JUVENILE INTAKE WORKER
JUVENILE COURT INTAKE SERVICES
Kenosha County Juvenile Court Intake Services is looking for an experienced intake workers/case managers/social workers with a passion and interest for working with troubled youth and abused/neglected children are encouraged to apply for this outstanding career opportunity with Kenosha County Juvenile Court Intake.
The Juvenile Intake Worker is responsible for providing Intake Services for the Circuit Court in accordance with Chapters 48 and 938 Wis. Stats. The population served includes children and juveniles in need of protection and services (CHIPS and JIPS), juvenile delinquents, and the families of both populations. All responsibilities are performed on behalf of the Juvenile Court.
WORK SCHEDULE
The schedule for this position is primarily Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM in the office; In addition, there are regular on-call responsibilities during overnights, weekends, and holidays which may require an in-person response.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Under the general supervision of the Director of Juvenile Court Intake, this role is responsible for screening children and youth taken into custody and not released, to determine if a child/youth should be released or held in temporary physical custody. The Intake Worker is further responsible for conducting intake inquiries on behalf of the Court to determine if court referrals establish prima facie jurisdiction and making recommendations to the District Attorney’s office on each case. The department is statutorily responsible for providing intake services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for the purpose of screening children/youth taken into custody and not released. Job duties may include some or all of the following:
- Evaluates requests for custody from law enforcement, attorneys and child welfare agencies.
- Interviews children/youth/expectant mothers taken into custody and administers statutory rights to clients and their parents. Consults with family members, service providers, attorneys, requesting agency representatives, law enforcement officers, school officials, social workers and others.
- Makes determinations on the physical custody status of children/youth and expectant mothers.
- Responds to and provide crisis counseling when necessary during the intake process.
- On behalf of the court, authorizes temporary physical custody in secure or non-secure settings.
- Locates available placements for delinquent youth and facilitates transportation arrangements.
- Works closely with juvenile detention centers holding youth for Kenosha County.
- Schedules court hearings for detained clients and notifies involved court parties of such.
- Appears and testifies at court hearings, including those for clients held in physical custody.
- Reviews and makes dispositional recommendations to the DA’s office on court referrals.
- Administers evidenced based screenings on children/youth/parents.
- Designs, case manages, and provides direct supervision of deferred prosecution agreements and informal disposition agreements.
- Determines restitution and assists in collections, maintaining balances and disbursements.
- Confers with victims of juvenile crime, providing their rights and assisting with court process.
- Refers clients to local government agencies and private service providers.
- Obtains judicial authorizations for emergency medical treatment of children/youth.
- Attends trainings related to position and keeps current on laws related to children/youth.
- Maintains case records, compiles statistical information and reviews, dictates, and writes reports.
- Serves as member of multidisciplinary teams for cases of abused and neglected children, human trafficking, school threats, gang task force, and school truancy.
- Works closely with court personnel, law enforcement, District Attorney, Public Defender, DCFS, private attorneys, school representatives and local public and private provider agencies.
- In the absence of the Director, leads clerical/custody intake staff and manages the office.
- Fills in for part-time, after-hours custody intake staff when necessary.
- Performs other duties as required or directed by the Chief Intake Worker, Circuit Court Judiciary, or the Chief Judge of the Judicial District.
QUALIFICATIONS - MINIMUM
Education and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in social work or related field.
- Successful completion of Basic Intake Worker Training and exam pursuant to the State of Wisconsin statutes 48.06 and 938.06.
- Experience working with troubled youth and abused/neglected children and their families; or, relevant work and/or internship experience working with children, youth, and/or families.
- Experience working with social welfare and law enforcement agencies.
QUALIFICATIONS - PREFERRED
Education and Experience
- Master’s degree in social work or related field.
- Possession of State of Wisconsin Social Worker Certification.
- Current and/or previous employment as a Juvenile Court Intake Worker.
- Knowledge of federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and procedures pertaining to child welfare and juvenile justice.
- Experience working in the Juvenile Court system.
OTHER JOB REQUIREMENTS
- Valid driver’s license and access to an insured vehicle for use in the performance of the job.
- Must be able to respond in person to the Courthouse campus overnights, weekends and holidays (when in person response is needed) within approximately 30 minutes of notification.
COMPETENCIES FOR SUCCESSFUL PERFORMANCE OF JOB DUTIES
Knowledge of:
- Wisconsin Chapters 48, 51, 118, and 938 involving children and youth. In addition, state and local ordinances, regulations, and procedures pertaining to children and youth.
- Child development and successful parenting skills.
- Mental health and substance abuse and how both impact families.
- Current principles and best practices of social work.
- Our community’s social and economic problems and their impact on clients.
- Law enforcement and child welfare agencies within and surrounding Kenosha County.
Skill in:
- Engagement, conflict resolution, safety management, time management, interviewing, assessment, and organization.
- Verbal and written communication and documentation.
- Interpersonal and active listening skills.
- Working with computer applications including Word, Excel, Adobe Acrobat, Outlook, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams.
Ability to:
- Work one-on-one with children, youth, and adults during intense situations and under difficult circumstances.
- Make decisions independently while ensuring safety of children and youth within the community.
- Address and document all threats of safety.
- Multi-task in a fast-paced work environment, prioritize, and meet time requirements.
- De-escalate hostile and defiant clientele while providing information and referrals.
- Remain professional and courteous at all times.
- Take accurate notes and details regarding all court intake cases.
- Adapt to changes in investigations and questioning to ensure pertinent information is being obtained.
- Maintain confidential information.
- Adhere to professional ethics.
BENEFITS
- Health, dental and vision insurance effective first of month following 30 days of employment with the ability to reduce premium contribution through participation in a wellness program
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- Employee Assistance Program
- Paid Time Off
- Paid Volunteer Time
- Twelve Paid Holidays
- Retirement Plan: Participation in the Wisconsin Retirement System which includes county-paid life insurance
- Tuition Reimbursement
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Moderate physical demands, such as exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally and up to 10 pounds of force frequently.
- Vision standards required by Division of Motor Vehicles to operate a motor vehicle.
SELECTION PROCESS
- Application Review – Qualifying.
- Oral Interview, including written questions – Qualifying.
- Background Check – Qualifying.
- Physical Examination/Drug Screen – Qualifying.
- Judicial approval with Court appointment required.
If you require accommodations at any point in the selection process because of a disability, please notify Human Resources in advance for arrangements.
Applications must be submitted no later than Monday, January 5, 2026, at 12:00 noon.
To learn more about the Juvenile Court Intake Services, please visit: https://www.kenoshacountywi.gov/393/Juvenile-Court-Intake
Kenosha County is a Wisconsin Retirement System participating employer. Your participation is required, which includes an employee contribution.
The 2026 pay grade for this position is NE14 (Min. $36.75 – Max. $46.77 per hour).
This position is located in Kenosha County, a growing community along the shores of Lake Michigan and less than an hour away from Milwaukee and Chicago. To see why Kenosha County is a great place to live, work, and play, visit: https://www.visitkenosha.com/
Thank you for your interest in employment with Kenosha County!
Kenosha County, WI is an Equal Opportunity Employer.