Program Counselor

THE SELECTED CANDIDATE WILL BE OFFERED A SALARY BETWEEN $62,868.00 - $72,298.00 The Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) protects and promotes the safety and well-being of children and families through child welfare and juvenile justice services and community supports. ACS manages community-based supports and foster care services, and provides subsidized child care vouchers. ACS child protection staff respond to allegations of child maltreatment. In juvenile justice, ACS oversees detention, placement and programs for youth in the community.

The Division of Youth and Family Justice (DYFJ) provides a wide range of services and programs for youth at every stage of the juvenile justice process. Our goals are to (a) build stronger and safer communities and advance public safety by preventing juveniles from entering the New York City's juvenile justice system, (b) provide therapeutic treatment and services to youth in our custodial care, and (c) help juveniles access the tools they need to leave the justice system for good. We strive to help families and young people by providing supportive services that are responsive to the needs of individual youth and families.

JJPS ensures that youth served by DYFJ (from detention to placement) are receiving comprehensive and consistent medical, mental health, case management, social and educational services throughout their involvement with our system by: overseeing ACS’ entire array of programming and services for court involved youth, developing innovative programming and services for youth and families, strengthening mental health services, working together with stakeholders to identify trends, track data, and implement effective interventions, and coordinating training and staff development around specific clinical, mental health, and programmatic issues such as LGBTQ youth issues, family engagement, substance abuse, and the impact of trauma.

In addition, JJPS organizes our family engagement and parent support work, and provides staff training on mental health, trauma, LGBTQ issues and Commercially Sexually Exploited Children.

The Program Counselor will report to a Secure Detention and be responsible for performing the following duties:

• Work closely with Youth Development Specialists, contracted providers and the Department of Education (DOE) to develop and implement cultural, educational and recreational programming for all Secure Detention youth throughout the year including monthly activities, workshops, and programs.
• Work directly with youth to develop and implement programs and activities that promote teamwork, leadership, problem solving and critical thinking.
• Build self-confidence in youth and contribute to violence reduction through activities and relationship-building.
• Encourage healthy lifestyles for youth through sports, physical exercise and good nutrition.
• Support the facilities and contracted providers in implementing special projects, workshops, or other events as needed.
• Assess internal and external programs by observation, administering surveys to residents and staff, and other appropriate evaluation methods and provide feedback and recommendations for program improvement.
• Act as a liaison with DYFJ’s contracted programs and contract management unit to ensure vendor clearance submission, tracking, and management, and certify vendors are in compliance with contracts.
• Develop monthly provider meetings, progress reports and annual vendor performance evaluation.
• Develop and learn new programming modules and assist with training other staff and contracted providers to implement programming.
• Perform other duties as needed in relation to the youth’s cultural, educational, and recreational needs.

Special Note: This work assignment is at a secure detention facility which is a 24/7 operation. The work schedule may include evening hours, Saturdays, Sundays, holidays, and mandatory overtime. Shift assignments are based on the needs of the agency.

Additional Information

This position has been reposted. Previous applicants do not need to reapply.

Section 424-A of the New York Social Services Law requires an authorized agency to inquire whether a candidate for employment with child-caring responsibilities has been the subject of a child abuse and maltreatment report.

The Administration for Children’s Services is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing access to all individuals. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact Simone Campbell at eeo.adacoordinator@acs.nyc.gov or 212-676-6955.

To Apply

Please go to www.cityjobs.nyc.gov or www.nyc.gov/ess for current NYC employees and search for Job ID #748914. No phone calls, faxes or personal inquiries permitted.

Note: Only candidates under consideration will be contacted.

Minimum Qualifications

• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and two years of experience in community work or community centered activities in an area related to the duties described above; or
• High school graduation or equivalent and six years of experience in community work or community centered activities in an area related to the duties as described above; or
• Education and/or experience which is equivalent to "1" or "2" above. However, all candidates must have at least one year of experience as described in "1" above.

Preferred Skills

• Experience working with justice-involved, at-risk, or underserved youth in a residential, detention, educational, or community-based setting
• Demonstrated ability to de-escalate crisis situations, manage challenging behaviors, and exercise sound judgment in high-pressure environments
• Experience coordinating or providing direct services and youth development activities, including facilitating workshops, life skills programming, psychoeducational groups, and counseling, in a residential, detention, educational, or community-based setting
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and conflict resolution skills with the ability to build rapport with youth from diverse backgrounds
• Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate and engage with youth from diverse cultural backgrounds
• Bilingual or multilingual proficiency is a plus

Residency Requirement

New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. However, City Employees in certain titles who have worked for the City for 2 continuous years may also be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County. To determine if the residency requirement applies to you, please discuss with the agency representative at the time of interview.