Juvenile Counselor

Current employees: Please apply through the employee portal to be considered for this opportunity.

Pay Range:

$35.88 - $43.99 Hourly

Department:

Department of Community Justice (DCJ)

Job Type:

Regular Represented

Exemption Status:

United States of America (Non-Exempt)

Closing Date (Open Until Filled if No Date Specified):

February 17, 2026

The Opportunity:

THIS WORK MATTERS!

Do you want to help shape the next chapter for justice-involved youth and help them build a foundation for success?

Do you believe that all youth are capable of turning their lives around?

If you answered yes to these questions, this job may be for you!

The Department of Community Justice Juvenile Services Division (JSD) is seeking committed and compassionate Juvenile Counselors (JC) to join our team! This recruitment may be used to fill both bilingual English/Spanish language required and non-bilingual positions.

Juvenile Counselors (JCs) serve as essential navigators for at-risk youth and their families within the court system, operating under the legal framework of ORS 419A.012. JCs perform comprehensive and complex case management, evaluation, and supervision for at-risk youth and their families, ensuring community safety, accountability, and skill development.

Central to their work is the Juvenile Services Division’s evidence-based case management model, which emphasizes an integrative and holistic approach. JCs do not simply monitor behavior; they actively foster long-term change by tailoring strategies to a youth’s specific strengths, cultural background, and environmental needs. By building strong relationships with community partners and engaging families to provide proactive support, JCs aim to balance accountability with the skill development necessary for a youth's successful transition out of the justice system.

The duties include but are not limited to:

• Assist youth and families through the pre- and post-adjudication process in the court system using best practices of intake, investigation and supervision.
• Provide probation supervision for low, medium, and high-risk youth, utilizing evidence-based strategies tailored to each youth’s issues, strengths, needs, culture, and environmental influences.
• Be responsible for youth on diversion and probation, ensuring strict compliance with a Judge’s court order.
• Monitor multiple dockets, conduct thorough evaluations and make critical recommendations regarding a youth’s placement during the court process.
• Assess and make recommendations to the court to address the youth's and family's needs, including for youth found within the jurisdiction or in violation of release or probation conditions.
• Provide evaluation, investigation, counseling, case planning, social services, and adjudication for juveniles and their families.
• Effective records management and documentation of all contacts with youth.
• Actively engage the family to provide proactive support and guidance during and after the termination of probation services.
• Utilize the Juvenile Services Division’s prescribed, evidence-based, integrative supervision and case management model.
• Maintain frequent direct contact through office, home, and community visits or other youth community events to implement specialized programs and foster long-term behavioral change.
• Transport youth when needed between detention locations, court or placements.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with community partners, including local law enforcement, to ensure a holistic approach to meeting the needs of juveniles and their families.

The Department of Community Justice is looking for experienced case managers who can demonstrate proficiency in the following areas:

• Knowledge of the juvenile justice system and court process.
• Knowledge of the symptoms of physical and mental disorders, substance abuse and adjustment problems of justice involved youth.
• Knowledge of the theories, methods and techniques of social casework, counseling, motivational and strength-based interviewing, child psychology and adolescent development.
• Knowledge and experience working with youth and families from culturally diverse communities.
• Appreciation and understanding of family dynamics, gender issues, cultural diversity, gender non-conforming persons and individual differences.
• Familiarity with community resources available to support youth and their families.
• Exceptional collaboration, communication and interpersonal skills and an ability to build relationships with diverse clients and communities and interdisciplinary teams, including legal, law enforcement, and therapeutic partners.
• Highly self-reliant, extremely organized, skilled in time management, good at coordinating, prioritizing and distributing information.
• Ability to prepare well written reports to the Court.
• Extreme flexibility in terms of both work style and hours, and comfortable delivering services in client homes.
• Bilingual Spanish/English language proficiency (speak/read/write) for bilingual Spanish language required positions only.
• Skilled in the areas of Multnomah County Core Competencies

ABOUT THE JUVENILE SERVICES DIVISION:

The Juvenile Services Division (JSD) ensures that the juvenile system will protect the public, provide fair and equitable accountability and deliver cost-effective, evidence-based services to system-involved youth and their families. JSD provides a continuum of juvenile services ranging from informal diversion, pre-adjudication support, formal probation, shelter care, electronic monitoring, mental health assessments and care coordination, outpatient and detention.

The Juvenile Services Division provides community supervision and diversion services for high-risk youth, and operates the Donald E. Long Juvenile Detention Facility. The Division is committed to reducing ethnic and racial disparities in juvenile justice, both increasing resources for at-risk youth and ceasing disparities in their treatment.

Come Find Your Why? (video)

WORKFORCE EQUITY

At Multnomah County we are committed to maintaining an effective, respectful and inclusive workplace. We value collaborative problem solving and strive for continuous improvement. We strongly believe in workforce equity, diversity and inclusion. Visit our Workforce Equity Strategies Plan (WESP) to see where Multnomah County is headed with these values.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY JUSTICE

Vision ~ Community Safety through Positive Change

The Department of Community Justice (DCJ) is recognized as a national leader in both adult and juvenile community justice. DCJ routinely consults and makes use of evidence-based practices in our program and policy development. The Department's commitment to data-informed decision-making has led DCJ to make smart investments of taxpayer dollars in supervision, sanctions, and services for the county's highest risk and highest need justice-involved individuals. DCJ makes long-term investments in its employees through the provision of education and training. The Department believes that in order to enhance public safety we must work collaboratively with the judiciary, law enforcement, schools, treatment agencies, and the community.

The Department shares information with community members, partners, and staff to keep communities safe by preventing and reducing crime and routinely evaluating which local policies support best practices. DCJ operates 24 hours a day, with nearly 650 regular, on-call, and temporary employees. The Department supervises justice-involved individuals and those defendants requiring pretrial services. DCJ's Juvenile Services Division operates the Donald E. Long Juvenile Detention Facility and is responsible for youth on formal and informal community supervision.

More general information about the Department of Community Justice including our mission, vision, and strategies can be found at:www.multco.us/dcj.

Serving the Public, Even During Disasters

Everyday, Multnomah County staff work together to serve as a safety net for our communities. During a disaster, this safety net becomes even more critical. All County employees have a role in serving the public during inclement weather, natural disaster, or other types of community emergency response. During these emergency responses, while typically there begins with a call for volunteers, county employees may ultimately be reassigned from their current position to a role in the emergency response in order to support the critical needs presented by our communities. For more information, please visit the Disaster Service Worker Information page.

Internal candidates:After you have applied, you will receive an acknowledgement task and the Oregon Veteran Preference Questionnaire in your Workday inbox. Your application as an internal candidate is not complete until you complete and submit these tasks in Workday.

TO QUALIFY

We will consider any combination of relevant work experience, volunteering, education, and transferable skills as qualifying unless an item or section is labeled required. Please be clear and specific about how your background is relevant. For details about how we typically screen applications, review our overview of the selection process page.

Minimum Qualifications/Transferable Skills*:

• Bachelor’s degree with major coursework in child psychology, social work, counseling, criminal justice or related field or equivalent years of related experience; AND
• Two (2) years of professional counseling and/or case management experience working with clients in social service or rehabilitative setting and includes one (1) year of working with high risk and/or high need youth, clients and families; AND
• Valid driver’s license in good standing; AND
• Proficient in Bilingual Spanish/English language (for Bilingual Spanish/English language requirement positions only. Final candidate must successfully pass the proficiency assessment through our language testing vendor.); AND
• Must pass a thorough background investigation which includes, but is not limited to a review of applicant’s criminal, civil, driving, military, educational and employment history prior to employment.

Preferred Qualifications/Transferable Skills*: You do not need to have the following preferred qualifications/transferable skills to qualify. However, keep in mind we may consider some or all of the following when identifying the most qualified candidates. Please clearly explain on your application how you meet any of the following preferred qualifications/transferable skills.

• Two (2) or more years of professional counseling and/or case management experience working with clients in social service or rehabilitative setting and includes one (1) year of working with justice involved and/or complex trauma youth, clients and families;
• Knowledge of the Juvenile Justice System
• Experience with Juvenile Justice Information System (JJIS)
• Experience using evidence based practices such as Motivational Interviewing (MI), and Effective Practices In Community Supervision (EPICS) or related techniques
• Experience writing reports to convey information clearly, accurately and efficiently
• Ability to analyze information and provide appropriate recommendation
• Training and experience working with youth and families from culturally diverse communities
• Understand the stages of change (Prochaska and DiClemente) or related models
• Experience practicing trauma informed care and approach
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Experience setting SMART goals or using related methods
• Proficiency in using case management software, Microsoft Office Suite, Google Suite or other standard office software and equipment

*Transferable skills: Your transferable skills are any skills you have gained through education, work experience (including the military) or life experience that are relevant for this position. Be sure to describe any transferable skills on your application and clearly explain how they apply to this position.

SCREENING AND EVALUATION

The Application Packet: Please be sure to provide all the required materials below in your application submission:

• Online application (required):Explain all related experience (paid or unpaid) and training in the education and work experience sections of the application.
• Attach a resume (required):Please indicate how you meet the required minimum qualifications. Attach the document to the on-line application. Be sure to explain in detail, including dates, all related work experience, paid or unpaid.
• Cover Letter (required):Please explain why you are interested in applying for this position and describe how you meet the minimum qualifications and any preferred qualifications of the position. In your description, please include your case management experience in a juvenile justice, social services or rehabilitative setting.

The Selection Process:For details about how we typically screen applications, review our overview of the selection process page. We expect to evaluate candidates for this recruitment as follows:

• Initial review of minimum qualifications
• Written exercise, reviewed and scored by a panel
• An evaluation of application materials or oral examination to identify the most qualified candidates
• Consideration of top candidates/Interviews
• Must pass a thorough background investigation which includes, but is not limited to a review of applicant’s criminal, civil, driving, military, educational and employment history prior to employment.
• Language proficiency assessment (for Bilingual Spanish/English language required positions only)

Equal Pay:Please be advised that the pay range listed for this position is intended to provide general guidance on the earning potential for the role. However, actual compensation will be determined in accordance with the Oregon Equal Pay Law and will take into account factors such as the candidate's relevant experience and education. Candidates should expect that initial offers will be made within the listed pay range and may not be at or near the top of the range.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Type of Position: This hourly position may be eligible for overtime.

Type: Represented by AFSCME Local 88

FLSA: Non-Exempt

Schedule: Monday – Friday, 40 hours per week

Location: Juvenile Justice Complex, 1401 NE 68th Ave., Portland OR 97213

Telework: This position is NOT eligible for hybrid or routine on-site/telework subject to the Multnomah County Telework Policy and based on the Department’s business needs. This position is considered Ad-hoc. The exact amount of on-site/telework and schedule will be discussed with the hiring manager during time of offer. Telework locations cannot be located outside of Oregon or Washington.

Multnomah County offers a comprehensive benefit package to all eligible employees. A few highlights include:

• Health insurance (medical, dental, vision)
• Defined benefit retirement plan (pension); Multnomah County pays for the employee's share of the state retirement contribution (6% of wages)
• Generous paid leave (vacation, holidays, sick, parental, military, etc...)
• Life insurance, short-term and long-term disability insurance
• Optional deferred compensation and flexible spending accounts
• Free annual Trimet bus pass
• Alternative wellness resources
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill current and future full-time, part-time, regular, temporary, limited duration, and on-call positions. Application information may be used throughout the entire selection process. This process is subject to change without notice.

In accordance with Oregon Law, Multnomah County is not collecting school attendance dates in the initial application process; please do not include these dates in your resume, cover letter and other application materials.

Diversity and Inclusion: At Multnomah County, we don't just accept difference; we value it and support it to create a culture of dignity and respect for our employees.

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran or protected veteran status, genetic information and other legally protected characteristics. The EEO Know Your Rights poster is available for your reference. Multnomah County is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor. We request priority protected veteran referrals.

Veterans’ Preference: Under Oregon Law, qualifying veterans may apply for veterans’ preference. Review our veterans’ preference page for details about eligibility and how to apply.

Accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act: We gladly provide reasonable accommodation to anyone whose specific disability prevents them from completing an application or participating in this recruitment process. Please contact the recruiter below in advance to request assistance. Individuals with hearing or speech impairments may contact the recruiter through the Telecommunications Relay Service by dialing 711.

Questions?

Recruiter:

Yulee Kim-Whetstone

Email:

yulee.kimwhetstone@multco.us

Phone:

+1 (971) 3490804

Application information may be used throughout the entire selection process. This process is subject to change without notice.

Disclaimer: This announcement is intended as a general descriptive recruitment guide and is subject to change. It does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract.

Job Profile:

6272 - Juvenile Counselor