Vocational Counselor

Mountain Valley Child and Family Services (MVCFS) provides individualized treatment for troubled youth and teens, ages 10-21 in residential treatment in Nevada City and Sacramento, and TBS services throughout the Bay area.

Our 900-acre ranch outside Nevada City, CA provides a therapeutic setting where we facilitate individual and group activities to support the goals of our residential program. The ranch is an ideal environment for troubled youth to learn about themselves and deal with their behavioral and emotional challenges by exploring new interests such as tending gardens and caring for animals.

MVCFS is currently seeking Vocational Counselors at our Nevada City location. The Vocational Counselor is responsible for the safety, supervision, and interaction with severely emotionally at-risk youth.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Intervene with students in crises and document all serious incidents.
• Discuss student progress with MVCFS teams.
• Identify and resolve behavioral and academic challenges.
• Participate in Individual Education Program (IEP) meetings; report on student progress and challenges.
• Collaborate with students to help them identify and utilize coping skills for managing personal, social, and behavioral challenges.
• Observe, evaluate, and record student participation and engagement.
• Engage students to set expectations and to review educational/behavioral goals.
• Work with students in all areas of their programs to help them overcome challenges, succeed in completing difficult tasks, and realize the benefits of being successful.
• Work with students to ensure they are on track to meet graduation requirements.
• Engage students in age- and developmentally-appropriate career exploration activities to identify career opportunities and career planning.
• Help prepare students to pursue employment by teaching them how to search for jobs, complete applications, develop resumes, and prepare for job interviews.
• Prepare students for college, and trade and technical schools, by helping them identify appropriate programs, determine admission requirements, identify financial aid opportunities, and prepare for placement exams.
• Help students establish contacts with employers to inquire about internship and employment opportunities; write letters of recommendation for students as appropriate.
• Facilitate extracurricular activities.
• Promote career and employment-related opportunities.
• Help ensure that student records are accurate and complete.
• Perform other duties as assigned to ensure the integrity and effectiveness of Mountain Valley educational and therapeutic programs.

Minimally, Vocational Counselors must:

• Be 21 years or older to work in a short-term residential therapeutic program (STRTP).
• Have a valid Driver's License.
• Have a Bachelor's degree (Master's degree preferred) in social/behavioral sciences, education or related field.
• Have acceptable documentation of education and experience.
• Be able to effectively communicate in English (verbally and in writing), and to read and
  understand documents written in English.
• Pass the California Dept. of Justice Live-scan, FBI, and Child Abuse Clearance Index (CACI) background checks.
• Pass a physical examination to ensure ability to perform necessary job duties.
• Pass a drug screening.
• Pass a Tuberculosis test.

Comprehensive employee benefits package:

• Compensation: $20.00-25.00/hour; Competitive/DOE; Additional compensation differentials based on education and shift
• Bi-lingual stipend available
• Full-time
• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance
• Flexible Benefits Plan
• Paid holidays
• Sick time, vacation time, personal time
• 401k/401k match
• Education benefit package
• Employee Assistance Program
• Excellent paid training opportunities, ongoing professional development, as well as a collaborative team environment!