Youth Counselor

Lutheran Social Services; Town of Wittenberg (WI); On-site; USD 38,000 - 46,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Flexible Spending Accounts

80 hours of vacation annually

64 hours of sick leave annually

10 paid holidays

403(b) retirement plan

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Mileage reimbursement

Service awards and employee recogniton

Comprehensive paid training

Trauma-informed care training

Subsidized on-site housing available

Job summary

Homme Youth & Family Programs, part of Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin & Upper Michigan (LSS), is seeking a compassionate Youth Counselor to provide direct care, supervision, and mentorship in a residential treatment setting.

You'll work 2:00 PM – 10:00 PM on a 4-day schedule with every other weekend, helping youth ages 10–15 develop life skills, cope with trauma, and participate in therapeutic activities while maintaining safety and a structured environment.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED is required.
• Valid driver's license and acceptable driving record.
• Ability to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as scheduled.
• Ability to obtain and maintain required certifications and training.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct care and supervision for youth ages 10-15
• Maintain sight and sound supervision to ensure safety
• Support behavioral management plans and therapeutic programming
• Teach daily living skills and healthy coping strategies
• Assist youth with personal hygiene and independent living skills
• Transport and escort residents to appointments, school activities, and community outings
• Prepare meals and supervise mealtimes
• Complete daily documentation, incident reports, and behavioral observations
• Communicate effectively with families, therapists, educators, and treatment team members
• Respond appropriately to crisis situations using approved intervention techniques
• Create a safe, structured, and trauma-informed environment for youth

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, Human Services, Criminal Justice, Counseling, Education, Behavioral Science, or related field

Job description

Lutheran Social Services (LSS) is a private, non-profit, human service agency providing a variety of services throughout Wisconsin and Upper Michigan. Over the years, LSS has grown to become one of the largest human service agencies in the two state area serving more than 125,000 clients annually. We are looking for passionate, mission-driven individuals like you to help provide services including outpatient behavioral health management, international, domestic and special needs adoptions, older adult services, support services for children, youth and families, community corrections programs and support services for adults with disabilities and/or mental health concerns.

Motivated by the compassion of Christ, we help people improve the quality of their lives. Does this describe your personal mission statement? Are you motivated to serve by sharing your talents? If you would like to help us achieve our mission, we encourage you to apply for the following opportunity.

Youth Counselor (Youth Care Worker / Residential Counselor) - 2nd Shift

Full-Time | Wittenberg, WI | Onsite
2:00 PM - 10:00 PM
4-Day Work Week | Every Other Weekend Required
$18.50/hour Weekdays | $20.50/hour Weekends

Make a Difference in the Lives of Youth

Are you passionate about helping children and teens overcome challenges, heal from trauma, and build brighter futures? Homme Youth & Family Programs, part of Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin & Upper Michigan (LSS), is seeking a compassionate and dependable Youth Counselor to provide direct care, supervision, behavioral support, and mentorship to youth in a residential treatment setting.

About Homme Youth & Family Programs

Homme Youth & Family Programs provides trauma-informed residential treatment and care for children and adolescents who have experienced significant trauma, behavioral challenges, and family disruption. Our multidisciplinary approach combines therapy, education, life skills development, behavioral interventions, and family engagement to help youth achieve lasting success.

What You'll Do

As a Youth Counselor, Youth Care Worker, or Residential Counselor, you will serve as a positive role model while helping youth develop the skills needed for long-term success.

Key responsibilities include:

• Provide direct care and supervision for youth ages 10-15
• Maintain sight and sound supervision to ensure safety
• Support behavioral management plans and therapeutic programming
• Teach daily living skills and healthy coping strategies
• Assist youth with personal hygiene and independent living skills
• Transport and escort residents to appointments, school activities, and community outings
• Prepare meals and supervise mealtimes
• Complete daily documentation, incident reports, and behavioral observations
• Communicate effectively with families, therapists, educators, and treatment team members
• Respond appropriately to crisis situations using approved intervention techniques
• Create a safe, structured, and trauma-informed environment for youth

Qualifications

Required

• High School Diploma or GED
• Valid driver's license and acceptable driving record
• Ability to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as scheduled
• Ability to obtain and maintain required certifications and training

Preferred

• Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, Human Services, Criminal Justice, Counseling, Education, Behavioral Science, or related field

Preferred Experience

Experience in any of the following areas is highly valued:

• Behavioral health
• Mental health
• Residential treatment
• Direct care
• Youth services
• Child welfare
• Social services
• Juvenile justice
• Crisis intervention
• Group homes
• Case management
• Foster care
• Special education
• Therapeutic recreation
• Trauma-informed care

Why Join LSS?

At Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin & Upper Michigan, you'll do meaningful work while building a rewarding career helping youth reach their full potential.

Benefits Include

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts (Health and Dependent Care)
• 80 hours of vacation annually
• 64 hours of sick leave annually
• 10 paid holidays
• 403(b) retirement plan
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Mileage reimbursement
• Service awards and employee recognition
• Comprehensive paid training
• Trauma-informed care training
• Evidence-based intervention training
• Subsidized on-site housing available

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand, walk, bend, and remain active throughout an 8-hour shift
• Ability to occasionally lift up to 25 pounds
• Ability to safely respond to behavioral and crisis situations
• Ability to work indoors and outdoors in varying weather conditions
• Ability to maintain a safe environment for youth during all activities

Keywords for AI Matching

Youth Counselor * Youth Care Worker * Residential Counselor * Direct Care Worker * Residential Treatment * Human Services * Behavioral Health * Mental Health * Child Welfare * Trauma-Informed Care * Crisis Intervention * Juvenile Justice * Youth Development * Social Work * Psychology * Counseling * Case Management * Residential Care * At-Risk Youth

Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin & Upper Michigan is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE).

Education

High School Diploma/ GED (required)

Licenses & Certifications

Driver's License (required)

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.

For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.