Program Counselor

Who Are We? Yes I Can Unity Through Music & Education (YIC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Santa Clarita, California, dedicated to empowering creatives with disabilities by providing customized training and employment services. YIC believes that individuals with disabilities should have the same access to employment opportunities as their non-disabled peers, enabling them to earn a living wage in a field that aligns with their talents and interests. YIC's primary goal is to facilitate program participants' successful transition from high school to gainful employment. This is achieved through a person-centered planning model that considers each individual's unique needs, abilities, skills, personal interests, and goals. YIC strives to increase the hiring rate of creatives with disabilities within the entertainment industry, promoting greater independence and improved quality of life. 

YIC is currently seeking highly qualified applicants for the position of Program Counselor. This is a hybrid position. Applicants must reside within Los Angeles County.

Position Title: Program Counselor 

Role/Responsibility: Counselors complete and oversee a variety of professional assignments to provide one-to-one vocational rehabilitation guidance and counseling services to program participants with developmental disabilities, including:

• Conduct community-based functional assessments, complete and submit assessment reports to Person-Centered Planning (PCP) Team and funding sources

• Develop Individualized Service Plans (ISP) based on a person-centered approach with PCP Team

• Conduct monthly informal assessments to measure program participants’ progress toward ISP goals/outcomes, present findings to PCP Team

• Conduct semi-annual formal assessments to measure program participants’ progress toward ISP goals/outcomes, complete and submit an assessment report to PCP Team and funding sources

• Work directly 1:1 with program participants, participants' families (if conserved), Regional Center Service Coordinators, DOR counselors, and community employment partners in ISP development and implementation, as well as attend Regional Center Individualized Program Plan (IPP) meetings if requested

• Provide direct 1:1 counseling services provided to program participants

• Assist program participants in finding and securing generic resources to assist them with making progress toward their employment goals

• Additional counseling related tasks based on program participants' assessed needs, including providing program participants with 1:1 training sessions to assist them in the acquisition of skills based on participants’ assessed needs

• Counselors are responsible for assessing and monitoring program participants’ progress toward program plan outcomes.

• Request, monitor status, and extend program participants’ service Regional Center service authorizations

Duty Statement: Assignments include conducting and reporting initial functional assessments, and conducting semi-annual functional assessments and reporting. Working directly with program participants, program participants’ families (if conserved), Regional Center Service Coordinators, and community employment partners in ISP development and implementation. 1:1 direct counseling services provided to program participants to assist participants in meeting their employment goals. Counselors are responsible for monitoring program participants’ progress toward Individualized Service Plan (ISP) outcomes. 

Work Hours/Days: 40 hrs/wk, 5 days/wk. 

Classification: This is an hourly, non-exempt position. 

Work Setting: Hybrid position. Program Counselor will be required to provide 1:1 services to program participants both virtually and in-person, based on the needs of each program participant served.

Salary Range: $24.00-$28.00/hour to start (equivalent to $49,920-$58,240 per year), depending on applicants experience and education. Salary reviews are conducted annually. Annual salary increase amounts are based on employee’s job performance.

Benefits: Employee is entitled to five (5) Paid Sick Days each calendar year and up to 3.076 hours per/semi-monthly paycheck, up to eighty (80) total hours annually of Paid Vacation Time. Employees are also entitled to eleven (11) Paid Federal Holidays. YIC will pay 100% coverage of medical premium with Kaiser Platinum HMO plan (for employee and up to 3 dependents), and YIC will pay 100% coverage of Vision and Dental premiums (contact HR for plan details). YIC is registered with the CalSavers Retirement Savings Program. If an employee elects to participate in the CalSaver Retirement Savings Program, the employee selects a contribution amount that is deposited into a Roth Individual Retirement Account maintained by CalSavers. YIC also offers employees a 401(k) Plan with Guideline. 

Minimum Qualifications: 1. Education: A Master’s degree with a major in counseling, rehabilitation counseling, or a counseling-related field, such as psychology, social work, or special education, including all courses needed to meet and maintain credential requirements. 2. An appropriate, valid, Pupil Personnel Services Credential, valid from the day of beginning service as a counselor, or Licensed or Associate MFT, LPCC, or LSW is preferred, but not required. 3. Experience: Vocational/rehabilitation and/or school based counseling experience under the proper credential is desired. 4. Desired Qualifications: Highly qualified vocational/rehabilitation and/or school counselor as defined by state or federal guidelines, or the potential to earn such qualification in a timely manner. Familiar with the framework of Competency Based Counseling and the National Counseling Standards. Knowledge of the techniques of rehabilitation counseling and guidance. Knowledge of the principles and methods of rehabilitation training. Knowledge of the psychology of the developmentally disabled. Knowledge of different cultures. Knowledge of the limitations and abilities of the disabled. Knowledge of testing techniques, test interpretations, and uses. Knowledge of casework and client interviewing techniques. Knowledge of training and placement facilities and services available to the disabled. Knowledge of occupations appropriate for persons with a particular disability. Knowledge of community organizations and services available to the disabled. Ability to provide rehabilitation counseling and guidance to disabled persons. Ability to obtain the cooperation of employers, educators, medical services providers, and others. Ability to apply casework, interviewing and testing techniques to obtain and analyze information and plan services and follow-up activities. Ability to work with professional and technical personnel in a particular area of employment. Ability to maintain records, and prepare reports and correspondence related to the work. 

Supervises: None

Reporting Supervisor(s): Program Counselor Supervisor, Counseling Department 

Yes I Can Unity Through Music and Education (YIC) is an equal opportunity employer and we value diversity at our organization. YIC provides equal employment and advancement opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment. YIC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age (40 or older), disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.