Behavioral Health Specialist Assessment Court Liaison (Social Work/Counselor IV) - Denver

Posting number: IKA 07090 8/4/2026

Department: Colorado Department of Human Services

Division: OCYF (Office of Children, Youth & Families)

Job classification: Social Work/Counselor IV

Posting type: Open

Categories: Mental Health, Social Services, Human Services, Counseling, Social Sciences

Summary

The primary duties of this position are located within 30 miles of the state border; therefore, this position is exempt from the residency requirements. Applications will be considered from residents and non-residents of Colorado.

This position is open only to Colorado state residents.

Please note: This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies.

Division of Youth Services - Youth Services Central Administration Office

 

About the Division of Youth Services:  
The Division of Youth Services (DYS) provides a continuum of residential and non-residential services that encompass juvenile detention, commitment, and parole. DYS is the agency statutorily mandated to provide for the care and supervision of youth committed by the District Court to the custody of the Colorado Department of Human Services. The Division operates fifteen secure facilities that serve youth between the ages of 10 and 21 who are pre-adjudicated, sentenced, or committed. The Division also contracts with numerous private residential and non-residential service providers throughout the State.  For pre-adjudicated youth, the Division is also responsible for the management and oversight of Colorado Youth Detention Continuum, a State-funded, locally administered program that provides services to youth at risk of further progressing into the juvenile justice system. In addition to residential programming, the Division administers juvenile parole services throughout the State.
 
We invite you to explore the DYS website and learn about the services provided to youth, families, and local communities in the State of Colorado at: https://www.colorado.gov/cdhs/dys

Examples of duties

You are required to work at your assigned work location during your scheduled work times. 

Please note: Work arrangements are subject to change at any time

Summary of Work Unit:

The purpose of the Division of Youth Services (DYS) Assessment Unit is to provide a safe, secure, and healthy environment for all juveniles committed to the Department of Human Services, Division of Youth Services (DYS), while conducting comprehensive, multidisciplinary assessments. Services include, but are not limited to, the administration and interpretation of criminogenic risk, mental health, substance use, and sex offense–specific screening and assessment instruments to inform treatment recommendations and ensure efficient, effective service delivery. The unit also provides specialized sex offense services and treatment needs, as well as coordination with internal and external stakeholders.

Principal functions include identification of criminogenic risk factors; evaluation of mental health functioning; determination of substance use treatment needs; assessment of individual strengths and responsivity factors; evaluation of sexual behavior concerns; and development of recommendations for placement type and individualized service plan goals. Additionally, the unit serves a court liaison function, facilitating communication with judicial partners, attorneys, and community agencies; preparing and presenting DYS Assessment and treatment services

Evaluation services are delivered through a multidisciplinary team decision-making process that incorporates family input and community support. All assessment services are empirically supported and aligned with best practice standards established by the U.S. Department of Justice, the National Institute for Correctional Mental Health Care, and the CDHS Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division.

About the Position:

The Behavioral Health Specialist Assessment Court Liaison serves as an on-site assessment subject matter expert within the regional Assessment team. A primary aim of this position is to provide supervision and oversight to assure quality of work product, consistency across regions, and effective communication/delivery of new practices. This position regularly completes assessments and works within a multidisciplinary team to offer empirically supported criminogenic, mental health, trauma, and substance abuse evaluation services to the youth and families that DYS serves.