Advocate Counselor - Good Shepherd Services

Good Shepherd Services is a leading multi-service agency with more than 85 programs that serve over 30,000 youth and families each year – and builds on their strengths to help them gain skills for success.  At Good Shepherd we respect the dignity and worth of every person and reject intolerance, inequity and injustice in whatever form it may take. Voted one of the top 100 places to work in NYC by Crain’s New York, Good Shepherd Services offers a fantastic work environment, a collaborative team dedicated to fulfilling our mission, and an amazing array of benefits. Join our team and help make a difference! 

For Full Time Employees Benefits/Perks:

• Tuition Assistance Program
• Generous paid time off (Including 5 Self-Care Days/Floating Holidays, 12 Sick Days, 15 Vacation Days, and 11 Holidays)
• Healthcare Plans (Medical, Dental, Vision, and Pet Care)
• 403(b) Plan (GSS contributes 3% of your salary to your 403(b) plan after 3 years of service, with contributions increasing over time) 

Candidates hired in this position will work in person but will have the flexibility to work remotely when program need allows

Title:                   Advocate Counselor, DeWitt Clinton High School

Location:           100 West Mosholu Parkway, Bronx, NY 10468

Hours:                35/ Hours Week; Non-Exempt

Reports To:        Community School Director

Salary:                $44,000 - $50,000 

Job Summary:

In conjunction with the Good Shepherd Community School Program, the advocate counselor will work as a part of the mental health component to provide crisis intervention services to students at DeWitt Clinton High School with the goal of stabilizing students so they can remain in school. The advocate counselor will work with social work staff to design and provide school-wide prevention services that seek to promote positive mental health and educational success,

Major Duties:

• Provide crisis intervention, mediation, and other de-escalation interventions to students who are exhibiting disruptive behavior in classrooms and in the hallways.
• Greet students as they enter the building to welcome them and ensure their school day starts positively.
• Be present in the hallways during transitions to diffuse tensions that arise as students move to classes and lunch.
• Work with the Good Shepherd team to develop a plan for students who are in crisis and to involve students in appropriate mental health services both in the building and in the community.
• Reach out to parents of students as needed to involve them in supporting their children.
• Follow up with students, their families, and service providers to ensure each student’s needs are addressed.
• Design/provide school-wide universal prevention services that promote positive mental health (i.e., assemblies, activities for advisories, presentations in classrooms and the cafeteria, etc.).
• Co-lead ongoing group services based around common issues that arise with students, such as survivors of violence, parenting students, loss, etc.
• Use restorative justice practices to resolve conflict and maintain a positive school environment.
• Collaborate with Good Shepherd and DeWitt Clinton staff to ensure coordination of student services.
• Collaborate with other programs in DeWitt Clinton, especially the Montefiore Health Clinic.
• Maintain all required statistical and narrative documentation as required by the program and funders.
• Participate in staff training and meetings as required.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Associates Required. Bachelors Preferred.
• Bilingual English/ Spanish Required.
• Prior Experience Working With Students Required.
• Experience in mediation and restorative justice techniques strongly preferred.
• Prior experience in an educational setting strongly preferred.
• Ability to work independently and follow through on details.
• Ability to work occasional weekends or evenings.
• Must have excellent organizational, teamwork, verbal and written communication skills.
• Must have a commitment of work from a strength-based and/or youth development perspective.

Good Shepherd Services is an equal opportunity employer that is proudly committed to becoming an anti-racist and multicultural organization that stands up for justice and equity. We welcome prospective employees from diverse backgrounds, for administrative support and direct service and leadership roles, who will join us on that journey, uphold our values and approach, and believe in our mission. Additionally, we aim to have a racially representative leadership and workforce that is reflective of the communities we work in partnership with.

Good Shepherd Services is committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, participants, volunteers, subcontractors, and vendors. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of our activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and termination of staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services.

We are committed to providing a workplace that is accessible and accommodating to employees with disabilities. As part of our commitment to providing a barrier-free recruitment and selection process, we will provide reasonable accommodations upon request for candidates with disabilities. If you require any accommodations to participate in the hiring process, please inform us of your needs in advance. We value diversity and inclusivity in our workplace and encourage applicants of all abilities to apply.