Position: FT - The Life Skills Counselor (AAI) ($20.50 - $24.00)

Location: Harrisburg / Dauphin County

The Organization:

Valley Youth House empowers and strengthens the lives of children, youth, and families through inclusive programming that builds resilience and fosters growth and independence. VYH works from a trauma informed / healing centered perspective, incorporating positive youth and human development, and cultural awareness into all aspects of its services. The agency is committed to ensuring that clients and staff feel safe, have choice and voice, collaborate in a trusting environment, and are empowered to make a difference in their own lives and the agency.

Why Join Us?

• We offer a competitive compensation package with paid time off (PTO) to promote work-life balance.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance coverage, including prescription benefits.
• Enroll in our 401(k)-retirement plan and enjoy a company match up to 6% to secure your financial future.
• Short- and Long-Term Disability coverage for peace of mind.
• Take advantage of our pre-tax spending accounts (Health Care and Dependent Care FSA).
• Health and wellness programs to support your overall well-being.
• Referral program where you can earn rewards for bringing talented individuals to our team.
• Tuition reimbursement program to fuel your professional growth
• An extensive orientation program to ensure a smooth onboarding process.

Essential Functions

• Successfully engage youth/client in developing and implementing their individual goal and/or transition plan using positive youth development, trauma-informed, and culturally appropriate frameworks.
• A minimum of 50% of the working hours will be spent providing quality in-person goal planning, instruction, and case management services according to the youth’s/client’s identified level of service.
• Ensure up-to-date paper & electronic client records in compliance with program, county, state and federal regulations and private grant requirements as applicable.
• Maintain a caseload of 20-25 youth and ensure 59 hours per month of face to face client services are provided. (Case load may increase depending on staffing pattern)
• Complete all paperwork on a timely basis including intake, goal plans, case notes, quarterly reports, execute all required assessments.

Key Functions

• Meet with the youth/client according to program requirements to model and practice independent living skills with youth/client, including, but not limited to: academic and career planning, permanent relationships/mentoring, housing/household maintenance, priority setting, money management, and health and wellness.
• Represent the program and agency in a professional manner and maintain positive community relationships in a proactive manner.
• Be the primary liaison contact and provide regular ongoing case coordination with community contacts such as: referral/funding sources, children and youth agencies, landlords, probation, school personnel, employers, court and doctor’s offices.
• Address and report any crisis or critical incident as defined by agency and/or county, state or federal regulations according to the agency’s formalized practice and protocols.
• To attend both external and internal agency training and workshops; complete and pass all required training hours and annual training as set forth in the funder and licensing regulations.
• To participate in regularly scheduled supervision with your direct supervisor and be prepared to discuss youth, caseload, documentation, questions, concerns, and general duties.

Minimum Qualifications

• An associate’s degree in Social Work, Education, or other related fields. If the degree is in an unrelated field then the candidate must have at least 1 year of experience in the social services field.
• Six months or more experience working with youth and young adults or facilitating groups/events. Internships included as experience.
• Ability to work a hybrid schedule that includes evenings.
• An individual with the ability to identify with and adapt to the goals and philosophies of the independent living program.
• Possess sound judgment and knowledge of adolescent development and behavior.
• Effectively work with people from diverse backgrounds in reducing cultural and socio-economic barriers.
• Display organizational skills and be highly adept at managing multiple tasks and assignments.
• Successful team members are creative thinkers, are flexible in their approaches to people and projects, and are capable of working with diverse groups of the population.
• Must have and maintain a valid driver’s license including vehicle insurance and inspection on any vehicle used for daily work and transportation of clients.
• Should have excellent navigation skills and driving proficiently in order to meet with youth in the community, their homes, & placement locations for weekly in-person visits, and provide transportation to youth when necessary or required.
• Ability to transport youth to, as well as attend in-person IL Groups a minimum of 1x per week in the evening and assist in transports to/from groups. Attendance will be required for virtual groups as needed.
• Ability to attend a minimum of 10 cultural events per year with clients (including transportation to and from the event). Cultural events may be held at night, on weekends or include overnight supervision of youth attending camps through Valley Youth House, the State or other approved entity.)
• Proficient in computer knowledge & skills (i.e. Microsoft Windows software); familiarity with the operations of external databases and Google Suite is desired.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Education, or other related fields.
• One to two years of experience facilitating a curriculum-based program.
• Knowledge of the Child Welfare system, Dauphin County resources and service providers and/or experience teaching from an experiential learning framework.
• An understanding of the barriers and challenges that youth involved in the Child Welfare system face including reasons for truancy, lack of self-esteem, parent-child conflict, etc.

Physical Requirements:

• Sedentary work that primarily involves sitting/standing. X Occasionally
• Light work that includes moving objects up to 20 pounds. X Occasionally
• Navigating stairs and tight spaces (accessing older buildings possibly through fire escapes, narrow staircases, and tight walkways). X Occasionally
• Ability to climb in and out of vehicle multiple times per day. X Constant
• Driving to include long distance (2-6 hours in one day). X Occasionally
• Reach with hands and arms and sit for prolonged periods of time at a desk, working on a computer. X Constant
• Ability to carry 20 pounds. X Occasionally

**If eligible: Medical, vision, and prescription benefits available after the first month of hire, Vacation, Sick, and Personal Time Off, 401k -6% match, Employer-paid clearances, physical, and training, Opportunities for Tuition reimbursement, Opportunities for licensure supervision hours for LCSW and LPC.

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