Mental Health Counselor
Aftercare Evening Reporting Center
Salary Range: $42K – $45K
The Juvenile Justice Center of Philadelphia (JJC) is a non-profit, multi-service organization that serves the needs of children, youth and families in need of services to promote healthy and productive outcomes related to their emotional, behavioral well-being, social and educational progress. Our service delivery model is to provide quality intervention and prevention services to children, youth, and families through supportive services. JJC is looking for the ideal candidate for the Mental Health Counselor position at our Germantown office(s) within our Aftercare Evening Reporting Center for justice involved youth.
Job Summary
The Aftercare Evening Reporting Center (AERC) Mental Health Counselor (MHC) is an integral member of the AERC team. The AERC Mental Health Counselor will provide supports to youth to assist the youth with successful completion of probationary terms and prevent future involvement with juvenile justice services and placement. The Counselor will work primarily in the afternoons and evenings, specifically during the school year and on alternative Saturdays to provide maximum involvement with identified youth. The Mental Health Counselor may facilitate and/or co-facilitate group sessions on life skills, decision-making, trauma, and other topics consistent with Pennsylvania’s Balanced and Restorative Justice (BARJ) model. The Mental Health Counselor will also identify community service events, employment opportunities, post-secondary educational opportunities, community resources and supports. The MHC will interact with youth, their family, probation officers, court officials, DHS officials, employers, school officials, etc. The MHC will be present at court hearings and during discharge planning meetings. They will help develop goals and an individualized service plan so each youth can have a clear understanding of the goals they need to accomplish to ready themselves for discharge. The MHC will maintain close contact with the assigned probation officer and work in tandem with the case manager. they must have the ability to develop a positive rapport with youth to help them be successful upon discharge to mitigate the risk of future juvenile justice involvement. Programming for youth is from 4pm to 8pm. This is a full time position, flexibility is needed as some days the MHC will be attending court and other meetings prior to the start of programming.
Qualifications
- A Master’s degree in human services, preferably social work or counseling, plus two year’s experience in family-based social work.
- An annual physical form verifying that the employee is “free from contagion”.
- Act 168, FBI, child abuse and PA criminal Clearances.
- A proven and demonstrated ability and experience in working within a team based setting and group settings.
- Understanding of educational, child welfare, and judicial systems and the knowledge, skills, and ability to navigate these systems successfully.
- Possess valid driver’s license with clean driving record.
JJC offers salary commensurable with experience. Competitive benefits and comprehensive benefits: Medical/Prescription Insurance/Dental Insurance/ Vacation/Paid Sick Time/Holidays/ 401(k) Retirement Plan Voluntary Insurance includes: Vision Insurance/Life Insurance/Short and Long Term Disability/ Cancer/etc.
JJC is an Equal Opportunity Employer, embracing diversity and inclusion in all of its services.
Please send resume, cover letter and salary requirement to hrdepartment@juvenilejustice.org