Counselor

Pace Center for Girls I Do Matter • Ft. Myers, FL

6d • Onsite

About The Position

At Pace, we transform girls’ lives through academic and counseling programs based on a gender-responsive, strength-based, and trauma-informed framework. Team members create a safe place for girls to learn, grow, and heal. The counselor role provides prevention services to girls that includes social-emotional support, intensive care (case) management, crisis counseling, and psycho-educational groups. This position is aimed at helping girls decrease risk-related behaviors.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree from four-year College or University with a Major in Social Work, Psychology, and Mental Health, Counseling, or a related field.
• Minimum three years prior experience.
• Knowledge of case management practices.
• Excellent individual, group and family counseling and crisis management skills.
• Proficiency in computer skills, database management and/or office software.
• Current Florida driver’s license.
• This position requires a Level II pre-employment background screening pursuant to Chapters 435, 984, 985 and 943, Florida Statutes, and the Department of Juvenile Justice policy and procedures.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s Degree; Major in Social Work, Psychology, Mental Health, Counseling or a related field with a minimum of 1-year prior experience.
• Knowledge of laws relating to children and families.
• Experience working with at-risk youth.
• Experience in working in a multidisciplinary team.

Responsibilities

• Increase girls’ resiliency and protective factors by improving relationships, increasing self-efficacy, and encouraging self-advocacy.
• Assess and address needs and strengths through holistic assessment, goal setting, and care planning.
• Utilize the Transtheoretical Model of Change, considering any history of trauma and leveraging girls’ strengths.
• Provide bi-weekly counseling services to girls using guidance, support, collaboration, skill acquisition, and psycho-educational services.
• Provide psycho-educational groups that are girl-centered, focusing on social-emotional and life skill development.
• Provide monthly family support/counseling with caregivers to encourage girl progression in the change process and to work with natural supports.
• Provide solution-focused counseling approaches toward the resolution of risk factors for substance abuse following the standards of the Florida Administrative Codes Chapter 65D-30.
• Provide crisis intervention as warranted, including family support, peer mediation, classroom support, and the coordination of risk assessments.
• Provide care (case) management services, including transportation services when needed, field trips and other extracurricular activities, maintain a safe environment in the program, collaborate with outside entities and community providers involved in girls’ care, make referrals as appropriate, and advocate for needed resources.
• Provide strength-based behavior modification and ensure appropriate use of the Growth and Change System, including de-escalation of girls and caregivers when needed.
• Partner with the academic team to ensure holistic, cohesive care.
• Participate in care review meetings for girls served and provide education to the care planning team using a multidisciplinary framework.
• Collaborate with the intake team to support decision-making about program enrollment.
• Document progress and complete assessments, screening tools, care plans and transition plans.
• Contribute positively toward programmatic outcomes and with the collection of data to support the change process of girls.
• Other duties as assigned.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level