Adra Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Salary : $2,838.00 - $5,113.00 Monthly
Location : Columbia, LA
Job Type: Classified
Job Number: 403CCY-SSC123-CTS26
Department: Office of Juvenile Justice
Opening Date: 03/02/2026
Closing Date: Continuous
About this Job
Office of Juvenile Justice
Swanson Center for Youth-Columbia
132 LA-850, Columbia, LA 71418
THIS IS A CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT
The Louisiana Office of Juvenile Justice (OJJ) is driven by a powerful mission: protecting the public while transforming the lives of youth through safe, effective, and individualized services that help them grow into productive, law-abiding citizens. We are excited to welcome a compassionate, motivated, and skilled professional to join our team as a Social Service Counselor, playing a vital role in the rehabilitation and well-being of youth in secure care.
In this impactful position, you will provide direct counseling and case management that supports each youth's emotional, behavioral, and social development. Through meaningful one-on-one interventions, dynamic group facilitation, and collaborative treatment planning, you will help guide young people toward healthier choices and brighter futures. The ideal candidate brings empathy, strong clinical insight, and a deep commitment to trauma-informed, youth-centered care-someone who believes in the potential of every young person and is energized by the opportunity to make a lasting difference.
AN IDEAL CANDIDATE WILL POSSESS THE FOLLOWING COMPETENCIES:

• Demonstrating Accountability: Owns results, meets standards, and responds to feedback professionally.
• Focusing on Customers: Understands customer needs, communicates clearly, and delivers timely, reliable service.
• Making Accurate Judgments: Makes timely, well-reasoned decisions using available info, context, and trade-offs.
• Acting with Ethics and Integrity: Acts with integrity, respects confidentiality, and treats people fairly.
• Adapting to Change: Adjusts quickly and stays effective during change.

Minimum Qualifications
Three years of social services experience; OR
Six years of full-time experience in any field; OR
A bachelor's degree.
EXPERIENCE SUBSTITUTION:
Every 30 semester hours earned from an accredited college or university will be credited as one year of experience towards the six years of full-time work experience in any field. The maximum substitution allowed is 120 semester hours which substitutes for a maximum of four years of experience in any field.
NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENT:
Positions that provide addictive disorder counseling or prevention services will require certification or eligibility for certification issued by the Addictive Disorder Regulatory Authority (ADRA), or its successor.
Job Specification
The official job specifications for this role, as defined by the State Civil Service, can be found
Job Duties and Other Information
Job Duties:

• Provide individual and group counseling using behavior-modification, reality-based, and supportive therapeutic approaches.
• Collaborate with security, education, and clinical staff to develop a full profile of each youth.
• Represent youth in Reclassification, Code of Conduct, and other classification-related meetings.
• Monitor PbS data quarterly and participate in in-service training; serve as liaison across facility departments.
• Deliver targeted counseling for a designated dormitory population with significant behavioral and emotional challenges.
• Initiate, coordinate, and track psychiatric and psychological referrals; distribute clinical reports to relevant departments.
• Facilitate or co-facilitate multidisciplinary groups and programs (substance abuse, crisis counseling, Thinking for a Change, pro-social skills, victim awareness, LAMOD, family groups, regional staffings).
• Prepare progress reports, closing summaries, and correspondence for courts, probation, parole, and other agencies.
• Make recommendations for early release, step-down placement, or transfer to more secure settings when appropriate.
• Maintain complete and accurate case records, including counseling notes, visitation updates, custody levels, and required documentation for courts and families.
• Support dormitory operations by assisting the Group Leader with daily routines, youth needs, activities, and informal staff oversight; represent supervisory staff when needed.
• Perform additional duties as assigned, including Social Services Counselor responsibilities.

Position-Specific Details:
Work Location: This vacancy is located at the Swanson Center for Youth in Columbia, Louisiana.
Appointment Type: Full-time Probational, Promotional, Detail to Special Duty, or Job Appointment
Career Progression: This position may be filled as a Social Service Counselor 1, 2, or 3.
The incumbent of this position must not have been convicted or pled nolo contendere to a crime listed in
The Office of Juvenile Justice will receive a list of eligible applicants ONLY from the people who respond to this posting.
How To Apply:
No Civil Service test score is required in order to be considered for this vacancy.
To apply for this vacancy, click on the "Apply" link above and complete an electronic application, which can be used for this vacancy as well as future job opportunities. Applicants are responsible for checking the status of their application to determine where they are in the recruitment process. Further status message information is located under the Information section of the Current Job Opportunities page.
* Information to support your eligibility for this job title must be included in the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education). Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completed education and experience sections on your application. Applications may be rejected if incomplete.
For further information about this vacancy, contact:
Garilyn London
OJJ/ Human Resources Division
In the supplemental questions section, applicants must authorize the HR Office of Juvenile Justice to contact prior employers to check references under the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) to be considered for employment.
The Office of Juvenile Justice is a State as a Model Employer (SAME) agency that supports improved employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. For more information on employment-related resources available for those with disabilities, refer to the Louisiana Employment Resource Guide.
If you are contacted for an interview, please let us know at that time if you will need special accommodations.
NOTE: Prior to an appointment, the selected applicant must take and pass a drug screening test, possess a valid Louisiana Driver's License and clear a background check.
This agency participates in the E-Verify system for verification of citizenship and employment authorization.
Louisiana State Government represents a wide variety of career options and offers an outstanding opportunity to make a difference through public service. With an array of career opportunities in every major metropolitan center and in many rural areas, state employment provides an outstanding option to begin or continue your career.
As a state employee, you will earn competitive pay, choose from a variety of benefits, and have access to a great professional development program:
Insurance Coverage More information can be found at
Parental Leave - Up to six weeks paid parental leave
More information can be found at
Holidays and Leave - State employees receive the following paid holidays each year:

• New Year's Day
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Day,
• Mardi Gras,
• Good Friday,
• Memorial Day,
• Independence Day,
• Labor Day,
• Veteran's Day,
• Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

***** Additional holidays may be proclaimed by the Governor
State employees earn sick and annual leave which can be accumulated and saved for future use. Your accrual rate increases as your years of service increase.
Retirement- State of Louisiana employees are eligible to participate in various retirement systems (based on the type of appointment and agency for which an employee works). These retirement systems provide retirement allowances and other benefits for state officers and employees and their beneficiaries. State retirement systems may include (but are not limited to):

• Louisiana State Employees Retirement System (). LASERS has provided this video to give you more detailed information about their system
• Teacher's Retirement System of Louisiana (),
• Louisiana School Employees Retirement System (), among others

01
Are you a current classified employee of the Office of Juvenile Justice serving with permanent status?

• Yes
• No

02
Are you currently under indictment for a felony charge or have you ever been on probation or sentenced to jail/prison as a result of a felony conviction or guilty plea to a felony charge?

• Yes
• No

03
If 'YES', give the law enforcement authority (city police, sheriff, FBI, etc.), the offense, place and disposition of case. If 'NO', enter N/A.
04
Have you been convicted of engaging or attempting to engage in sexual activity in the community facilitated by force, overt, or implied threats of force, or coercion, or where the victim did not consent or was unable to consent or refuse?
05
If so, when? If "NO", enter N/A.
06
Have you ever been civilly or administratively adjudicated to have engaged in any sexual activity in the community or confinement setting?

• Yes
• No

07
If so, when? If "NO", enter N/A.
08
Have you ever engaged in sexual abuse in a prison, jail, lockup, community confinement facility or juvenile facility or any other facility type (as defined in 42 U.S.C 1997)?

• Yes
• No

09
If so, when? If "NO", enter N/A.
10
If you have previous employment in a community confinement center, jail, lockup or prison, the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) requires Office of Juvenile Justice Human Resources to contact those employers prior to hiring any applicant for information on substantiated allegations of sexual abuse or any resignation during a pending investigation of an allegation of sexual abuse.Do you authorize the Office of Juvenile Justice, to contact any of your prior employers, whether listed on your employment application or not, to ascertain information required by the Prison Rape Elimination Act, Part 115 of Title 28 of the Code of Federal Regulations? I understand that prior to any offer of employment by the Office of Juvenile Justice that such information must be obtained.IMPORTANT: I also understand that if I do not authorize such contact, I will not be eligible for employment with the Office of Juvenile Justice.Should I be appointed from this announcement, I also understand that this authorization will remain valid for the duration of my employment with the Office of Juvenile Justice.Questions should be directed to Human Resources as noted in the Supplemental Information section of this job posting.

• Yes, I understand. You may contact my employers, past or present.
• No. Do not contact my employers, past or present.

11
Have you ever been convicted or pled nolo contendere to a crime listed in R.S. 15:587.1 (c)?

• Yes
• No

12
DA - 26: Demonstrating Accountability - How well do you take responsibility for your actions, results, andperformance?

• I avoid responsibility, deliver poor work, and resist feedback.
• I take ownership when prompted and meet basic expectations.
• I own results, meet standards, and respond to feedback professionally.
• I drive high performance, prevent issues, and model accountability.

13
DA - 26: Demonstrating Accountability - Explain your selection by providing specific examples from yourexperience.Tip: Use the STAR method (situation, task, action, result) to explain how you have demonstrated thiscompetency. Examples from work, military service, volunteering, education, or other life experiences are allvalid.
14
FC - 26: Focusing on Customers - How well do you understand and meet the needs of internal or externalcustomers?

• I struggle to understand customer needs, provide clear information, or resolve issues.
• I respond to customer needs with some support and build basic working relationships.
• I understand customer needs, communicate clearly, and deliver timely, reliable service.
• I anticipate customer needs, build trust, and deliver personalized, proactive service.

15
FC - 26: Focusing on Customers - Explain your selection by providing specific examples from yourexperience.Tip: Use the STAR method (situation, task, action, result) to explain how you have demonstrated thiscompetency. Examples from work, military service, volunteering, education, or other life experiences are allvalid.
16
MAJ - 26: Making Accurate Judgments - How do you make decisions when faced with choices, risks, orlimited information?

• I make reactive or delayed decisions and sometimes overlook risks, priorities, or potential bias.
• I try to weigh options but struggle when there's uncertainty, competing priorities, or unclear outcomes.
• I make timely, well-reasoned decisions by using available information, context, and trade-offs
• I make sound decisions in complex situations, lead others through ambiguity, and adapt as newinformation emerges.