What are the responsibilities and job description for the Residential Certified Counselor (54451) position at YSS?
When an adolescent is struggling, one steady, skilled adult can change everything.
YSS is seeking an approachable, empathetic, knowledgeable, full-time Residential Certified Counselor to work in our adolescent residential addiction treatment facility in Ames.
The Residential Certified Counselor provides individual, family, and group counseling to adolescents and their families through a variety of therapeutic modalities in order to alleviate identified substance use, mental health and behavioral problems. This position, along with other members of the residential team, provides coordination to assist and strengthen the adolescent’s skills to transition back into their home and community.
What You'll Do...
- Providing individual, family, and group counseling; skill development; and crisis intervention to adolescents and their families.
- Completing all appropriate documentation in a timely and complete manner. Files will be in compliance with the standards of the appropriate third party payers.
- Complying with quality assurance and utilization policies and procedures of YSS.
- Keeping a current weekly work schedule of counseling and group sessions, meetings, and office hours.
- Managing confidential information and paperwork with care and discretion.
- Maintaining ethics and expectations of the counselor’s certification and of YSS.
- Communicating and collaborating effectively with coworkers, adolescents, families, and other entities involved.
This is not a complete list of the responsibilities of this position. Duties may change at any time.
What We Provide...
We believe in your potential, we meet you where you are, and we invest in your future. Beyond the meaningful work, YSS provides the following benefits:
- Supportive leadership team and mission-driven culture.
- Flexibility and autonomy in a collaborative environment.
- Competitive salary
- Comprehensive benefits.
- Health insurance
- Voluntary dental insurance
- Voluntary vision insurance
- Life insurance and long-term disability coverage
- Supplemental accident, critical illness, and hospital indemnity insurance
- Professional liability insurance coverage
- Flexible spending account/health savings account
- Supplemental compensation award
- Generous Paid Time off and Leave
- Four weeks of paid time off (PTO)
- Volunteer time off
- Paid holiday leave
- Birthday holiday
- Wellness Program Opportunities
- Paid membership to the Athletic Club of Ames
- Employee Assistance Program for all employees
- Flu shots
- Mental health support
- YSS is a Public Service Loan Forgiveness qualified employer.
- 403(b) retirement offerings
If this sounds like work you’d be proud to do—and a team you’d want to grow with—we’d love to hear from you. Let’s do meaningful work, together.
Qualifications:
We want to create a world where youth are valued and empowered to stand strong. To do this, we ask our staff to embrace YSS core values - Commitment, Collaboration, Compassion, Innovation, Integrity, and a “Can Do” Spirit.
MUST HAVES - Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in social work or related human services field.
- Experience may be substituted for degree.
- Temporary Certification by the Iowa Board for Substance Abuse as a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) is required.
- A full CADC is required within 6 months.
SHOULD HAVES - Preferred Qualifications
- Two years of full time experience in the delivery of substance use services to adolescents in a public or private organization.
- Client focused and able to collaborate, communicate, and coordinate with others.
- Is an active, patient, listener.
- Uses critical thinking skills to problems solve.
- Ability to manage resources effectively.
The IDEAL candidate:
- Be rooted in purpose and driven by equity, inclusion, and positive social impact.
- Bring humility, respect, and cultural awareness to every interaction.
- Speaks a language in addition to English (especially one spoken in our communities).
Who You Are...
You’re a compassionate, steady counselor who builds trust with adolescents and families while delivering ethical, evidence-based care. You collaborate well, handle crisis with calm confidence, and stay organized so the focus stays on recovery and successful transitions home.
We Celebrate Your Story...
Have you navigated recovery from addiction, mental health challenges, trauma, or housing instability? Your lived experience offers a unique, compassionate perspective that can inspire real change. By sharing your story and serving as a role model or mentor, you can make a meaningful impact in the lives of youth and families. Your journey matters. If you’re ready to use it to uplift and empower others, we warmly encourage you to apply.
Who We Are...
We’re YSS - one of Iowa’s oldest & largest nonprofits dedicated to putting kids first. Our mission? To spark hope, create opportunities, and help young people thrive. With life-changing programs, an enthusiastic leadership team, and our brand-new 50-acre recovery campus, we’re growing fast and thinking big. Check us out at yss.org!
At YSS, we celebrate the unique backgrounds, identities, and experiences that each team member brings. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we’re dedicated to creating a respectful, inclusive, and empowering environment where everyone can grow and succeed. And we’re always working to do better together.
YSS is a nicotine-free workplace.
Heads Up! Don’t Miss Our Messages! - We communicate with applicants via email - straight from our Paycom system. So be sure to keep an eye on your inbox (and your spam/junk folder too). Got questions? Email yss@yss.org - we’re happy to help!
The YSS Hiring Process
- Apply - Fill out the online app at yss.org/ysscareers.
- Assessment - We’ll check out your skills and experience.
- Interview - Phone, video, or in-person - we’ll chat and get to know you.
- References - Send us three people who can sing your praises.
- Screening - Background and driving checks (plus license verification if needed).
- Offer - If it’s a match, you’ll get a formal offer through Paycom.
Salary : $21 - $31