Wind Youth Services, a subsidiary of Goodwill Industries, provides supportive services and opportunities to youth experiencing homelessness as they pursue self-determined lives of stability and independence.

Wind Youth Services (Wind) believes that promoting the safety, shelter, and self-determination of all youth experiencing homelessness, including those who are unstably or unsafely housed– regardless of their ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, sobriety status, engagement in the sex trades, and legal history- is fundamental not only to their human rights, but also to the promotion of a more socially just and equitable society.

Under the direction of the Program Manager, the Counselor is responsible for providing  referrals, crisis intervention, support and encouragement to enable youth to access and use mental health and other services that help the client choose, find and maintain housing and mental health stability. This position requires a high degree of flexibility in responding to emergent needs of youth who are experiencing homelessness, youth in crisis, and good organizational and documentation skills.

Responsibilities:

• Provide individual crisis and drop in support services to homeless, at-risk, and transition-aged youth
• Provide trauma-informed, culturally affirming, and LGBTQ affirming support services.  
• Observe, assess and refer (within one’s scope of practice) youth’s mental health symptoms and develop and document service plans that best meet the client.
• Create and implement group curricula.
• Provide referrals to psychiatric, substance abuse, and other mental health care providers in the event that it is necessary for youth to access a higher level of service.
• Complete and submit all documentation in a timely manner, including client intake and exit paperwork; assessment and service plans.
• Provide written reports.
•  Review case files of all youth in care quarterly to ensure proper documentation is being completed.
• Communicates with other agencies to help coordinate services.
• Plan, organize and prioritize own work to meet deadlines and accomplish tasks within established timelines, including maintaining accurate records and files;
• Analyze and integrate outcome data to improve service delivery.
•  Ensure and monitor satisfaction levels for youth, families, and referring workers and agencies.
• Culturally responsive to internal and external customers, and ensures youth and family voice.
• Performs other related duties as required.
• Ability to establish and maintain trusting relationships with youth. 
• Direct experience providing clinical services, case management or crisis services.
• Knowledge of the mental health needs and barriers to care among the Sacramento County homeless youth and adults.
• Strong team leadership and team development skills.
• Ability to remain calm and focused in volatile situations.  Demonstrated experience working in crisis intervention.
• Ability to develop and maintain professional behavior/appropriate boundaries with youth and staff members.
• Ability to work independently and as a member of a team.
• Acceptance of a variety of lifestyles, behaviors, and cultural and spiritual practices.

• Preferred: Master's Degree in counseling, psychology, social work, or a closely related field.
• Accepted: Bachelor’s Degree in counseling, psychology, social work, or a closely related field and 1 year experience working with homeless and/or at-risk youth
• Valid California driver’s license & Proof of Insurance.
• No record or disclosure of criminal conviction that indicates a tendency toward theft, violence, dishonesty, deceit, drug manufacture or sale, or predatory behavior.
• Must provide proof of identification and eligibility to work in the United States of America.
• Must pass a drug and background screening.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.
• Previously homeless strongly encouraged to apply.

Position Information:

• Full-Time
• Hourly rate dependent upon experience.
• Work is primarily performed in shelter locations.
• Work environment usually hectic (fast paced) with frequent short deadlines and a regular number of critical or unusual situations.
• Some physical work, including lifting, bending, climbing stairs, carrying up to 35 pounds.
• Must have reliable transportation and valid driver’s license and be willing to travel to various work locations.
• May require work outside of normal work hours, including evenings or weekends.

Offers of employment may be contingent on satisfactory results of a criminal history background check and drug test.

This organization participates in E-Verify. E-Verify is a service that verifies authorization to work in the U.S. through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Department of Social Security (SSA).