Job No: 541929
Work Type: Full-time
Location: TUCSON
Categories: Law Enforcement/Detective/Corrections/Protective Services
DEPT OF JUVENILE CORRECTIONS Our vision is to make Arizona's community safer by delivering effective rehabilitative services to the young people entrusted to our care.
The mission of the Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections is to provide the young people in our care with evidence-based rehabilitative services that enhance their well-being and equip them with the skills and resources they need to thrive as successful members of society.
YOUTH TRANSITION SPECIALIST
Job Location:
Address: 400 W. Congress Suite 156
Tucson, AZ. 85701
Posting Details:
Salary: $58,804.30
Grade: 19
Closing Date: 07/09/2026
Job Summary:
The Youth Transition Specialist is responsible for delivering case management services and supporting juveniles in transition from Adobe Mountain School to community settings. This includes assisting with educational, vocational, employment, and treatment resources, while connecting juveniles and their families to community-based services. The Specialist serves as a liaison with key community partners, such as the Arizona Department of Economic Security (ADES), Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), contracted service providers, and the Arizona Department of Child Safety (ADCS). Additionally, the role may be involved in crisis interventions and assessments.
Job Duties:
Responsibilities include:
Travel to/from the ADJC-Adobe Mountain facility on a weekly or as needed basis also travel within Southern Arizona and is responsible for serving juvenile/operations across the Southern Arizona regions to include but not limited to: Pima, Cochise, Santa Cruz, Graham, Greenlee and Pinal county
Provide educational support at Adobe Mountain School to establish relationships between academic programming and post release educational or vocational options
Attends multidisciplinary team meetings, release boards, child and family team meetings, transition and special staff meetings, specialized education plan meetings and other professional meetings with human service providers
Team work is essential. Must work well with others and able to collaborate in a team setting
Conducts case reviews and follow up with case managers to ensure program integrity
Complete initial agency Family Questionnaire (in home assessments) that are assigned to parole and creates applicable written documentation
Coordinates required services to juveniles and families on parole in the community
Assist in transitional planning for juveniles and young adults released to parole or discharged from ADJC
Communicates, interacts and works with internal and external employees, service providers, community agencies, program delivery and entities
Interact with internal and external staff and community partners
Statistical gathering and reporting on program services
Case management, documentation and data entry
Drive on State business
Performs other duties as assigned
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs):
Knowledge of:
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
AZ State Medicaid program, eligibility and services
Local, state and federal programs and resources
Research methodologies and report preparation
Best practices in community resources
Computer operations and programs including Google Suite and Microsoft Office
ADJC policies and procedures
Skill in:
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 potential job placements for youth in the community
Collaborate with community providers and various educational establishments
Establish linkages between academic coursework and post release educational or vocational options
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
Selective Preference(s):
The preferred candidate will possess:
A Post-Secondary Degree in Social Services OR; 60 hours of college credits and two (2) years of experience working with at risk youth in a secured or social services arena.
Bilingual skills in Spanish/English preferred but not required
Pre-Employment Requirements:
Employment is contingent on the selected applicant passing a comprehensive background investigation, drug screening and pre-placement physical examination.
If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function on the job, then 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).
Benefits:
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
Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave program here (https://hr.az.gov/about/resources/family-leave-expansion) . For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page (https://benefitoptions.az.gov/jobseekers)
Retirement :
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 current State of Arizona employees: Please contact our Human Resources Office at employment@azdjc.gov if
you are in a different retirement plan than the one indicated above.
Contact Us:
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.
