Program Counselor

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. The Program Counselor will report to a Secure Detention and be responsible for performing the following duties but not limited to:

• Work closely with Youth Development Specialists, contracted providers and the Department of Education 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 to 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 that vendors comply with contracts.
• Develop monthly provider meetings and progress reports, and annual vendor performance evaluations.
• 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.

Minimum Qualifications

1. 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 2. 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 3. 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.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education's website.

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.

Additional Information

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic.