WYCA Counselor

State of Washington•Kitsap County – Bremerton, WA

43d•Onsite

About The Position

The Washington Youth ChalleNGe Academy (WYCA) is dedicated to making a difference in the lives of Washington's at-risk youth. This position, Youth Academy Counseling & Coordination Specialist 3 (Counselor), involves providing professional, non-clinical guidance and counseling services directly to 16-18 year old "At-Risk" youth (Cadet students) enrolled in the program. The WYCA operates under the National Guard Youth Challenge Program, offering a voluntary 22-week residential phase followed by a 24-month post-residential phase. The program aims to provide a highly disciplined, safe, and professional learning environment to empower at-risk youth to improve their educational levels and become responsible, productive Washingtonians. This is one of the most successful alternative education programs for high school dropouts or youth not progressing in a traditional high school setting.

Requirements

A Master's degree with a major in career/vocational counseling, educational counseling, mental health counseling, psychology or comparable degree.
Must possess a valid, unencumbered license to drive in the State of Washington.
Must successfully complete a pre-employment personal history and criminal background check investigation, which includes fingerprinting.
Willing not to use or be in possession of illegal narcotics or controlled substances while on or off duty.
Willing and able to be free from excessive alcohol consumption.
Willing and able to pass drug testing requirements, including pre-employment (to include testing when employees change job classifications due to promotion or transfer or there is "reasonable suspicion").
Ability, willingness, desire and commitment to work with all at-risk youth in a 24/7 highly structured residential setting required extensive interaction and contact with at-risk youth and parents who may be disgruntled, angry, disrespectful (use of profanity, name calling, etc.)
Must be willing to work in and around military facilities and programs.
Must be willing and committed to following the NGYCP-CA Hands-Off Leadership and Appropriate Relationships Guidance.
Must be willing to follow directives and law pertaining to Hands-Off Leadership, Fraternization, Mandatory Reporting, and Appropriate Relationships.
Must comply with Department policies and procedures governing workplace conduct.

Nice To Haves

Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC); Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) or Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Career and Technical Education Certification Counselor or equivalent, Vocational Education Certification, and/or Educational Staff Associate (ESA) Certification
Two to four years of professional experience in Substance Abuse Counseling, Mental Health/Behavioral Counseling, Resolution, Anger Management, and/or Trauma Counseling.
Two to four years working with high school aged student population
Two years of experience facilitating instruction to large (25+) or small (3-7) groups
Working with at-risk or disengaged youth
Group Guidance/Counseling and facilitation
Individual Guidance/Counseling
Training or experience counseling others for self-harm, suicide ideation, alcohol & drug abuse, grief, loss or depression
Knowledge/Skills/Abilities: Career/Vocational, Academic, Social/Behavioral Guidance Programs
Employment opportunities and processes, apprenticeship or other training programs for youth, including Work Based Learning, Job Shadowing, etc.
Assessments for career/vocational, academic, social/behavioral
Life Skills Prevention/Interventions (i.e., depression, suicide, home sickness, drug/alcohol, etc.)
Develop instructional curriculum for classroom and group settings for Career/Vocational, Academic, Social/Behavioral guidance programs
Conduct instructional, individual and group prevention/intervention programs (i.e. career/vocational, decision-making/problem solving, personal finance/budgeting, stress management, anger management, drug/alcohol, etc.)
The ability to take action to learn and grow.
The ability to meet the needs of others.

Responsibilities

Administer a behavioral, academic, and life skills intervention program for at-risk youth (Cadet students) enrolled at the Washington Youth ChalleNG e Academy (WYCA).
Instruct classes of platoon size, or a more traditional 25-30 Cadets (students), pertaining to the Counseling Department’s responsibilities of; career/vocational planning, academic success, personal/social adjustment, job skills, life coping skills, drug/alcohol abuse prevention, etc. and conduct learning assessments of these subjects to ensure comprehension.
Collect, maintain, report, and archive demographic, statistical, and historical data pertaining to the scope of the Counseling department purview.
Coordinate Counseling Department sponsored events for Cadets (students).