Youth Counselor
Overview:
Are you looking for an opportunity to do meaningful work with youth and families? Join our collaborative treatment team, as a Youth Counselor for the Immediate Stabilization Services (ISS) Program.
As a Youth Counselor, you will respond to youth and family needs in the community and in the home by providing behavioral intervention, crisis counseling, coaching, and resource linkage as needed to help stabilize a situation and maintain youth in their current living arrangement.Counselors are members of a treatment team and provide input and feedback in planning for sustainability of a youth’s placement. Services for families will take place in-person within the community within a 90-mile radius from the program location.
ABOUT IMMEDIATE STABILIZATION SERVICES (ISS)
The ISS program provides prevention and stabilization-oriented services designed to support young people and their Resource Families in times of crisis and high need to reduce the likelihood of placement disruption and preserve their placement.ISS staff are available up to 24 hours a day to provide phone-based assessment, in-person stabilization, and short-term intensive services designed to improve youth safety and well-being. ISS services are also utilized to facilitate successful transition into new placements for youth as they leave the Welcoming Center.
In this way, the ISS team can be a stabilizing and consistent support team for young people as they experience a change in placement.
ABOUT SENECA
Seneca Family of Agencies has been nominated among the Bay Area’s Top Workplaces for several consecutive years. We’re committed to providing traditionally marginalized communities with a network of excellent mental health, community-based, and educational services.We are committed to building a diverse staff and strongly encourage people of color to apply. Our programs are deeply engaged in conversations and training on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to bring equity and justice to the youth and families we serve.
Responsibilities:
- Assist clinician in intake process and create a welcoming environment for the youth
- Respond to challenging situations in the community or in resource family homes and minimize safety risks through behavioral intervention and counseling
- Assist children and caregivers in implementing safety plans as warranted
- Assist Clinicians with crisis intervention strategies in both home and community-based locations
- Work in coordination with the child’s caregiver, social worker, and others as treatment team members to support youth and families in maintaining the current living arrangement
- Participate in all treatment reviews and program staff meetings
- Complete mental health notes and incident reports as appropriate
- Provide on-call response as part of a multi-disciplinary team
Qualifications:
REQUIRED- Experience/education requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree OR
- Associate’s degree or equivalent + 1 year of applicable work experience OR
- High school diploma/GED + 2 years of applicable work experience
- Applicable experience includes any paid or unpaid experience working with youth or families, or working in the social services field
- Flexible schedule with the ability to work some evening hours as needed
- Be part of a rotating emergency on-call system, scheduled with supervisor ahead of time
- Must be at least 21 years of age
- Valid driver's license, clean driving record, and insurability through Seneca Family of Agencies’ insurance policy
- TB test clearance, fingerprinting clearance, and any other state/federal licensing or certification requirements
- Proof of up-to-date COVID-19 vaccination
- Experience working with children/youth and families with complex and enduring needs.
- Experience implementing family-focused services.
- Bilingual English/Spanish
- Ability to work effectively with a diverse population and workforce.
- Strong organizational, time management, and writing skills.
- Ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team.
Schedule:
- Full-time
- Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, 7am - 3pm
- Thursday, 8am - 4pm
Benefits:
- Starting at $26.52 - $29.02 per hour, commensurate with experience
- Additional compensation provided upon passing bilingual language proficiency exam
- Salary increases each year
- Mileage reimbursement
- Stipends provided to staff members participating in the emergency on-call shifts
- 5 weeks of Paid Time off and 11 Paid Holidays
- Comprehensive benefits package:
- Medical, dental, vision, chiropractic, acupuncture, fertility coverage
- Long-term disability, family leave, and life insurance
- 50% paid premiums for dependents
- 403b Retirement Plan
- Employer-paid Employee Assistance Plan
- Seneca is a Public Service Loan Forgiveness certified employer
- Scholarship opportunities, ongoing training, and professional development opportunities
- Promotional opportunities across the agency in California and Washington