AFTERCARE PEER COUNSELOR/MENTOR

SCO Family of Services; New York (NY); On-site; USD 40,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

SCO Family of Services in New York is seeking a dedicated youth services professional to oversee a designated cottage and caseload within a residential program. You will build rapport with youth, provide supervision across shifts, and participate in team debriefs and family visits while following the Missouri Approach.

Responsibilities include supporting school enrollment, resume coaching, tracking aftercare, and attending ACS conferences.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma required.
• Experience working with justice-involved youth preferred.
• Residential group-home experience preferred.
• Close to Home program experience preferred.
• Safety Crisis Management (SCM) training completed, including refresher courses.
• Ability to work varied hours and hold a NY, NJ, or CT driver's license.
• Provide excellent professional references.

Responsibilities

• Assigned to a designated cottage and caseload.
• Build rapport with youth in the program.
• Work shifts as needed on an emergency basis and during team meetings; provide 24/7 supervision.
• Attend debrief sessions after weekly team meetings.
• Supervise youth during family visits and supervised two-hour home visits.
• Participate in program trips and outings to provide support.
• Adhere to the Missouri Approach in the C2H program.
• Develop and model effective relationships with youth, co-workers, and the treatment team.
• Enroll youth in pro-social activities and monitor attendance during aftercare.
• Conduct AWOC searches as required.
• Collaborate with Educational/Vocational Coordinator to enroll youth in school and monitor attendance.
• Assist youth with resume writing and conduct mock interviews.
• Document all youth and family contact in Connections promptly.
• Submit monthly ACS aftercare tracking paperwork.
• Complete youth behavioral contracts.
• Attend ACS Release Conferences and Elevated Risk Conferences as needed.
• Join bi-weekly aftercare calls.
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

Education

High School Diploma

Job description

• Assigned to a designated cottage and caseload.
• Build and maintain rapport with youth in the program.
• Work shifts as needed on an emergency basis and during team meetings. When on shift, provide 24/7 supervision, ensuring compliance with the daily schedule and maintaining program structure.
• Attend debrief sessions following weekly team meetings.
• Supervise youth during family visits in the program and during supervised two-hour home visits.
• Participate in program trips and outings to provide additional support.
• Adhere to and actively support the Missouri Approach, the therapeutic model utilized in the C2H program.
• Develop and model effective relationships and behaviors with youth, co-workers, and the treatment team.
• Enroll youth in pro-social activities and monitor attendance during aftercare.
• Conduct AWOC (Absent Without Consent) searches as required.
• Collaborate with the Educational/Vocational Coordinator to enroll youth in school and monitor school attendance.
• Assist youth with resume writing and conduct mock interviews.
• Document all youth and family contact in Connections in a timely manner.
• Submit monthly ACS aftercare tracking paperwork.
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

Description

Specific Responsibilities

• Assigned to a designated cottage and caseload.
• Build and maintain rapport with youth in the program.
• Work shifts as needed on an emergency basis and during team meetings. When on shift, provide 24/7 supervision, ensuring compliance with the daily schedule and maintaining program structure.
• Attend debrief sessions following weekly team meetings.
• Supervise youth during family visits in the program and during supervised two-hour home visits.
• Participate in program trips and outings to provide additional support.
• Adhere to and actively support the Missouri Approach, the therapeutic model utilized in the C2H program.
• Develop and model effective relationships and behaviors with youth, co-workers, and the treatment team.
• Enroll youth in pro-social activities and monitor attendance during aftercare.
• Conduct AWOC (Absent Without Consent) searches as required.
• Collaborate with the Educational/Vocational Coordinator to enroll youth in school and monitor school attendance.
• Assist youth with resume writing and conduct mock interviews.
• Document all youth and family contact in Connections in a timely manner.
• Complete youth behavioral contracts.
• Submit monthly ACS aftercare tracking paperwork.
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Minimum possession of a High School Diploma required.
• Previous experience working with justice-involved youth.
• Prior experience in a residential group-home setting.
• Previous experience in the Close to Home program preferred.
• Successful completion of Safety Crisis Management (SCM) training, including passing a written test and demonstrating the ability to perform all approved SCM physical restraints as required by program regulations. Staff must also complete all required SCM refresher courses to maintain employment.
• Ability to work varied hours as required.
• A valid driver’s license from NY, NJ, or CT is required.
• Must be able to provide excellent professional references.

Relationship With Others

• Must be a team player and collaborate effectively with colleagues.
• Serve as a credible messenger to youth, building trust and positive influence.
• Maintain a strength-based attitude, focusing on youth’s potential and growth.
• Be supportive of families and able to partner with them to help their child succeed.
• Demonstrate strong sensitivity to cultural differences, including sexual orientation and identity, among staff and clients within the organization.
• Possess a strong belief in people’s ability to grow and change and foster mutually respectful partnerships with youth and their families.
• Exhibit the ability to set appropriate limits, maintain a professional helping role, and intervene effectively when necessary.

Working Conditions

• Work in a residential and community setting with juveniles.
• Must be able to work effectively and efficiently within a demanding environment.

Scope of Responsibility

• Participate in Aftercare Team Meetings.
• Attend ACS Release Conferences and Elevated Risk Conferences as needed.
• Complete Safe Crisis Management (SCM) training and required refreshers.
• Join bi-weekly aftercare calls.

Organizational Structure

• Will be responsible to work within a collaborative partnership.