Live-In Youth Care Specialist

Careers at Crossnore include a comprehensive benefits package to support employee health and financial well-being. Benefits include paid time off, paid parental leave (based on tenure), flexible work schedules when the role permits, a 401(k) with company match, medical, dental, and vision insurance, and more.

Open Positions

Position: Live-In Youth Care Specialist

Location: Hickory, NC

Job Id: 4088

# of Openings: 1

Live-In Youth Care Specialist (Cottage Parent)

Location: Crossnore, NC (Avery County) or Winston-Salem, NC

Schedule: You work 7 days on, then have 7 full days off, which adds up to about 26 weeks off every year. Half the year is yours.

Your Impact: Help children feel safe, supported, and at home. Children come to Crossnore for many different reasons. Whatever brought them here, what helps them most is often simple, consistent care: a warm dinner, a ride to school, help with homework, and an adult who is there again the next morning. As a cottage parent, you're that adult. You and a partner run a home for children and teens who have experienced trauma. Some days are hard, and we won't pretend otherwise. But you'll also see a child relax at the dinner table for the first time, or finally believe someone is in their corner.

At a glance

• Live on campus with a cottage partner during your 7-day work week, then have the next 7 days completely off
• Care for 9 children and/or teens, ages 0-18
• Full training before you start, and a team of caseworkers, therapists, and supervisors behind you

What the work looks like: Your days look a lot like running a busy family home, with more structure and more support.

• Mornings: wake-ups, breakfast, and getting everyone off to school on time
• Afternoons and evenings: homework, chores, activities, dinner together, and bedtime routines
• In between: rides to school, appointments, and activities; cooking, laundry, and keeping the home comfortable
• The hard moments: staying calm when a child is overwhelmed, using trauma-informed approaches you'll be trained in
• The long game: teaching life skills, setting healthy boundaries, and helping kids grow toward independence
• Teamwork: sharing notes with your cottage partner, caseworkers, and therapists so every child gets consistent care

Who we're looking for: You don't need a specific degree. You need patience, steadiness, and a real desire to make a difference for kids.

You'll fit in well if you:

• Have cared for or worked with children or teens, as a parent, foster parent, teacher, coach, youth worker, or in residential care or behavioral health
• Stay calm when emotions run high, and don't take hard days personally
• Can be both warm and firm, and keep routines kids can count on
• Work well with a partner and a team

Hiring Range: $35,000 to $41,000 annually - Compensation is based on experience and qualifications. Candidates who meet only the minimum requirements can expect to start at the beginning of the range, while those with additional and relevant experience and/or advanced skills may be considered for higher starting pay within the range.

Benefits

Health and financial benefits

• 401k with up to a 6% employer match
• Life, Short-Term Disability, and Long-Term Disability plans
• Critical Illness and Accident coverage options
• Flexible Spending Plan

Ongoing Training

Housing/Meals included while on shift

Pre-Hire Requirements

• Must successfully complete extensive background checks, interviews, and pre-hire drug screen
• Must be willing to take care of the Cottage dog.

Education/Experience

• High School diploma or equivalent required, Bachelor's degree in human services or related field preferred.
• Residential child care experience preferred.
• Knowledge of child development and/or prior experience working with at-risk populations preferred.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

Note: This job ad is a summary of the position and its requirements. For a full list of responsibilities and qualifications, please refer to the detailed job description which can be sent to you upon request.