Careers-YCO

Announcement: Youth Corrections Officer 1

The Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections (ADJC) is committed to providing care and supervision with effective, efficient, and high quality rehabilitative and transformative services in support of our vision, mission, and values. The mission of the ADJC is to rehabilitate the youth in our care by providing evidence-based treatment, pro-social activities, education, and career training that will lead them to become productive, healthy, law-abiding members of society. It is our vision to be a nationally recognized leader that advances public safety through the rehabilitation of seriously delinquent youth.

WHAT DOES A YOUTH CORRECTIONS OFFICER (YCO) DO?

The job functions of a Youth Corrections Officer 1 include, but are not limited to the following:

• Mentoring, supervising, and directing incarcerated youth
• Role modeling positive behaviors
• Teaching life skills
• Assisting teachers with classroom management
• Transporting youth to daily activities
• Providing crisis intervention
• Providing youth a safe and secure environment
• Monitoring assigned unit for safety hazards or security violations
• Performing searches for weapons and contraband
• Conducting visitation inspections
• Updating logs, maintaining detailed records, and sharing information and reports

WHAT ARE THE QUALIFICATIONS?

In order to qualify for a Youth Corrections Officer 1 position, applicants must possess the following:

1. 18 years of age or older
2. High School Diploma or GED
3. A current valid Arizona Driver License*

* Please Note: Employees who drive on state business are subject to AZ motor vehicle record checks, and; must maintain their driver’s license and an acceptable driving record. Employees will be required to complete any required driver training as needed (see Arizona Administrative Code R2-10-207.12).

WHAT IS THE PAY?

The Youth Corrections Officer 1 position participates in a 4-Step Pay Plan:

The starting rate (Step 1) for a YCO is $22.50 per hour. Thereafter you will progress through the remaining pay steps, and your salary will increase on an annual basis as follows:

• Step 2 - $23.65 per hour
• Step 3 - $24.23 per hour
• Step 4 - $24.69 per hour

In addition to the 4-Step pay plan outlined above, all newly hired Youth Correctional Officer 1’s are entitled to the following:

• $3,000 Hiring Incentive (paid in two $1,500 payments after Academy graduation and six months of continued employment)
• Up to $3,000 Referral Incentive (receive an incentive for referring an individual who is successfully employed as a YCO; $1,000 per referral; up to 3 referrals per year)

DO I NEED TO HAVE ANY PRIOR EXPERIENCE OR TRAINING?

Applicants do not need to have any prior experience or training! ADJC will provide you with all the necessary training during our paid five-week Youth Corrections Officer Training Academy. Youth Corrections Officer Training Academy takes place in Phoenix at ADJC’s Adobe Mountain School location, and are typically held every five-weeks throughout the year. YCO Training Academy topics include, but are not limited to the following:

• Juvenile Corrections Procedures
• Youth Corrections Officer Skills
• Crisis Intervention
• Adolescent Treatment Issues
• Legal Issues in Juvenile Corrections

WHAT IS THE HIRING AND SCREENING PROCESS LIKE?

Once you apply for the Youth Corrections Officer 1 position, and meet the qualifications, a Recruiter will contact you to schedule a screening assessment date. Typically screening assessments are held every Tuesday at ADJC’s Central Office location and every last Saturday of the month. On the day of your assessment, you will be completing the following:

1. Interview
2. Screening Assessments
3. Drug Test Scheduling
4. Physical Exam Scheduling

Additionally, you will be given an overview on how to complete and submit your questionnaire for the Criminal Background Check.

WHAT ARE THE HOURS AND WORK LOCATION?

Adobe Mountain School (AMS) is a 24/7 Secure Care juvenile correctional facility that is fully accredited as a public education agency / school district. AMS is located approximately 19 miles north of downtown Phoenix, at the intersection of Interstate-17 and West Pinnacle Peak Road.

Work Hours: Youth Corrections Officers have two work shifts available:

• 1st Shift: 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

• 2nd Shift: 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.

Please Note: Shift and regular days off (RDOs) cannot be guaranteed and will be determined based on the business needs of the Adobe Mountain School.

Work Location: Adobe Mountain School 2800 West Pinnacle Peak Road - Phoenix, Arizona 85027

WHAT OTHER BENEFITS ARE OFFERED?

In addition to a comprehensive benefits package, employees are also entitled to the following:

Educational Benefits Include:

• ADJC has an educational partnership with Rio Salado College, which provides all graduates of the Youth Corrections Officer Training Academy, 20 college credits and a Certificate of Completion (CCL) in Juvenile Corrections!
• ADJC employees are entitled to $1,500 in tuition assistance per fiscal year (subject to funds availability)

Additional Benefits Include:

• Paid sick leave, 12 days per year with no carryover limits
• Paid vacation 13 days and 10 holidays per year
• Eligibility for performance based pay incentives (subject to funds availability)
• Eligibility for participation in the Employee Referral Program

Employee Wellness Plans:

• Health Impact Program - Earn up to $200 annually by participating in free preventative health screenings, immunizations, lifestyle / mindfulness classes, and physical activities
• All eligible ADJC employees can participate in the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), which includes 12 free mental health-counseling sessions per year
• Additionally EAP also offers available 24/7 support for work/life solutions, dependent/elder care, college planning, wills, legal guidance, financial resources, funeral planning and more

ARE THERE CAREER GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES?

As a Youth Corrections Officer 1, you will acquire knowledge, skills and abilities that can be used as the foundation to start a long-lasting career with ADJC. ADJC offers a variety of career growth opportunities in the areas of:

• Security
• Counseling and Programming
• Community Corrections (Parole)
• Investigations
• Legal Services

IS THERE A RETIREMENT PLAN?

The Youth Corrections Officer 1 position participates in the Corrections Officer Retirement Plan (CORP) (Member Handbook). CORP Tier 3 is a Defined Contribution, 401 (a) Retirement Plan (Member Video) that offers:

• Employer matched contributions
• Contributions made on a pre-tax basis
• Employees can choose investments that suit their goals and risk tolerance
• Employees are fully vested only after three years of service

HOW DO I KNOW IF THIS IS THE RIGHT CAREER FOR ME?

At ADJC we are seeking applicants who are committed to making a difference in the lives of Arizona’s youth. Those who are ready for a rewarding career, where they can work with like-minded professionals who are dedicated to rehabilitating Arizona’s youth. Pursuing a career as Youth Corrections Officer 1, can be challenging but also very rewarding. When deciding to choose this career path, its import to understand the following:

• This role can be stressful, so it’s important to remember to practice patience.
• Be dependable, your team’s success begins with you.
• Maintain adaptability, change can occur frequently in this role, so prepare yourself for a dynamic work environment.
• You are a role model for the youth you serve, so remember to lead by example.
• Use your voice, clear and consistent communication is essential in this role.
• Don’t be afraid to ask for help, at ADJC we are a team, and teams help each other.

Are you ready to be the difference?