Behavioral Youth Counselor

YOUTH VILLAGES, INC.; Memphis (TN); On-site; USD 54,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Prescription Drug Coverage

401(k)

Paid Vacation and Sick Days

Tuition Reimbursement

Job summary

Youth Villages in Memphis, TN, is seeking a Behavioral Youth Counselor to work with at-risk youth. Responsibilities include teaching essential life skills and assisting with treatment planning in a residential program environment. Candidates must have a Bachelor's degree and experience with youth.

The position offers a flexible schedule with a competitive annual salary range of $54,000 to $64,000, including additional benefits such as medical coverage, 401(k), and paid time off.

Qualifications

• Experience working with youth is required.
• Experience with at-risk youth and/or families is strongly preferred.
• Ability to maintain a flexible schedule.

Responsibilities

• Teach youth necessary life skills and provide daily care.
• Assist in creating treatment plans for youth.
• Facilitate group therapy sessions to build life skills.

Skills

Organizational skills

Excellent communication skills

Ability to manage multiple priorities

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Basic computer knowledge

Job description

Program Overview

Youth Villages’ residential programs in Tennessee and Georgia provide safe, nurturing environments for youth ages 6 to 17 with complex behavioral and mental health challenges. These programs are offered across three types of facilities—secure facilities, open campuses, and group homes—each designed to meet the individual needs of youth exhibiting a range of referral behaviors, including aggression, self-harm, suicidal ideations, and problem sexual behavior. Our residential campuses deliver an intensive treatment program that strikes a unique balance between structure and freedom, all while preparing youth for continued success outside of a residential setting. A key focus is to help each youth step down to the least restrictive treatment option possible by developing the skills they need to thrive in less structured environments through trauma‑informed care, clinical interventions, life skills building, and recreation therapy (in selected locations). Most youth also attend fully accredited schools located on our campuses, ensuring their educational progress continues alongside therapeutic support.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Teaches youth necessary life skills and provides for their daily physical care.
• Assists in treatment planning for each youth.
• Participates in youth transports to various locations (including but not limited to doctors’ appointments, court dates, community outings, home passes, etc.).
• Participates in recreation therapy sessions with their assigned group of youth.
• Helps youth develop and implement positive coping skills using therapeutic interventions.
• Facilitates group therapy sessions to support youth building life skills, social skills, moral reasoning skills, and anger control skills.
• Completes daily documentation (such as contact notes, milieu notes, and precautionary notes) in an electronic medical record system (EMR).
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Physical Requirements and Training

• The supervision and treatment of youth requires prolonged periods of walking, standing, running, climbing stairs, and physical agility. Applicants must be able to participate in physical interventions when necessary and frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds, occasionally more than 100 pounds.
• Applicants are required to complete Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) and CPR trainings and pass an agility and strength evaluation.
• Applicants must possess a current, valid driver’s license.

Schedule

This position works on a non‑traditional schedule and requires flexibility as it includes evening and weekend shifts. Behavioral Youth Counselors follow a Sunday to Wednesday or Wednesday to Saturday rotation, generally working between 12:00 PM to 10:30 PM. The weekend day may include a 16‑hour shiftbased on campus staffing models. All staff are required to work at least 40 hours per week, with overtime at time and a half for additional hours. Specific campus schedules and rotation details will be discussed with the hiring manager in the interview process, and any adjustments for training or coverage will be communicated ahead of time.

Compensation

Average annual salary ranges from $54,000 to $64,000, depending on schedule and hours worked. Time‑and‑a‑half pay is provided for worked holidays.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (required).
• Experience working with at‑risk youth and/or families (strongly preferred).
• Experience working with youth (required).
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent written, verbal, and oral skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Basic computer knowledge.
• Ability to maintain a flexible schedule.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, Prescription Drug Coverage and Vision.
• 401(k).
• Time off: 2week paid vacation (full‑time) / 1week paid vacation (part‑time), 12paid 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.
• *Benefits are excluded for variable status employees.

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.