The Group Counselor will provide direct services to clients, both youth and adults, in a time limited group format. Functions include participant assessment, curriculum development and modification, group facilitation, administration, data collection, and referrals. Potential of minimal individual case management.
The Youth Initiatives programs provide a variety of groups and workshops specifically for youth at risk of gang involvement, recently immigrated youth and families, families with a history of trauma, and youth and families experiencing family reunification. Groups and workshops are typically provided in schools during the school day for students and in the evenings/weekends for parents at school or community locations. Group services are typically provided in Spanish and address core Youth Initiatives topics which include: family reunification, healthy relationships, decision making, healthy coping skills, positive peer relationships, conflict resolution, US Norms, and goal setting. Youth Initiatives group services are based on a youth development and social work model and create their own curriculums/presentation to be flexible and adaptable to the particular group/population being served.
Essential Job Duties:
Client Service Delivery
- Conduct intake and eligibility meetings with identified students to determine eligibility and appropriateness for groups.
- Complete and maintain group records on all individuals, including:
- Ensure completion and maintain copies of group screening form, intake form, consent forms, pre-test and post-test forms, evaluations, and sign in sheets
- Complete group notes and group summary in ETO
- Enter and retrieve information from a tracking database
- Collect and analyzes data from skills building evaluations and participant feedback surveys
- Assist with development of evaluation reports in conjunction with Program Manager
- Co-facilitate ongoing youth and parent groups for Youth Initiatives clients.
- Facilitate workshops for community members, NVFS clients, and clients of Youth Initiatives’ partner organizations.
- Design and implement group based interventions on identified topics in collaboration with co-facilitator and / or Group Services Coordinator
- Assess needs of identified group participants for additional services and provide connection and referrals to access services.
- Provide individual case management for identified Project Aware youth and other clients as assigned by Program Manager
- Participate in regular individual and group supervision as directed by Manager.
- Assure confidentiality policies and procedures are followed to protect the rights of clients, that reports to authorities occur in the mandated time frames, and that critical incident reviews related to these procedures are completed and filed.
- Maintain client/participant files and database records in accordance with program/licensing requirements and NVFS guidelines and ensure that service delivery us of high quality, and provided according to NVFS policies and procedures.
Meeting and Community Outreach/ Resource Participation:
- Communicate and collaborate with school or community organization identified contact for service coordination.
- Develop flyers, training outline, presentation materials, handouts as needed and assist in participant recruitment and identification.
- Participate effectively and positively in required Program and Agency meetings and trainings.
- Maintains functional knowledge level of NVFS programs.
Education and experience required:
- Bachelor’s degree in social work or human services or related field from an accredited college or university. (Education may be substituted with two years of related work experience for every year of college.)
- At least three (2) years related direct service experience in group facilitation, youth development, parenting education, case management, and working with at-risk youth.
- Demonstrated experience in developing and providing group based interventions for service providers, youth, and parents in English and in Spanish.
- Experience providing services to immigrants and recently reunified families.
- Experience providing direct services to adolescents.
- Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of gang dynamics.
- Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of family reunification dynamics.
- Demonstrated fluency in Spanish and English required.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite
- Successful completion of background checks required upon hire
This description is intended to describe the essential job functions and requirements for the performance of this job. It is not an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and requirements of a person so classified.
This position is located in Oakton with an option to be full-time benefited (37.5 hours/week), part-time benefited (30 hours/week), or part-time nonbenefited (18-20 hours/week).
**Please indicate if interested in full-time or part-time hours**