Counselor - YCA Ft. Stewart Job Opening

The purpose of the Youth Challenge Program (YCP) is to recruit, enroll, and train at-risk youth who have left high school without a diploma (dropouts or expulsions) to complete work on their General Educational Development (GED) Diploma, and to receive life skills training. The program is structured similar to a US Army basic training company, providing military structure and discipline, drill and ceremony, self-control and motivation. Eight core components form the basis of the curriculum: academic excellence; life coping skills; vocational training; responsible citizenship; leader/followership; health, hygiene and sex education; physical fitness; and, community involvement/community service projects. The program is drug-free, gang-free, and tobacco-free. The 22-week residential program ensures a safe, secure environment where the eight core components can be achieved through individualized instruction. In addition, 40 hours of service learning is required of all cadets in order to graduate. The majority of the graduates continue on to post-secondary school education, vocational-technical training, full-time employment, military enlistment, or some combination of these. With campuses at Fort Stewart in Hinesville and Fort Gordon in Augusta, and a third campus in Milledgeville, Georgia’s YCP is one of the most successful “at-risk” youth programs in the nation, graduating over 16,000 cadets since the program’s inception in 1993.

The YCA Youth Counselor provides educational and personal counseling, guidance and assessment services to cadets at YCA Ft. Stewart. Provides assistance in the social, emotional, educational and vocational development of cadets who exhibit complex personal problems and adjustment difficulty. Provides the instruction of life skills and the coordination of supplemental student activities that are designed to improve work habits and to enhance the ability of students to live independently after graduation. Participates in extracurricular activities as needed (such as a weeklong camping trip each class cycle).

The selected candidate must be willing to work a flexible schedule when needed, which may include evenings and weekends.

Preferred Qualifications:

Preference will be given to those applicants who, in addition meeting the minimum qualifications have completed three (3) Master’s level courses in counseling (or a related area of study) AND have one (1) year of full-time professional level experience in providing educational/career planning services or counseling;
OR
Applicants who have a graduate degree in counseling or social work from an accredited four-year college or university;
OR
Applicants who possess licensure as a professional counselor from an accredited state or national certifying association.

Further consideration may also be given to those applicants who, in addition to meeting the minimum or preferred qualifications, also possess a combination of the following:

1. Job experience working with “at-risk” youth
2. Basic computer software usage skills
3. Possession of a valid Georgia Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
4. Experience in swimming, climbing and/or canoeing

Additional Information:

Selected applicant must pass a pre-employment background investigation, which includes a Georgia criminal records search, national criminal records check, a pre-employment drug test (post-hire will be placed in the pool for the State Random Drug Testing Program), AND a post-employment federal background investigation.

“AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER & DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE”

Due to the volume of applications received, we are unable to provide information on application status by phone or e-mail. All qualified applicants will be considered, but may not necessarily receive an interview. Selected applicants will be contacted by the hiring agency for next steps in the selection process. Applicants who are not selected will not receive notification.