Youth Specialist - On-call

Youth Specialist - On-call

Salary

$26.61 Hourly

Location

Juvenile Detention Center 1501 Cedar Street NE Grand Rapids

Job Type

Temporary

Job Number

2608-662-0003-TEMP

Department

Child Care - Circuit Court

Opening Date

08/14/2026

Closing Date

8/28/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Job Responsibilities

Are you pulled to make an impact in a young persons life? Have you been to school for Criminal Justice, Psychology, Sociology, or another Social Science but not sure what your career path will look like? This position might be the one for you.

A unique opportunity exists for individuals to work with at-risk youth. Kent County Juvenile Detention is a 98-bed secured facility where juveniles are held pending some form of court action. 24 of the 98 beds have been set aside for Residential programming. We are seeking candidates for On-Call Youth Specialist, performing guidance, counseling, behavioral observation, and custodial care for residents of the facility. The successful candidate will have the aptitude to effectively interact with at-risk children in a positive, patient, and caring manner, while maintaining appropriate discipline and structure.

On-Call Youth Specialist is a non-benefited, flexible position that allows for an employee to be scheduled for up to three shifts per week (please note, 80 hours of training must be completed prior to being eligible for on-call work and a minimum number of hours is not guaranteed).

• For the supplemental question regarding availability, please indicate the hours you will be available to work for each day of the week. Weekend availability is preferred, and shifts can and will be scheduled in advance, based on the hours of availability you provide. We can accommodate staff who are available for all three shifts, with the greatest need on 2nd shift (2:45pm - 10:45pm).

The following are typical daily tasks for a Youth Specialist:

• Provides individual and group orientations and guidance, ensuring that youth in detention participate in educational, counseling, treatment, and other programs.
• Inspects living and sleeping quarters to ensure that conditions are safe, sanitary, and appropriate.
• Organizes, supervises, and participates to a limited extent in recreational and other group activities, including work programs.
• Maintains logs of observed behaviors and participation in programs for review.
• Supervises residents in the care and maintenance of grounds and common areas and in other non-technical work incidental to the institutions operation.
• Responds to crisis situations with appropriate intervention techniques and restrains/secures individual residents as necessary to maintain the safety and security of all facility residents.
• May transport and/or escort residents to and from various activities.
• Facilitates daily Learning Groups based on the Cognitive Behavior Training model, to include, effectively managing small and medium group dynamics.

Important additional information:

• Candidates selected for hire are required to satisfactorily pass a pre-hire physical and a background investigation including criminal history, driving record, MDHHS central registry clearance and fingerprint background check.
• Detention is a 24/7 operation and staff are considered essential workers.
• Employees in this position may be tasked with mandated overtime if necessitated by low staff-levels on a given day. Typically for a 2nd shift employee, this would require working the 3rd shift after completing your 2nd shift hours.

Minimum Qualifications

Requires a minimum of thirty semester credit hours or equivalent in Sociology, Psychology, Child Development, Criminal Justice or related field, or a High School Diploma/GED combined with a minimum of 2 years demonstrably successful work experience in a child/youth care facility.

Must be able to gain the respect and cooperation of youth and to interact in a positive, patient and caring manner. Must be able to respond to and reestablish order in crisis situations, which may include physically restraining youth. Requires knowledge of recreation leadership and a variety of games, sports and crafts.

Requires valid, unrestricted drivers license.

Additional Information

• Notices will come via email so please be sure to monitor the email address indicated on your application*

Dont take our word for it that Kent County is a great place to work and thrive. Watch this video on why our staff have made us their employer of choice.

WHY WORK AT KENT COUNTY?

Invest In Your Future

You can build a secure, lasting career here with benefits that support you and your family.

Make a Difference

Be a part of something meaningful and witness the direct impact of what you do.

Be Part of a Team

Teamwork allows us to achieve together what none of us could do alone.

Lead with Integrity

Be part of a workplace that values honesty, transparency, and doing the right thing.

01

Do you have a minimum of thirty semester credit hours or equivalent in Sociology, Psychology, Child Development, Criminal Justice or related field? (If yes, please attach transcripts or order a copy to submit at a later date)

• Yes
• No

02

Are you able and willing to work weekends? Weekend shifts are Friday through Monday with a double shift during that period of time. This may include 1st, 2nd or 3rd shift.

• Yes
• No

03

This position is On-Call, please select all applicable available days and shifts below:

• Monday- 1st shift
• Monday- 2nd shift
• Monday- 3rd shift
• Tuesday - 1st shift
• Tuesday - 2nd shift
• Tuesday - 3rd shift
• Wednesday - 1st shift
• Wednesday - 2nd shift
• Wednesday - 3rd shift
• Thursday - 1st shift
• Thursday - 2nd shift
• Thursday - 3rd shift
• Friday - 1st shift
• Friday - 2nd shift
• Friday - 3rd shift
• Saturday - 1st shift
• Saturday - 2nd shift
• Saturday - 3rd shift
• Sunday - 1st shift
• Sunday - 2nd shift
• Sunday - 3rd shift
• Holiday - 1st shift
• Holiday - 2nd shift
• Holiday - 3rd shift

04

Do you possess a valid, unrestricted drivers license?

• Yes
• No

Required Question

Employer Kent County

Address 300 Monroe Ave. NW

Grand Rapids, Michigan, 49503

Phone 616-632-7440

1-800-386-4484

Website http://agency.governmentjobs.com/kentcountymi/default.cfm