JOB TITLE: Director of Juvenile Diversion
REPORTS TO : Chief of the Juvenile Unit
COMPENSATION : $70,000; commensurate with experience
FLSA STATUS : Full-Time / Exempt
POSITION PROFILE:
The Director of Juvenile Diversion (Director) is responsible for the day-to-day operation of juvenile diversion programming, oversight of diversion staff, and program expansion in Suffolk County. Additionally, the Director is responsible for the oversight of data collection and analysis on all delinquency complaints issued out of the Juvenile Courts in Suffolk County.
The Juvenile Unit of the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office handles all juveniles criminally charged in Boston, Chelsea, Winthrop, and Revere. Over sixty percent of all juveniles charged in Suffolk County are diverted away from the justice system. The Juvenile Alternative Resolution (JAR) Program works with the highest risk and highest need juveniles in this population, who require the most support. The Program uses a multi-systemic approach, utilizing community organizations, to assist SCDAO’s diversion efforts by meeting the needs of these youth in the community. The Director, in addition to supervising the diversion staff and overseeing their cases, maintains a caseload of approximately 50 JAR participants, providing comprehensive case management, which includes but is not limited to: (1) Conducting separate initial intakes/interviews with youth, their guardian(s), DCF, school, and existing service providers; (2) Running the YLS/CMI 2.0 Risk/Needs Assessment; (3) Researching, connecting and coordinating with various community based organizations to determine appropriate service referral options; (4) Creating an individualized service plan based on the youth’s risks, needs and strengths; (5) Making referrals to appropriate community based partners for services; (6) Implementing, monitoring and enforcing the service plan and conditions imposed; (7) Coordinating with all service providers and state/city agencies involved with the youth/family; (8) Proving support and assistance to the family as a whole; and (9) Conducting reassessments and ongoing evaluation of the effectiveness of the service plan on the juvenile.
The Director works diligently to develop and strengthen partnerships with community organizations and has years of experience with youth-serving programs in the City of Boston, as well as experience working with a diverse population of at-risk youth.
Per SCDAO’s vaccine mandate, as a condition of employment, successful applicants will be required to have received COVID-19 vaccination or an approved exemption as of their start date. Details on demonstrating compliance with this requirement will be provided to applicants selected for employment.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
• Supervise juvenile diversion staff and diversion caseloads.
• Assign JAR cases to Juvenile Diversion Coordinators.
• Maintain an individual caseload of 30-50 JAR participants.
• Provide comprehensive case management of JAR Diversion participants.
• Conduct the YLS/CMI 2.0 Risk/Needs Assessment on diverted youth.
• Develop individualized service delivery plans to address the risk factors and needs of each JAR participant.
• Make referrals to appropriate community based organizations for each youth and family.
• Implement, monitor, and enforce the service plan and conditions imposed, while providing support and reassessing the needs and goals of that JAR youth during their diversionary period.
• Oversee the implementation of individualized service plans for each JAR participant in the entire JAR Program.
• Develop and maintain partnerships with community partners and youth serving organizations.
• Collect and compile statistics on all delinquency complaints issued out of the Juvenile Courts in Suffolk County and assist in conducting analysis of the data.
• Proliferate statistics and success metrics to ensure community and stakeholder buy-in of the JAR Program.
• Review police reports, school records, criminal records, and any other documents relevant to assessing and managing the juvenile’s needs.
• Attend court as needed to meet with the juvenile, their family and attorney.
• Work and communicate effectively with law enforcement, court personnel, Department of Children and Families (DCF), school staff and defense attorneys.
• Schedule appointments with the juvenile and family to conduct intake, assessment, and screening.
• Follow-up with juvenile and their family on a consistent and ongoing basis until diversionary period is complete.
• Work with Victim Witness Advocates to ensure that any victims have a voice during all phases of the diversion process.
• Maintain documentation of case progress.
• Attend meetings as they relate to youth services, monitoring and compliance.
• Attend various community meetings.
• Perform related duties as required.
OTHER DUTIES:
• Sit on boards and committees to open further opportunities for diversion programming.
• Actively participate in projects and initiatives to benefit at-risk and system-involved youth.
• Expand juvenile diversion programming options.
• Public speaking engagements to promote and advocate for diversionary efforts.
• Seek diversion funding opportunities through grant writing, foundation opportunities and partnership building.
• Interviewing and hiring of JAR diversion personnel.
• Provide technical assistance to other counties and agencies developing and implementing diversion programming and statistical collection initiatives.
• Attending required training and other trainings relevant to Office functions.
• Attend required supervision and staff meetings regularly.
• Become familiar with and follow the provisions of the Office Personnel Policies.
• Become familiar and model conformance with the Massachusetts Rules of Professional Conduct.
• Exercise respectful and professional behavior and communication with the public, judicial and law enforcement personnel, and office
• Complete work assignments in a timely, accurate and efficient manner.
• Other related duties as assigned.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:
Supervise juvenile diversion staff and their handling of the above mentioned functions and duties.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
Ability to sit and stand for extended periods of time.
TRAVEL:
Frequent travel to courts within Suffolk County and the Commonwealth required. Travel to meet with families, as well as other community partners may be required.
EEO STATEMENT:
The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Qualifications:
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
Required:
• Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, Criminology, Social Work, Psychology, or related field.
• Knowledge of the Juvenile Justice and MA Trial Court systems and proceedings.
• Experience working with diverse populations of at-risk, system-involved youth in juvenile justice, child welfare, behavioral health, or related field.
• Ability to creatively solve problems and thrive in a high stress environment.
• Ability to work as part of a team.
Preferred:
• Master’s Degree preferred with a focus in Social Work, Psychology, Criminology, or Criminal Justice.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience working with diverse populations of at-risk, system-involved youth in the juvenile justice, child welfare, behavioral health, or related field.
• Considerable knowledge of casework principles and methods.
• Considerable knowledge of youth-serving organizations in Suffolk County.
• Considerable knowledge of community based organizations and service providers’ capacity to provide services and resources to youth with specific needs.
• Knowledge of a second language, such as Spanish or Haitian-Creole.
• Prior experience with the use of Risk/Needs Assessment Tools.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Statistical collection and analysis experience.