Milieu Program Specialist - Canyon Oaks Youth Center (Department Promotional Only)

Full Job Description

The Behavioral Health and Recovery Services Division of San Mateo County Health is seeking experienced individuals for the position of Milieu Program Specialist.

Currently there is one regular full-time vacancy to fill at Canyon Oaks Youth Center (COYC), located at 400 Edmonds Road, Redwood City, CA, 94062.

The Milieu Program Specialist (MPS) serves as a key member of the COYC team, providing on-site supervision to Relief Residential Counselors, coordinating training, and supporting administrative and operational functions..

The MPS reports to the Milieu Program Supervisor and plays a critical role in maintaining a structured, safe and therapeutic residential environment.

Canyon Oaks Youth Center is a Short Term Residential Therapeutic Program (STRTP) providing trauma-informed, 24-hour care to youth ages 12–18 who require intensive mental health services.

COYC’s day treatment and residential programs focus on creating a safe, supportive environment that promotes healing and skill development, with the goal of successful reintegration into the community.

Families are engaged active partners throughout the treatment process.

The ideal candidate will be able to work a flexible schedule that may include daytime, swing or evening shifts and one weekend within a 40-hour work week.

Physical interventions are used only as a last resort to prevent serious injury or in situations requiring life-saving measures.

Residential staff are required to complete emergency intervention training, including written and physical hands-on competency examinations, and maintain annual certification.

The ideal candidates will possess:

NOTE: The eligible list generated from this recruitment may be used to fill future extra-help, term, unclassified, and regular classified vacancies.

Requirements

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Foster a safe, welcoming, and therapeutic milieu that supports healing, structure, and positive youth engagement.
• Establish clear expectations and consistent routines to promote safety, trust, and treatment participation.
• Provide on-site supervision, coaching, and training to staff using trauma-informed, reflective, and strengths-based approaches.
• Coordinate staff development activities, including scheduling, performance evaluations, feedback, corrective action, and participation in hiring.
• Develop staff schedules and assignments to ensure adequate coverage and continuity of care.
• Monitor program operations and facility needs, including vehicles and equipment, ensuring a safe and well-maintained environment.
• Lead and facilitate staff meetings; communicate key operational updates and organizational priorities.
• Address daily operational challenges, mediate conflicts, and promote teamwork and collaboration.
• Oversee documentation and response to critical incidents in coordination with leadership.
• Process client and family grievances in accordance with policy.
• Track and support compliance with CARF and Community Care Licensing standards.
• Lead or support projects and initiatives that enhance program effectiveness.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Department Status:
Only current County of San Mateo employees in San Mateo County Health with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in a classified regular, probationary, or extra-help/limited term position prior to the final filing date may apply.

Education and Experience: Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying.

A typical way to qualify is three years of experience providing milieu counseling, at least one year of which is in a lead capacity. Knowledge of:

• Supervisory principles and practices, including work planning, scheduling, review, evaluation, employee training and development, and corrective action.
• Trauma-Informed principles and Cultural Humility principles, including a racial equity framework.
• Child and adolescent development and behavior.
• Principles and practices of childcare and custody.
• Group dynamics.
• Child development stages.
• Common safety practices and procedures, including first aid.
• Individual and group counseling techniques, especially behavior modification.
• Policies, procedures and terminology related to the department or function to which assigned.
• Applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations and County policies and guidelines.
• Human and health services systems in the County including private agencies and other community resources.
• Various methods used in individual and group therapies such as role playing, play, art and milieu.
• Methods and techniques used in mental health education.
• Principles, practices, and administrative requirements of the program to which assigned.
• Methods applied to the collection and evaluation of statistical data.
• Operation of office equipment, computer systems, and software related to the work.
• Office administrative practices and procedures.

Skill/Ability to:

• Plan, assign, supervise, review and evaluate the work of others.
• Instruct and train subordinate personnel and provide technical assistance and supervisory direction to staff.
• Develop training materials, coordinate training schedules, and conduct training classes.
• Connect with youth and adults and successfully gain their confidence and respect.
• Provide a milieu therapy environment for juveniles in an STRTP.
• Work effectively within a team concept.
• Sense, evaluate, and handle tense group and individual situations as they develop and a willingness to accept responsibility for decisions.
• Exercise good judgment and act calmly in emergency situations.
• Interact effectively with parents, other public and private agencies, and the public.
• Analyze, interpret, and apply various regulations, requirements, and/or clinical approaches.
• Set realistic treatment goals and facilitate their attainment.
• Evaluate patients/clients’ degree of mental disability or emotional distress.
• Prepare concise reports and recommendations.
• Communicate effectively in writing and orally and make public presentations as needed.
• Establish and maintain effective and cooperative relationships with those contacted in the course of the work.
• Make independent judgments and work independently, exercise sound independent judgment within general policy and regulatory guidelines.
• Coordinate multiple facets of a program function.
• Organize, prioritize, and coordinate work activities.
• Read, interpret and apply rules, policies and procedures.
• Operate standard office equipment.

Special Requirements:
Individuals assigned to the Canyon Oaks Youth Center must have the ability to complete 40 hours of mandated training annually AND obtain and maintain an STRTP Group Home Administrator Certificate issued by the State of California.

Additional Information

Departmental Promotional Only. Only current County of San Mateo employees in San Mateo County Health with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in a classified regular, probationary, or extra-help/limited term position prior to the final filing date may apply.

The examination process will consist of an application screening (weight: pass/fail) based on the candidates' application and responses to the supplemental questions. Candidates who pass the application screening will be invited to a panel interview (weight: 100%). Depending on the number of applicants, an application appraisal of education and experience may be used in place of other examinations or further evaluation of work experience may be conducted to group applicants by level of qualification. All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination. All examinations will be given in the County of San Mateo, California and applicants must participate at their own expense.

IMPORTANT: Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the County's website, you may click the “Apply” button. If you are not on the County's website, please go to https://jobs.smcgov.org/ to apply. Responses to the Supplemental Questionnaire must be submitted in addition to the standard County employment application form. A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for the required application materials. Online applications must be received by the Human Resources Department before midnight on the final filing date.

Tentative Recruitment Timeline
Final Filing Date: Thursday, February 26, 2026, by 11:59PM PST
Application Screening: Week of March 2, 2026
Panel Interviews: Week of March 9, 2026

About the County
San Mateo County is centrally located between San Francisco, San Jose, and the East Bay. With over 750,000 residents, San Mateo is one of the largest and most diverse counties in California and serves a multitude of culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse communities.

The County of San Mateo, as an employer, is committed to advancing equity to ensure that all employees are welcomed in a safe and inclusive environment.

The County seeks to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community. We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply.

Eighty percent of employees surveyed stated that they would recommend the County as a great place to work.

The County of San Mateo is an equal opportunity employer. We seek to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community. We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply.

Talent Acquisition Contact: Priscilla Bermudez (021226) (Milieu Program Specialist – G084)