State of Maryland

A Military Youth Counselor Supervisor is the supervisory level of work providing counseling and direct services for juvenile cadets enrolled in a voluntary quasi-military residential program operated by the Military Department.  Employees in this classification oversee and implement group and individual cadet counseling activities to encourage and assist juveniles in adopting and maintaining positive life skills.  Employees in this classification supervise lower-level Military Youth Counselors.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from the Director of Maryland National Guard Freestate Challenge Program or other designated administrator.  Employees will be required to remain calm in stressful situations involving agitated, irate or overwrought juveniles and family members.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work Sections of the class specification.

The Military Youth Counselor Supervisor is differentiated from the Military Youth Counselor II in that the Military Youth Counselor Supervisor has full supervisory responsibility for lower-level Military Youth Counselors while the Military Youth Counselor II performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.  The Military Youth Counselor Supervisor is differentiated from the Military Youth Counselor Program Supervisor in that the Military Youth Counselor Program Supervisor has supervisory responsibility for lower-level Military Youth Counselors plus programmatic responsibility for planning, directing and coordinating all direct services and counseling for the Recruitment, Placement and Mentoring Program.  

Supervises lower-level Military Youth Counselors;

Trains and provides direction to subordinate staff on the practices and protocols of the Maryland National Guard Freestate Challenge Academy and the behavioral modification counseling methods used to encourage and assist juveniles in adopting and maintaining positive life skills;

Monitors staff activities to prioritize workload, identify cadet progress and provide direction and guidance on cadet counseling needs and goals;

Monitors and evaluates case records in the automated database system to ensure the accurate, timely and complete documentation of case activities and files;

Reviews and approves staff correspondence, reports and recommendations for the appropriate course of action and viable alternatives in cadet counseling activities;

Develops course curriculum for group classroom behavioral modification counseling sessions based upon requirements set by the National Challenge Program;

Develops and recommends the creation and revision of standard operating procedures for juvenile cadet counseling activities;

Prepares and recommends purchase requisitions for supplies and equipment as needed;

Provides individual or group behavioral modification counseling to juvenile cadets to encourage and assist juvenile cadets in adopting and maintaining positive life skills, such as, anger management, decision-making, problem-solving, stress management, personal budgeting, and citizenship;

Assists juvenile cadets in identifying, developing, modifying and using their potential capabilities for taking care of their social, health, emotional, behavioral and economic needs and problems;

Advises new cadets of program procedures, protocols, rules and requirements, develops individual cadet goals and objectives, and monitors cadets’ activities and performance to identify and address individual cadet problems and needs and evaluate progress;

Assesses problems that may occur in cadet residences, field and training environments and classroom settings or in emergency and crisis situations, and makes appropriate contacts and referrals, and provides limited crisis intervention services as necessary;

Attends in-service training on relevant topics, such as crisis prevention, suicide prevention, gang related behaviors, drug abuse, and positive life skills, in order to maintain knowledge of juvenile social patterns of behavior, behavior modification counseling methods, and training requirements of the National Guard Freestate Challenge Program;

Consults with parents, legal guardians, schools, public and private agency personnel to obtain or clarify information, explain National Guard Freestate Challenge Academy procedures and expectations and coordinate services;

Prepares reports and make recommendations on the appropriate course of action concerning eligibility issues, incidents, rule violations or emergencies;

Prepares and maintains documentation and records on juveniles’ progress in database system;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of the principles, techniques and practices associated with providing direct services and behavioral modification counseling to address juvenile anti-social patterns of behavior;

Knowledge of individual and group juvenile behaviors;

Knowledge of emotional, social, economic and physical needs of juveniles;

Knowledge of the program requirements, procedures, rules, protocols and processes of the National Guard Freestate Challenge Academy;

Skill in interviewing juveniles and family members to obtain and clarify information and explain procedures and expectations;

Skill in conducting group and individual juvenile behavioral modification counseling such as, anger management, decision-making, problem-solving, personal budgeting and stress management;

Skill in preparing accurate and complete documents, correspondence, reports and narratives;

Ability to supervise and train lower-level Military Youth Counselors;

Ability to develop curriculum for group classroom behavioral counseling sessions;

Ability to assess juveniles’ circumstances to evaluate their strengths, weakness, environmental constraints and resources and develop individual goals and objectives;

Ability to identify and manage manipulative behavior demonstrated by juveniles;

Ability to work effectively with juveniles who have social, economic, emotional, or behavioral problems;

Ability to use computer systems to maintain case records, produce reports and access informational resources;

Ability to communicate effectively.

Education:   A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.

Experience: Two years of experience providing direct services and counseling to juveniles in a quasi-military environment.

Notes:

1. Candidates may substitute sixty credit hours which includes 15 credit hours in the social or behavioral sciences or criminal justice from an accredited college or university and two years of experience providing direct services, counseling, case management or supervision and guidance to youth in a community or residential setting for the required education.

2. Candidates may substitute two years of experience providing direct services, counseling, case management or supervision and guidance to emotionally or socially maladjusted, delinquent, victimized, or exceptional juveniles in a community or residential setting for each one year of the required experience.

3. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned office in Social Services classifications or Social Services specialty codes in the Social Science, Psychology and Welfare field of work, on a year-for-year basis for the required education. 

1. Candidates for positions in this classification will be required to apply for a criminal background check as required by the Family Law Article, Section 5-561, Annotated Code of Maryland.

2. Employees in this classification are required to successfully complete training as indicated by the National Challenge Program, such as one-week basis course for all Challenge Program staff and advanced courses on specific job responsibilities.

3. Employees in this classification are subject to substance abuse testing in accordance with the Code of Maryland Regulations 17.04.09, Testing for Illegal Use of Drugs.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is not assigned to a bargaining unit, as indicated by the designation of S (Supervisor), M (Manager), T (Agency Head), U (Board or Commission Member), W (Student), X (Used by Agency or Excluded by Executive Order), or Z (Confidential).  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.