Family Counselor

Company Overview

Youth Villages has been a national leader in the implementation of research-based treatment philosophies in the field of children's mental and behavioral health. Our commitment to helping troubled children and their families find success spans 30+ years and includes a comprehensive array of programs and services. 

If you are looking for a positive career move where you are meeting the challenges of life and striving to make a positive difference, then Youth Villages is the place for you. We are looking for people with a strong sense of purpose and focus to continually build confidence in yourself and our organization.

Program Overview - Ideal candidate lives in Jackson or Haywood County 

This position is responsible for providing Multisystemic Therapy (MST) to youth ages 12 to 17 that display serious antisocial behaviors and are at-risk of placement out of the home due to their behaviors.  Our MST program is built on the principle that the serious behavior problems of a child typically stem from a combination of influences including family factors, deviant peer group, problems in school or the community, and individual characteristics. The MST model calls for simultaneously addressing all of those inter-related areas.

Position Overview and Expectations

• MST Family counselor carries a caseload of five (5) families.
• The MST model requires the Family Counselor to meet with each family on their caseload at least three times per week. 
• Conduct MST assessments that include identifying and engaging key participants, identifying systemic strengths and weaknesses, and developing an analysis of the fit of problem behaviors within the ecological context.
• Engage primary caregivers and other key participants in active change-oriented treatment by identifying and overcoming barriers to engagement.
• Implement a problem conceptualization, treatment planning, intervention implementation, outcomes review and strategy revision procedure using the MST Analytic Process.
• Maintain clear and concise documentation of treatment efforts that promote peer and supervisory review and feedback, and that demonstrate compliance with the nine MST Principles and the MST Analytic Process.
• Ability to engage and collaborate with all relevant systems and key participants within each system, to maintain alignment throughout MST treatment.
• Provide direct clinical treatment using methods compatible with MST principles and practices.
• Participate in all MST training, supervision, consultation, and MST Therapist development activities.

Additional Information

• Schedule is flexible and non-traditional; based around the availability of youth and families served.
• Counselors rotate on-call availability on weekends and after-hours, requiring one weekly rotation per month.
• Drive up to 60-80 miles to meet with families in the home
• Applicants must have a valid driver’s license, a personal vehicle to use for work purposes and auto insurance.
• MST Family Counselors will be reimbursed for applicable mileage
• Extensive training provided

It is Youth Villages’ policy to hire MST Family Counselors that meet one of the following levels of education and experience:

Clinical Licensed Applicant Qualifications:
Must hold one of the following licenses in the state of North Carolina: LCMHC-A, LMFT-A, LCSW-A, or LCAS-A.

Master’s Degree Applicant Qualifications:
Must possess degree at time of application.
Degree must be in a clinical field of study.
Must have one year of full-time clinical experience (2,000 hours) with designated population.

Bachelor’s Degree Applicant Qualifications:
Must possess degree at time of application.
Degree must be in a clinical field of study.
Must have two years of full-time clinical experience (4,000 hours) with designated population.

Preferred Clinical Experience and Skills:

• Direct use of pragmatic (i.e., structural, strategic and functional) family therapies
• Therapy with children and adults using cognitive behavioral techniques
• Couples therapy using behaviorally based approaches
• Behavioral therapy targeting school behavior and academic performance
• Implementation of interventions within or between systems in the youth’s natural ecology that affect or influence the behavior of the youth (i.e., family, peer, school, and neighborhood)
• Collaboration and partnership with community agencies
• Previous work providing in-home or community-based therapy services

Salary: $58,000 - $66,000 depending on education/license 

Benefits

Medical, Dental, Prescription Drug Coverage and Vision
401(k)
2 weeks paid vacation
12 paid sick days per year
11 paid holidays

Paid Parental Leave
Mileage & Cell Phone Reimbursement (when applicable)

Tuition reimbursement and licensure supervision

Growth & development through continuous training

Clinical and administrative advancement opportunities

Youth Villages is an equal opportunity employer and provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Youth Villages is committed to not only advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace but also in our work with children and young adults. We know that children, families and young people of color can face inequity in child welfare and justice systems, and we train our employees to build the skills they need to work with the communities that we serve, as well as, other employees from different cultures and backgrounds. Youth Villages is opposed to racism in any of its forms and is committed to inclusion, equity, and diversity. We believe that respect for each other is crucial in the work that we do each day.