The Office of Juvenile Justice (OJJ) has announced plans for the opening of Acadian Center for Youth (ACY). The first phase is slated to open in early March 2019 with 36 of the 72 beds to be opened.
The first round of hiring will take place in October when the first 11 hires will be made, including the executive director.
Beth Touchet-Morgan, the executive management advisor for OJJ, said there will be four waves of hiring. The first three will fill 79 jobs between October and next March. Three of the six dormitories will open, coinciding with the state’s implementation of “Raise the Age” of juvenile offenders to 17.
No date has been set for the last wave of 46 jobs. That will be done after the state approves full funding for the facility.
OJJ Secretary Dr. James Bueche said the state will start taking 17-year olds as juveniles in March 2019. Opening the Bunkie facility will help accommodate the expected increase in offenders.
Bueche said ACY will need an estimated $11 million a year to run the facility, but he hopes that figure will be less.
“Recruitment for Wave 1 will begin in August,” Touchet-Morgan said. “We anticipate having a job fair in Bunkie sometime in November to recruit staff for Waves 2 and 3.”
The executive director will be hired by Oct. 8 and go to work in early November. The maintenance foreman has already been hired. Included in the remaining 10 positions will be the facility director, deputy director and assistant director. There will be a principal and two executive staff officer trainers.
Wave II will include 23 people hired by Jan. 7 and go to work in early February. The hiring will include six shift supervisors, three people for administration, three group leaders and others.
Wave III will include 45 people hired by Feb. 4 who will go to work March 9. The hiring will include 31 juvenile officers, five food service, five teachers, three case managers and one recreation coordinator.
Wave IV will include 46 people, who will be hired at a later date.
“As soon as funds are appropriated, we will make plans to hire staff for the three additional dormitories,” Touchet-Morgan explained.
ACY, when fully opened, will be a 72-bed home for juvenile offenders. The State Legislature funded up to $4 million to hire and start training during a special session in late June after delaying the funding for a couple of years.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Once openings are posted, applicants will be asked to go to the Louisiana State Civil Service website at www.civilservice.louisiana.gov. click “Job Seekers,” then “Current Job Opportunities.” In the “Search Box” type “Avoyelles.” There will be a list of all state job opportunities in Avoyelles Parish.
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