WOW Counselor

Youth Guidance creates and implements school-based programs that enable children to overcome obstacles, focus on their education, and ultimately, to succeed in school and in life.  We believe that no matter what challenges a young person faces, they are more likely to succeed when they have caring adults in their lives. Our highly trained staff guides kids to overcome the life and academic challenges facing the youth. We meet kids where they are — physically and emotionally — to help them focus on their education, make positive choices, and remain on the right path toward life success.

Founded in 1924 and celebrating 100 years of impact this year, Youth Guidance is a leading provider of outcomes-driven programs serving more than 18,000 youth around the country.  For more information, visit www.youth-guidance.org.

Position Summary

WOW Counselors are responsible for providing school-based group counseling and direct service to female-identifying youth in 7th-12th grade through empowering them to develop responsible decision-making skills, self-awareness, emotions management, self-acceptance, healthy relationships, and social awareness. The WOW Counselor should be flexible in their clinical expertise and youth engagement skills to empower the girls to become successful in school and life. As a WOW Counselor, we are looking for a Female counselor or Female identifying counselor to serve our young female identifying youth.

We are recruiting for the following schools:

Sullivan High School

Dunbar High School

Corliss High School

Essential Duties/Responsibilities

• Facilitate 4-5 weekly group counseling sessions utilizing the WOW curriculum during the school day
• Provide clinical assessments for each client
• Provide individual counseling for WOW students
• Provide family and crisis intervention as needed
• Perform weekly required documentation and special administrative assignments
• Participate in WOW staff development and required curriculum training
• Provide all necessary functions to develop the WOW program using teacher training and school-in-service presentations
• Collaborate with the LSC, Parent Programs, and the Pupil Personnel Support team
• Participate in assigned WOW committees
• Serve on Youth Guidance Board and/or agency committees as requested
• Perform public relations assignments as requested
• Other duties assigned

Minimum Qualifications

Education/Experience/Training

• A Bachelor's degree; Master’s Degree (preferred) in social work, psychology, Clinical Mental Health Studies, or a related human service field from an approved accredited university is required
• Must have at least two years experience facilitating groups
• Experience in Clinical and Youth Engagement
• Experience working with trauma-informed services and framework
• Experience working in schools or youth-related systems, ie DCFS, juvenile detention, mental health facilities

Skills/Abilities

• Ability to demonstrate effective written and verbal communication skills
• Capable of collaborating in team settings and working independently
• Must exhibit cultural competency
• Must demonstrate creativity in engaging youth
• Provide a positive team-based approach to treatment and care working with clients
• Fluent in Spanish and English highly preferred

Available Benefit Offerings:

• Medical, Dental, Vision and Pharmacy Plans
• FSA: Medical, Dependent and Transportation/Parking Plans
• Paid Holidays, Vacation, Personal and Sick Time
• Basic Life Insurance Coverage
• Basic AD&D Coverage
• Wellness Program
• Employee Assistance Programs
• Employee Discount Programs
• 401k Participation
• Voluntary Benefit Plans
• You may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)

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 essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to sit and stand for sustained periods of time, frequently talk, hear, use hands and fingers to feel, handle and operate objects or controls, and occasionally stand, bend, stoop, kneel, and crouch.
• The employee is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures, transcribing, and viewing a computer terminal.
• The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• This job operates in a professional office environment, school setting and working with the public.  May work occasional weekends and local travel as needed.

DEIB Statement

At Youth Guidance, we understand that diversity, equity, inclusion and Belonging (DEI&B) are fundamental to realizing our vision of bright and successful futures for all young people. We celebrate the diversity of youth and staff and recognize them as empowered leaders, problem-solvers, and experts of their own experiences. At the same time, we acknowledge that many systems and institutions meant to support youth and staff are inequitable and unjust.

As such, we are committed to advancing DEIB through our words and our actions, both internally and externally, by:

• Strengthening cultural competence as well as policies, practices, and organizational structures that foster belonging and leverage the unique backgrounds and talents of staff;
• Offering youth-centered programs that are accessible and responsive to people from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, abilities, sexual identity, gender identity and expression, language, and cultural and religious beliefs and practices;
• Influencing systems that youth, their families, staff, and communities are impacted by, such as schools, organizational networks, governmental bodies, researchers, and the funding community, to apply approaches that embrace DEIB in addressing the needs and supporting the aspirations of young people and those around them.

Youth Guidance is an equal opportunity employer and proudly values diversity, equity, inclusivity, and belonging. Youth Guidance does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law and is committed to creating a dynamic work environment that values diversity along all of these lines. People of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

EEO/M/F/D/V/SO

Keywords

CounselorFemaleYouthEngagementClinicalTraumaSchoolSocialWorkPsychologySpanish