Juvenile Court Adolescent & Family Therapist

Forsyth County Government is committed to providing quality services to our community.

Job Description

ANNUAL SALARY: $81,996.00 - $108,605.00

Purpose of Classification

Under general supervision, provides counseling services to juveniles under court jurisdiction and makes recommendations to the Court and necessary referrals to other agencies or professionals.

Essential Functions

The following duties are normal for this position. The omission of specific statements of certain duties does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this classification. Other duties may be required and assigned.

Provides individual, family, and group counseling to juveniles and their families; assesses client needs and recommends appropriate treatment options; and conducts psychosocial assessments, evaluations, and treatment planning.

Conducts clinical interviews to establish comprehensive case histories and determine client eligibility for counseling and related programs. Reviews referral case histories to assess presenting needs and identify appropriate levels of care.

Collaborates in the development and implementation of individualized treatment modalities. Evaluates client progress in resolving identified problems and achieving defined therapeutic objectives, making modifications to treatment approaches as clinically indicated.

Facilitates referrals to appropriate mental health, substance use, or social service agencies based on comprehensive evaluation of client case histories, presenting circumstances, and identified needs.

Maintains an active caseload of individual and family clients while co-facilitating multi-family group therapy sessions. Provides individual counseling services to court-involved juveniles enrolled at Gateway Academy Alternative School and Forsyth Academy.

Identifies emerging clinical trends within the caseload and develops targeted therapeutic group interventions to address presenting issues, including truancy, substance use, and family-related concerns.

Serves as the primary clinical liaison between Gateway Academy and the Juvenile Court, facilitating communication and coordination of services for court-involved students

Participates in multidisciplinary family team meetings with partnering agencies including the Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS), Forsyth County Schools, the Truancy Panel, and the Student Attendance and School Climate Committee to ensure coordinated service delivery for court-involved youth.

Attends court hearings and provides relevant clinical information as required. Maintains active participation in continuing education and professional development activities to fulfill licensure requirements and stay current with evolving clinical practices.

Interprets and applies applicable federal, state, and local regulations, procedures, and guidelines governing the delivery of human services to ensure compliance and best practice standards.

Operates with a high degree of professional autonomy under general supervisory direction, exercising broad clinical discretion and independent initiative in managing complex caseloads and completing work assignments.

Analyzes and interprets conflicting or incomplete clinical and administrative data to inform decision-making regarding long-range goals, priorities, policy interpretation, and case planning. Communicates findings and recommendations through court testimony, written correspondence, and direct consultation with relevant stakeholders.

Additional Functions

Recommends and assists in implementing corrective actions related to problem areas in juvenile cases. May supervise and/or train subordinate human services and clinical personnel. Performs other related duties as required.

The duties and responsibilities listed above are for the purpose of determining a common set of minimum qualifications for all positions in this class. They may not include all essential job functions required.

Minimum Qualifications

Master's degree from an accredited college or university in a mental health-related field (e. g., counseling, social work, marriage and family therapy, education, or psychology), supplemented by a minimum of two (2) years of clinical experience in counseling, crisis intervention, anger management, mental status examinations, and individual, group, and family therapy. Must hold a current, active license as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Master of Social Work (LMSW-ACP), or Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) at the time of hire.

Must maintain a favorable background investigation and clear a pre-employment drug screening. Must possess a valid driver's license. Must demonstrate knowledge of professional mental health counseling practices, adolescent developmental stages, psychiatric diagnoses and psychotropic medications, and safety procedures including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and First Aid.

Performance Aptitudes

Data Utilization: Requires the ability to review, classify, categorize, prioritize, and/or analyze data. Includes exercising discretion in determining data classification, and in referencing such analysis to established standards for the purpose of recognizing actual or probable interactive effects and relationships.

Human Interaction: Requires the ability to apply principles of persuasion and/or influence over others in coordinating activities of a project, program, or designated area of responsibility.

Equipment, Machinery, Tools, and Materials Utilization: Requires the ability to operate, maneuver and/or control the actions of equipment, machinery, tools, and/or materials used in performing essential functions.

Verbal Aptitude: Requires the ability to utilize a wide variety of reference, descriptive, advisory and/or design data and information.

Mathematical Aptitude: Requires the ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division; the ability to calculate decimals and percentages; the ability to utilize principles of fractions; and the ability to interpret graphs.

Functional Reasoning: Requires the ability to apply principles of rational systems; to interpret instructions furnished in written, oral, diagrammatic, or schedule form; and to exercise independent judgment to adopt or modify methods and standards to meet variations in assigned objectives.

Situational Reasoning: Requires the ability to exercise judgment, decisiveness and creativity in situations involving evaluation of information against measurable or verifiable criteria.

ADA Compliance

Physical Ability: Tasks require the ability to exert light physical effort in sedentary to light work, but which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of light weight (5-10 pounds). Tasks may involve extended periods of time at a keyboard or work station.

Sensory Requirements: Some tasks require the ability to perceive and discriminate visual cues or signals. Some tasks require the ability to communicate orally.

Environmental Factors: Essential functions are regularly performed without exposure to adverse environmental conditions.

Forsyth County, Georgia, is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the County will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

Forsyth County Government is an equal opportunity employer.