Program Advocate - Community Corrections

The Lyon County Department of Community Corrections is now hiring for a full time Program Advocate. This is a full-time, non-exempt position with benefits including paid time off and health, dental, vision, and life insurance. Salary starts at $25.00/hr. May be required to work evenings and weekends as needed.

The Program Advocate will provide mentoring for youth, be a liaison between the school and youth to assist with tutoring, attendance, and behavior issues. This position will educate youth and families about post-educations opportunities and financial aid services, assist youth in obtaining employment and post-secondary opportunities, set up and participate with the youth in prosocial activities and community service work projects, and assist youth in accessing community resources.

This position requires a bachelors degree in psychology, social work, criminal justice and/or corrections, sociology, counseling, human relations, or a related field. Applicants must be 21 years of age or older, be qualified for access to any Kansas Criminal Justice Information System (KCJIS) data, have and maintain a valid Class C drivers license, and be free of any felony conviction or adjudication in this or any other state or in any military tribunal. Candidates must be comfortable working with juvenile offenders and their families and have strong communications, record/data keeping, and problem-solving skills.

Successful candidate(s) will be required to pass pre-employment tests including a background check, physical exams, and drug screen prior to hire. The employee in this position is subject to a Kansas Bureau of Investigations background check, Kansas Child Abuse Registry and Kansas Adult Abuse Registry checks, and drivers license verification prior to initial employment, annually for the duration of employment, and whenever there is reasonable belief that the employees status has changed.

Candidates may apply online at https://www.careers-page.com/lyon-county. Please contact Lyon County Human Resources at (620) 341-3252 with any questions.

Lyon County is an Equal Opportunity Employer and strongly encourages women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans to apply to our job openings. Veterans Preference applies to all Lyon County positions. Please contact the Human Resources for a Veterans Preference Request Form if applicable.

Disclaimer: The above information on this announcement has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employee assigned to this job.

JOB DESCRIPTION:

1. JOB SUMMARY: This is a non-exempt position*. The Program Advocate will provide mentoring for youth, be a liaison between the school and youth to assist with tutoring, attendance, and behavior issues. The Program Advocate will educate youth and families regarding post-education opportunities and financial aid services, assist youth interested and eligible to obtain post-secondary opportunities, help youth learn job skills, complete applications, and obtain employment by working with local employers. The Program Advocate will set up and participate with the youth in prosocial/leisure activities, teaching youth the importance of giving back within their community through supervised community service work projects. The Program Advocate will assist youth in understanding budgeting, costs, and available community resources for youth with limited support or services and provide transportation assistance as needed. The Program Advocate will work with justice involved youth referred from the Immediate Intervention Program (IIP), Juvenile Intake and Assessment Systems (JIAS), are placed in the custody of Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC), assigned to Juvenile Intensive Supervised Probation (JISP) or are released from the Kansas Juvenile Correctional Complex (KJCC) on Conditional Release (CR) or referred by other agencies. This position requires meeting grant goals and outcomes.

The roles, responsibilities, job functions, knowledge, skills, and abilities set forth herein may be revised from time-to-time in order to comply with federal and state laws, departmental needs and the changing requirements for this position.

1. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Provide mentorship for youth referred.
2. Set up and facilitate prosocial activities with youth, individually, and/or in groups.
3. Provide employment services and/or employment education services through life skills for youth.
4. Work with local employers willing to train eligible youth.
5. Educate youth on the importance of giving back, assisting youth with tutoring services or credit recovery and being a liaison between the youth/family, and school.
6. Work with the schools to develop alternatives to arrest
7. Provide community-based programming and/or services, assisting youth with tutoring services or credit recovery when needed.
8. Educate youth regarding post-secondary opportunities and requirements and assist eligible youth with the enrollment process, paperwork and financial aid options.
9. Educate youth on the importance of giving back to the community in a prosocial way for youth assigned community service work (CSW) through class work and CSW projects.
10. Plan, organize and complete CSW projects together (staff and youth) as a group.
11. Assist youth in completing their CSW by teaching youth the importance of giving back.
12. Educate youth in basic life skills such as how to get a job, what paperwork is necessary for employment, how to complete an application, budgeting, cost of rent, groceries, utilities, what services are available and how to obtain such services for youth with limited support.
13. Develop and maintain relationships with staff, community partners/agencies to collaborate for needed youth and family services and programs.
14. Provide support and coordinate services for youth when needed.
15. Assist with transporting youth for services when needed.
16. Provide the Director/Supervisor with monthly reports by the 10th of each month.
17. Maintain data, statistics or reports as directed.
18. Complete any required urinalysis, screenings or tests mandated by Lyon County or KDOC.
19. Perform work related duties in accordance to Lyon County policies and procedures/KDOC state standards.
20. Maintain a positive work atmosphere by acting and communicating in a manner so that employee gets along with customers, citizens, coworkers, and management.
21. Be pleasant, respectful, and civil with others on the job and display a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
22. Maintain composure, keep emotions in check, control anger, and avoid aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
23. Be reliable, responsible, dependable, and fulfill duties.
24. Show up for work on a regular and predictable basis as scheduled.
25. Other duties as assigned.

1. MARGINAL FUNCTIONS :

1. Participate in initial training, and other regional or state training and seminars as required. Must attend at least 40 hours of training per year. Attend regular staff meetings as requested by supervisor.

1. Perform any additional temporary duties as assigned by supervisor.

1. Travel to meetings or court appearances with clients.

1. Prepare and deliver testimony in court cases based on case records.

1. QUALIFICATIONS:

1. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each primary duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. This individual must possess and maintain a valid Class C driver's license. This individual must be twenty-one (21) years of age or older, be qualified for access to any Kansas Criminal Justice Information System (KCJIS) data, and be free of any felony conviction or adjudication in this or any other state or in any military tribunal.

1. Experience: The individual in this position must be skilled in working with juvenile offenders and their families to advocate for youth and families, build relations and communication with other professionals in and out of the agency. Problem areas include and are not limited to multi-agency issues, scheduling issues, implementing services, eliminating gaps in services and utilizing community resources. Must be comfortable working with juvenile offenders, businesses, community partners, problem solving, communicating with multiple parties, working with grant outcomes, taking initiative and multi-tasking.

1. Education: A bachelors degree from an accredited college or university in psychology, social work, criminal justice and/or corrections, sociology, counseling, human relations, or a related field is required.

1. Knowledge: Must have the ability to receive, interpret and follow verbal and written instructions. Required to read, write and speak English fluently with the ability to speak a foreign language helpful. This position requires comprehensive knowledge in juvenile corrections (arrest to termination), providing and working with agencies, businesses, community partners to assist youth in providing services by eliminating barriers and gaps in services. Must have good communication and record/data keeping and computer experience skills as well as the ability to convey and receive detailed information or important instructions to and from staff and extensive problem-solving skills.

1. Skills: Must be able to operate a vehicle, as well as office and communications equipment associated with this position.

1. Problem Solving: Problem solving is a frequent factor in this position.

1. Decision Making: Decision making is a frequent factor in dealing with the variance of responsibilities related to this position.

1. Supervisory: Incumbent performs rather autonomously.

1. Financial: Purchases are under the guidance of department policy. The Director has prime responsibility for budgetary procedures and grant programs of the department.

1. Interpersonal: Continual contact with other county departments, law enforcement agencies, other community providers and the public. Must conduct themselves in an ethical and professional manner.

1. Working Conditions: There are minimal adverse working conditions in the department facilities. Situations may occur where contacts with clients, families and others may be unpleasant. May be required to work evenings and weekends as needed.

1. Physical Requirements: Frequently required to lift objects weighing up to 30 pounds, extending from floor to 60 inches in height. May be required to run, crawl, climb, crouch and kneel. Requires sufficient visual acuity to read and write and operate office equipment. Requires sufficient hearing level to be able to deal with the public and communicate with others directly or by telephone. Due to the occasional situations involving a verbally or physically aggressive offender, the incumbent must be able to physically defend him or herself and/or subdue a violent offender.

Subject to criminal record history checks, physical examination and drug/alcohol screening prior to employment. This position is subject to a Kansas Bureau of Investigations background check, Kansas Child Abuse Registry and Kansas Adult Abuse Registry checks, and drivers license verification prior to initial employment, annually for the duration of employment, and whenever there is reasonable belief that the employees status has changed.

Employees hired after August 2018: Lyon County understands that a job analysis is being completed in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). One of the outcomes of the job analysis is the determination of one or more job specific tests that will either qualify or disqualify the post-offer or post-employment (fit for duty) candidate for the position.

For the Classification Series of LYON COUNTY: OFFICE PERSONNEL: The Company representative hereby acknowledges the following as valid physical requirements:

1. Employee lifts/carries 50 pounds occasionally (less than 33% of the time or 1-100 times per day).

1. Employee lifts/carries 25 pounds frequently (34%-66% of the time or 100-500 times per day).

1. Employee lifts/carries 10 pounds constantly (67%-100% of the time or over 500 times per day).

1. Employees position requires pushing a maximum force of 5 pounds.

1. Employees position requires pulling a maximum force of 5 pounds.

SAFE LIFTING CRITERIA:

1. Floor to knuckle: 45 lbs.

1. 12 to knuckle: 45lbs.

1. Knuckle to shoulder: 22.5 lbs.

1. Shoulder to overhead: 22.5 lbs.

1. Carry: 45 lbs.

1. Push: N/A

1. Pull: N/A

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: LIFT/CARRY:

Stand: O 10 lbs. or less: C

Walk: O 11-20 lbs.: F

Sit: O 21-50 lbs.: F

Handling: N 51-100: N

Reach Outward: O Over 100 lbs.: N

Reach above shoulder: O Push/Pull:

Climb: O 12 lbs. or less: C

Crawl: O 13-25 lbs.: F

Squat or kneel: O 26-40 lbs.: O

Bend: O 41-100 lbs.: N

N (not applicable) Activity is not applicable to this occupation.

O (Occasionally) Occupation requires this activity up to 33% of the time (0-2.5+hrs/day).

F (frequently) Occupation requires this activity from 33% - 66% of the time (2.5-5.5+hrs/day).

C (Constantly) Occupation requires this activity more than 66% of the time (5.5+ hrs. per day).

This job description has been examined for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). *The federal overtime provisions are contained in the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Unless exempt, employees covered by the Act must receive overtime pay for hours worked over 40 in a workweek at a rate not less than time and one-half their regular rates of pay.

Subject to criminal record history checks, physical examination, and drug/alcohol screening prior to employment.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION STATEMENT: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.