Intensive Support Services Specialist LTE

Job Posting End Date: 09-24-2026 Worker Sub-Type: Regular Scheduled Weekly Hours: 40 Are you passionate about making a positive impact in the lives of at-risk youth? Marathon County Social Services is hiring an Intensive Support Specialist (I.S.S) to join our team, providing individual intervention along with programming at our Youth Opportunity Center (Y.O.C.). This position offers a unique opportunity to work directly with youth who are navigating behavioral, emotional, or legal challenges. The Y.O.C provides structured programming, life skills development, and accountability in a supportive, community-based environment. Position Summary: The Intensive Support Specialist (I.S.S.) provides ongoing support services to youth and their families who are involved with the Youth Justice system. The I.S.S. serves as mentor, facilitator, and positive role model, delivering both psychoeducation and recreational programming aimed at helping youth build resilience, reduce risk factors, and enhance prosocial behavior. The goal of this service is to provide rehabilitation services for youth to remain in the community without committing further law violations.  Additionally, this service provides structure and accountability for youth aimed at reducing criminal behavior and building on the youth and family’s protective factors. The position will have a mix of duties and work assignments based on the needs of these two programs and where staff support is needed. As an employee of the Department of Social Services and Marathon County, you will play a crucial role in managing and safeguarding confidential and sensitive information. This position requires a high level of initiative, creativity, impartiality, integrity, neutrality, and confidentiality. Limited-Term Employment: This position is designated as a limited-term role; however, there is no foreseeable end date at this time. The role is eligible for full-time benefits. Hours: Hours will be based on work assignment.  Workday consists of 8 hours with varied start and end times that could include starting at 8 a.m. or working until 6 p.m. Examples of Work Performed: The following duties are typical of this position. These are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. Other duties may be required or assigned. Provide ongoing support services to youth to promote rehabilitation and stability within their home, community, and Youth Opportunity Center attendance based on their treatment plan. Redirect youth behavior and thinking errors using active listening, motivational interviewing, and problem-solving strategies. Provide direct programming based on the individual needs of the youth such as anger management, healthy decision making, life skills, recreational interests, and facilitate treatment groups based on youth needs.  This includes creating a monthly calendar of the structured activities that will be provided daily throughout the month. Communicate with parents/guardians regarding transportation logistics and behavioral updates. This includes providing transportation when necessary. Connect children and families with community resources. Support parents and their youth through face-to-face contact, phone contact, and text contact. Create individualized treatment plans for the youth assigned to this position, in collaboration with the Social Worker. Facilitate parent support and/or educational groups. Provide individual parent support and education. Collaborate with Community Agencies to schedule Community Service, educational presentations, and recreational opportunities. Teach independent living skills to include food preparation and cooking. Provide direct sight and sound supervision of youth. Complete assignments with youth given to youth by social workers and/or assist with schoolwork when needed. Provide GPS services, monitor schedules and violations, maintain equipment, and maintain regular communication with the juvenile, family, referring social workers and collaterals. Administer Urinalysis as requested by the social worker. Communicate with schools on attendance issues or academic needs. Participate in supervisory and team-based consultation regarding progress of cases assigned. Maintain accurate and timely electronic case documentation in excel spreadsheets and eWisacwis. Court attendance as deemed necessary. Perform other job duties as assigned. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Ability to adhere to professional boundaries, ethics, confidentiality and privacy practices, policies of Marathon County Department of Social Services, procedures, and regulations. Willingness to take initiative with development of new opportunities to further programming and services. Knowledge of youth development principles, including adolescent behavior, risk factors, and strengths-based approaches to engagement. Ability to effectively and appropriately interact and communicate with social workers, families, schools, and other community partners to build positive, constructive, and professional relationships. Ability to follow and comprehend written and verbal instructions with accuracy and attention to detail. Effective written and oral communication skills. Ability to document incident reports. Ability to accurately document attendance, activities the youth participated in, overall behavior. Ability to ask effective questions and actively listen to better understand and build rapport. Familiarity with Motivational Interviewing techniques and de-escalation strategies to support effective and safe interactions with youth. Ability to remain calm and professional during crisis-related issues. Capacity to work independently, apply established guidelines, and exercise sound judgment within program procedures. Strong interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to speak empathetically with youth and their families, establish trust, and respond to nee