Chaplain

EmberHope Youthville, a leading, faith-based provider of child welfare services is committed to helping you succeed as an employee as you work to make a difference in the life of a child either directly or by offering administrative support. The Company strives for a positive work environment that encourages effective teamwork, trauma-informed practices, and opportunities to utilize leadership skills. Team members from all departments will focus on carrying out the EmberHope Youthville mission, vision, and values!

To be a successful Chaplain you must be willing and able to do the following always:

The Chaplain will serve as a spiritual and emotional support resource for youth, teens, staff and families within a nonprofit child welfare organization. The Chaplain will provide guidance, support, and pastoral care, helping all parties navigate their challenges while fostering a safe, supportive, and compassionate environment.

1.     Chair the agency spiritual life committee.

1. Provide one-on-one pastoral care, counseling, and emotional support to at-risk youth, teens, and staff by addressing their spiritual and emotional needs while offering a non-judgmental presence for those experiencing rejection, trauma, or crisis.
2. Work collaboratively with case managers, educators, and behavioral health professionals to create individualized care plans that address the emotional and spiritual well-being of youth refusing placement or education services.
3. Facilitate group discussions, spiritual retreats, and individual sessions that foster resilience, conflict resolution, and personal growth, supporting teens in overcoming challenges.
4. Assist with conflict resolution among youth, families, and staff, providing a neutral, empathetic perspective in helping to mediate disputes.
5. Engage with youth, staff, families, and external community partners to support the holistic care of the youth, ensuring coordination of services and continuity of care.
6. Provide immediate spiritual and emotional crisis intervention during critical incidents or emotional outbursts, offering comfort and grounding techniques to help teens regain stability.
7. Connect youth and families with additional community-based resources, including mental health services, social services, and educational support.
8. Offer youth and staff training and resources on spiritual care, trauma-informed care, and best practices in working with youth exhibiting challenging behaviors.
9. Maintain accurate, confidential records of interactions and progress, ensuring that reports and updates are communicated to the team for coordinated care.
10. Advocate for the needs of youth within the organization and with external stakeholders, ensuring that their emotional and spiritual needs are prioritized.
11. Engage in congregational & community relationships, (church visits, new church partnerships, and presentations)

13.  Fundraising and Donor Engagement: Partner with development staff to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward donors. Support major gift strategies and donor recognition efforts. Manage major gifts and donor pipelines. Coordinate donor appreciation and stewardship activities.

1. Bridge faith and change that impacts our clients, including child welfare and affordable housing. This position will provide advocacy tools (brochures with child welfare and housing facts that our population faces). Justice & System Engagement
2. Organize volunteers and church partnerships for direct service opportunities, resources, and related activities. Mercy Ministries (Community)
3. This position will integrate spiritual care, direct mercy ministries, and justice-centered engagement to advance the transformation of individuals, congregations, and community systems, in alignment with the agency's mission and the Great Plains Annual Conference’s priorities.
4. Create a quarterly Mercy & Justice Report that tracks direct service metrics separately from justice engagement metrics.
5. Internal communication should include spiritual care and expand it to public awareness. Focus on integrating mercy and justice as inseparable expressions of discipleship.

19.  Follow Company Policy and Procedure and operate according to the Company’s Program Practice Guidelines.

How you will spend your time in this job:

·       20%      Spiritual and Emotional Support

·       20%      Behavioral and Engagement Support

·       10%    Group and Individual Counseling

·       10%    Mission & Justice

·       10%      Conflict Resolution and Mediation

·       5%     Collaborative Care

·       5%     Crisis Intervention

·       5%         Resource Connection

·       5%         Education and Training

·       5%         Fundraising, Documentation and Reporting

·       5%         Advocacy 

To qualify for this job, you need to have:

1. Bachelor’s degree in theology, Divinity, Social Work, or a related field (Master's degree preferred).
2. Ordained or licensed Chaplain with certification from an accredited organization (preferred).
3. Previous experience working with at-risk youth, especially in child welfare, foster care, or behavioral health setting.
4. Knowledge of trauma-informed care, mental health issues, and behavioral challenges common among teens.
5. Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to connect with youth from diverse backgrounds and experiences.
6. Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive situations with discretion and professionalism.
7. Ability to work collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team.
8. Strong conflict resolution, mediation, and crisis intervention skills.
9. Compassionate, empathetic, and non-judgmental approach to care.

10.  Strong relationship-building skills.

11.  The ability to successfully manage external relationships and effectively liaise with colleagues of all levels.

12.  Flexibility, resourcefulness, and the ability to manage multiple projects concurrently.

13.  Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

1. The Chaplain will be working in a dynamic, fast-paced environment focusing on supporting youth and staff in crisis.
2. Will involve interacting with various staff, families, and youth from diverse backgrounds.

16.  Must be willing to work evenings and weekends, as needed.

1. Ability to engage in activities involving occasional physical intervention, managing emotional outbursts, and attending off-site youth activities.

Ability to travel, driving company or personal vehicle including at night. Ability to do occasional lifting of up to 50 lbs. Able to walk upstairs. Ability to work flexible schedule, including some evenings and weekends. Employee is subject to outside environmental conditions occasionally, inside conditions frequently, with protection from weather conditions but not necessarily from temperature change. (Physical working requirements)