Prevention Counseling Program Manager

OVERVIEW:

In 1971, a group of students from Brighton High School had the idea to create a "center" that would meet the specific needs of youth in Rochester, NY. The philosophy supporting the vision was quite radical for the time: that young people, given information and support, could make positive life choices. They founded The Center to be informed by youth, for youth.

The Center for Youth continues with this as our core principle. We are committed to empowering and advocating for vulnerable youth while elevating their voices. Our mission is to provide comprehensive, free, voluntary, and confidential programs.

The Counseling and Runaway and Homeless Youth (RHY) Department provides a continuum of essential services to the most vulnerable youth in our community, including prevention counseling, two crisis nurseries, an emergency shelter, permanent and transitional housing, a food and clothing pantry, street outreach, and support for minor victims of commercial sexual exploitation.

The RHY Prevention Counseling Program Manager is responsible for the management and supervision of the RHY Prevention Counselors, including Community Counselors, Triage Counselors, Youth & Family Counselors, and Safe Harbour Advocates. They are responsible for reviewing and monitoring OASAS contract objectives, with a focus on program outcomes, as well as maintaining the New York State Safe Harbour database. The Manager plays a leadership role in planning, prioritizing and evaluating services, team outreach activities and linkages with other providers/collaboratives/committees.

The Manager will be responsible for the on-going assessment of the team's service, identify expansion potential, assess community or catchment area needs and formulate possible responses. The Manager attends weekly Case Review and works closely with the other RHY Managers. This is a full-time, 12-month position.

The RHY Prevention Counseling Program Manager participates in the On-Call RHY Supervisor rotation (for 1 week, every 5-6 weeks). This emergency response system is intended to provide after-hours and weekend support to the 24-hour residential and crisis programs.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND EXAMPLES OF DUTIES:

• Monitors program contract objectives with a focus on program outcomes, develops and evaluates the OASAS and Safe Harbour work plans
• Ongoing planning and program development specific to assessment, counseling, and outcomes
• Promotes and develops effective linkages with community resources, providers, and systems
• Assesses the needs of youth and families served
• Assures compliance with record keeping, reporting, and evaluation requirements of the agency and funders
• Supervises, provides guidance, mentors, and evaluates the performance of Counselors and Advocates
• Hires, trains, orients, and mentors new counseling staff
• Coordinates and leads the team outreach activities
• Promotes positive team interactions across all program areas of the agency
• Participates in after-hours on-call rotation
• Other duties as assigned by the supervisor

EMPLOYMENT GUIDELINES:

Candidate must:

• Adhere to ethical conduct
• Demonstrate professionalism i.e., timely, dependable, responsible, flexible
• Be non-judgmental and respectful
• Model principles of inclusion and tolerance
• Be youth centered and positive
• Be family friendly
• Establish effective working relationships with supervisor and co-workers
• Develop positive relationships with all key stakeholders
• Have strong literacy skills (i.e., reading, writing, comprehension)
• Have excellent communication skills (verbal and written)
• Conduct research and apply best-practices and evaluation methods
• Effectively promote knowledge and skill development and positive behaviors
• Provide leadership and/or work independently as requested

Candidate must possess significant knowledge of –

• Chemical dependency and problem gambling prevention counseling
• Management and supervisory methods and techniques
• Adolescent, family and group development and counseling
• Crisis intervention, case management, advocacy, and strength-based problem solving and decision-making models
• Team building and team dynamics
• Program outcomes and evaluation
• Adolescent development including: positive youth development, asset development, risk reduction and protective factors
• Youth serving systems
• Community resources
• Client advocacy

CULTURAL SENSITIVITY

The Center delivers services to youth and families from many racial, ethnic, cultural, social and life style groups. We value differences in people and strive to understand diverse cultures, ethnic origins, sexual orientations, abilities and beliefs. To this end, all staff are required to attend professional development trainings and to continually enhance their understanding of cultural diversity.

Staff are expected to respect and honor cultural and human diversity. The annual Performance Appraisal provides an opportunity for staff to evaluate how they are integrating culturally competent practices into their everyday work.

QUALIFICATIONS

Master's degree in counseling, social work or…