Health, Life, Vision, and Dental Insurance
• Pension Plan
• Paid parental leave
• Pre-tax benefits programs including but not limited to: Deferred Compensation, Medical, Daycare, etc.
• Employees earn twelve (12) paid Sick Days annually
• New Employees earn ten (10) paid Vacation Days in their first year of service and can earn up to twenty-five (25) paid Vacation Days annually (based on years of service)
• Employees earn three (3) paid Personal Days annually (pro-rated based on start date)
• Thirteen-Fourteen (13-14) paid holidays annually (based on start date)
• Flexible work schedules in many program areas (remote work may be an option for certain positions)

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).