Youth Behavioral Health Advocate

Hope Villages of America•Clearwater, FL

9d•$50,000 - $65,000

About The Position

The Youth Behavioral Health Advocate provides trauma-informed therapeutic services to children and adolescents who live in the shelter or receive services through the outreach center. The role supports young people affected by domestic violence, trauma, abuse, and family instability through counseling, group therapy, crisis intervention, emotional support, and advocacy. The advocate collaborates with shelter staff, caregivers, schools, medical providers, child welfare, and community partners to promote safety, emotional healing, resilience, healthy development, coping skills, emotional regulation, and positive family interactions. The position develops individualized treatment plans, provides individual and family counseling, facilitates support and therapeutic groups, and offers crisis intervention and emotional stabilization during shelter stays and transitions. It maintains timely and accurate clinical documentation in Osnium, participates in treatment team and staff meetings, coordinates referrals, and contributes to program records and data. The advocate also follows organizational policies, supports the organization’s mission and teamwork, uses resources responsibly, and helps maintain a safe, healthy, and properly maintained environment. The role requires a master’s degree in Social Work, Mental Health Counseling, or Marriage and Family Therapy. Active Florida licensure or eligibility for licensure is preferred. Two years of experience in the domestic violence field and the Florida State Attorney’s Office is preferred. Competency-based Core training (30 hours) is required within 90 days of employment. The position requires computer skills, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; organizational and communication skills; the ability to collaborate and work with people in crisis; and a valid driver’s license and transportation. The work environment may be non-private and may vary from an outdoor parking lot to a showroom, cubicle workspace, or adaptive office. The employee may be exposed at times to fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, extreme heat, electrical shock risk, vibration, and varying noise levels. Availability to work nights, weekends, and holidays is required. Physical demands include lifting, operating a motor vehicle, reaching, pushing and pulling, standing, kneeling, sitting, walking, bending or stooping, climbing stairs or ladders, typing, color and depth perception, fine hand and finger movements, and operating various equipment.

Requirements

Master’s degree in Social Work, Mental Health Counseling, or Marriage and Family Therapy.
Computer skills, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Organizational and communication skills.
Ability to work collaboratively with others.
Valid driver’s license and transportation.
Demonstrated ability to work with people in crisis.
Competency-based Core training (30 hours) within 90 days of employment.
Availability to work nights, weekends, and holidays.
Ability to meet the physical demands described for the role, including lifting, operating a motor vehicle, reaching, pushing and pulling, standing, kneeling, sitting, walking, bending or stooping, climbing stairs or ladders, typing, color and depth perception, fine hand and finger movements, and operating various equipment.

Nice To Haves

Active licensure or eligibility for licensure in Florida (LCSW or LMHC).
Two years of experience working in the domestic violence field and Florida State Attorney’s Office.

Responsibilities

Follow administrative guidelines and policies.
Maintain a community image consistent with the organization’s mission.
Build proactive, mutually beneficial team relationships that foster teamwork and advance the mission.
Exercise due care and stewardship of resources, including equipment, food, money, volunteer time, and staff time.
Oversee the general physical environment for health, safety, and proper facility maintenance.
Provide individual and family counseling to children and adolescents impacted by domestic violence.
Develop, manage, and facilitate support groups for children and adolescents as needed.
Develop individualized treatment plans based on participants’ needs.
Provide crisis intervention and emotional stabilization during shelter stays and transitional periods.
Collaborate with caregivers and shelter staff to support healthy coping skills, emotional regulation, and positive family interactions.
Maintain timely and accurate clinical documentation in Osnium.
Participate in treatment team meetings.
Coordinate referrals and collaborate with medical providers, community agencies, and child welfare.
Facilitate therapeutic groups for children and adolescents.
Participate in ongoing training related to trauma, domestic violence, and child development.
Regularly update team members regarding resource listings and participant status.
Update participant files weekly.
Collect, organize, and enter data into the WS database and other databases weekly.
Develop knowledge of domestic violence issues, laws, policies, and case histories.
Participate in training opportunities, including mandatory 24-hour DCF Core Training and six shadowing hours for confidentiality and privilege registration; maintain 17 hours of domestic violence training per year.
Attend staff meetings and local community meetings.
Assist with other duties as assigned.