Youth Counselor

Job Details
Level:    Entry
Job Location:    Mason City West Campus - Mason City, IA
Position Type:    Full Time
Education Level:    High School Diploma or GED
Salary Range:    $19.00 Hourly
Job Shift:    Varied Shifts
Job Category:    Nonprofit - Social Services

Youth Counselor-WEEKENDS ONLY-FULL TIME-FRI thru SUN

***ASK ABOUT HIRING INCENTIVE*** INCREASED BASED PAY***

WEEKENDS ONLY-FULL TIME-FRI thru SUN

Who are we?

At Four Oaks, we believe that every child needs the opportunity to succeed. It's more than our mission – it's the passion that permeates everything we do. Four Oaks has grown to become one of the state's largest agencies devoted to child welfare, education, juvenile justice and behavioral health. We recognize that children and families come to us from a variety of circumstances, which makes it important for us to reach kids and families where they are right now. For that reason, we provide prevention, intervention and treatment programs and services.

Why Work here?

Four Oaks understands the importance of supporting and treating one another as if they were our own family members.  We believe in maintaining a healthy work/life balance while providing career paths for everyone.  Our organization flourishes in an environment of equal opportunity and fair treatment for all.  The effects of diversity and inclusion have created an atmosphere of positivity which connects us to the customers we serve.  As a valued team member on a full-time basis, you are eligible for:

• Medical, dental & vision insurance
• 401k Retirement plan
• Growth & Advancement opportunities
• Competitive Wages - $19.00 to start 
• Excellent paid leave time package
• 7 paid holidays  
• Business casual work environment

What you will do?

As a Youth Counselor you will be responsible for providing direct care services for our clients.  This position will assess client interactions, formulate interventions based on the identified treatment plan and evaluate the progress of treatment goals. Specific duties include:

• Provide consistent, individualized reinforcement to client behavior, using daily issues to teach and reinforce adaptive behaviors.
• Utilize a proactive/preventive method of intercepting problems to neutralize them before they escalate.
• Strategically utilize identified behavior management techniques and other de-escalation training to assist clients in developing appropriate behaviors.
• Assist clients in developing insight into their behaviors so that they learn to self-identify and self correct.
• Understand the impact of client's behaviors on their own actions/reactions in the workplace and utilizes team feedback to enhance the effectiveness of their interventions.
• Provide daily living supervision and treatment intervention.
• Establish a therapeutic relationship with the client based on trust and respect.
• Evaluate the impact of behavioral, group treatment, and life-space interventions and provides direction/feedback.
• Assure consistent, ongoing, and timely provision for basic client needs.
• Follow medication management guidelines.
• Safely transport youth to/from program activities and community resources monitoring behaviors and following agency transportation protocols.
• Effectively participate in team to review case progress and provide best programming.
• Maintain good team participation and interaction.
• Maintain positive role modeling and performance, as an agent of change for the youth.
• Develop and maintain a working knowledge of Behavior Health Intervention Services (BHIS) and Medicaid requirements and standards.
• Complete documentation of services in a timely manner – including daily case notes, behavior management, visual checks, etc.

Qualifications & Program Information

What you need:

To qualify you must be at least 21 years of age and possess a High School Diploma or GED. A Bachelor's Degree in a Human Services related field of study is preferred, but not required.  Additional requirements include:

• Desire to help kids succeed.
• Prior experience working with children in a mental health setting preferred.
• Strong communication and problem solving abilities.
• Basic computer skills in a MS Office environment.

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