Youth Development Specialist (Youth Counselor)

Northwest Passage Ltd • Webster, WI

1d • $21 - $28 • Onsite

About The Position

The Youth Development Specialist provides direct care, supervision, and support to youth in a residential treatment setting. The role is one of the central relationships in youth’s therapeutic activities at Northwest Passage. The specialist helps create a safe, structured, and nurturing environment where youth can develop emotional regulation, build healthy relationships, strengthen life skills, and work toward individualized treatment goals. Through daily interactions, activities, and behavior support, the specialist contributes to each youth’s growth, healing, and success.

The position follows a Monday–Friday schedule from 2:15 p.m. to 10:15 p.m. Northwest Passage uses its PassageWay Elements—Nature, Recreation, Relaxation, Nutrition, Exercise, Relationships, Service, and Spirit—as part of its approach, integrating traditional mental health treatment with arts, education, nature-based therapy, and experiential opportunities.

Requirements

• Associate or bachelor’s degree in a social or behavioral science field, such as psychology, social work, sociology, or education, or equivalent coursework and/or relevant experience working with youth who have significant mental health needs.
• Proven experience working with youth who have significant mental health needs.
• Reliability and ability to follow through on commitments and expectations.
• Strong self-regulation skills to remain calm in stressful situations, along with effective self-care strategies that support personal well-being and resiliency.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for working effectively with people from diverse backgrounds.
• Enthusiasm for learning and growth, and ability to receive feedback and learn from mistakes.
• Ability to adapt to change.
• Commitment to serving others and making a difference in the lives of youth.
• Availability to work Monday through Friday, 2:15 p.m. to 10:15 p.m.

Responsibilities

• Provide close supervision of youth in residential, outdoor, and community settings.
• Develop and implement activities that support regulation and emphasize the PassageWay Elements: Nature, Recreation, Relaxation, Nutrition, Exercise, Relationships, Service, and Spirit.
• Use routines and rhythms to provide a safe, structured environment.
• Ensure youth’s basic needs are met, including nutrition, exercise, hygiene, and rest.
• Build connections with youth from diverse backgrounds and model effective relational, communication, and conflict-management skills.
• Seek to understand the emotions, needs, and experiences underlying youth behaviors.
• Respond to youth behavior proactively by identifying patterns, meeting needs, supporting regulation, and using strategies such as praise and reinforcement, problem-solving, and limit-setting.
• Use the least restrictive measures necessary to maintain safety, emphasizing connection and co-regulation.
• Build on youths’ strengths and help them develop a positive sense of self.
• Monitor personal responses to youth behavior and use strategies to maintain self-regulation.
• Help youth understand their emotional experiences and develop the ability to tolerate, express, and manage emotions through co-regulation and skill-building.
• Develop an understanding of mental health concepts, psychotropic medications, and client symptomology.
• Advocate for residents’ appropriate goals, wants, and needs.
• Transport youth to off-campus activities using Northwest Passage vehicles, including 15-passenger vans.
• Complete required documentation within expected timeframes and according to professional standards.
• Attend and participate in required meetings and trainings.
• Maintain a clean and safe treatment environment.
• Understand and follow agency policies and procedures.

Benefits

• Health insurance with no deductible
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• 403(b) retirement savings with discretionary employer match
• Paid time off
• Paid holidays
• Paid parental leave
• Employer-paid short-term disability insurance
• Employer-paid life and AD&D insurance
• Voluntary long-term disability insurance
• Voluntary life and AD&D insurance
• Voluntary supplemental health benefits, including accident, critical illness, and hospital indemnity insurance
• Employee Assistance Program with mental health benefit
• Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care
• Longevity benefit
• Relocation assistance
• Off-site housing for $500 per month, dependent on availability
• Qualifying employer for the Public Student Loan Forgiveness Program
• Tuition assistance/loan reimbursement, subject to application and approval
• Real-world experience in mental health, experiential programming, and nature-based programming

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree