STRIVE Counselor (3368)

The STRIVE Counselor provides school-based individual counseling and academic coaching to students who are in DCFS care. The Counselor is responsible for rendering direct counseling and/or support services to clients within agency policies and programs and coordinates with school and DCFS employees for service provision. The Counselor participates within a team, helps formulate team programs, and works with school administration to ensure cohesive collaboration.

Essential Duties/Responsibilities:

•    Provides STRIVE services to students and families directly within school districts 299 (CPS), 205 (Thornton Township), 209 (Proviso Township), and other approved Chicago or suburban Cook County schools. These services will include counseling, case management, home visits, student and staff training seminars, resource development, mentoring, tutoring, college and career readiness, and/or other services, as needed.
•    Interacts and coordinates effectively with DCFS, school systems and other relevant personnel on issues related both to the STRIVE Program and to all Youth Guidance programming.
•    Works with DCFS caseworkers, school staff, and/or other YG programs to connect students to resources and programming that support their development and wellbeing. 
•    Performs routine administrative functions including monthly/quarterly/yearly reports, client record keeping, progress notes, case reviews and research evaluation and meets all program deliverables.
•    Provides and/or participates in training as requested by agency administration.
•    Engage in operational and technical planning of team goals/objective to achieve performance metrics.
•    Collaborates with team to create and develop small/large scale events for the STRIVE program.
•    Performs other duties as assigned.

Education/Experience/Training

•    Master’s degree in social work, counseling or a related human service field from an approved accredited university is preferred. Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university is required.
•    Illinois social work or counseling license is preferred but not required.
•    Spanish language fluency strongly preferred.
•    Must have at least two years of experience providing direct counseling, mentoring, or related services to youth. Case management experience or experience in schools is a plus.

Skills/Abilities

•    Effectively communicates in verbal and written form
•    Collaborates in team settings
•    Works independently and with ownership of one’s work
•    Demonstrates knowledge of trauma-informed care and advanced counseling/psychology concepts 
•    Demonstrates cultural competency, including understanding of effects of institutional racism and systemic oppression on marginalized populations
•    Demonstrates understanding of challenges facing youth and families involved in DCFS care
•    Able to creatively engage youth in school and community settings
•    Provides a positive, team-based approach to treatment and care of clients

Core Competencies

•    Communication: Uses effective written and oral communication with internal staff, teams, and community served; demonstrates empathy and listening
•    Client orientation: Recognizes needs of diverse stakeholders and approaches relationships with a service orientation, to ultimately maximize the impact
•    Equity mindset: Understands and is committed to goals of equity, consistently brings an equity mindset to the organization’s work and workplace
•    Growth mindset: Views growth as important for personal and professional development; seeks out opportunities to expand skills, even if the change is required, demonstrates curiosity and eagerness to learn
•    Ownership and quality of work: Effectively manages own work, and work of the team to ensure delivery of high-quality work
•    Supervisory skills: Effectively manages and develops others
•    Mission drive: Demonstrates commitment to the missing of the organization as a whole and alignment with organization values

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 the essential functions

Work Environment

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

Benefits:

Youth Guidance offers a competitive benefit package for eligible full-time employees including the option to participate in medical, dental, and vision plans as well as short-term disability, life insurance, flex spending accounts, pet insurance, 401k, a wellness program and more. You may also quality for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF).

Our Values

At Youth Guidance, we believe that creating a welcoming and supportive environment where everyone feels valued and respected is fundamental to realizing our vision of bright and successful futures for all young people. We acknowledge that many systems and institutions intended to support youth do not provide fair treatment or access for everyone. We strive to celebrate the unique qualities of youth and recognize them as empowered leaders, problem-solvers, and experts of their own experiences. 

Youth Guidance is an equal opportunity employer. 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 fostering a welcoming and supportive environment where everyone feels valued and respected. People of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
 

Salary : $55,000 - $69,000