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) 

Title:                 Advocate Counselor

Reports to:      Community School Director, Bushwick Leaders High School

Location:         976 Seneca Ave, Queens NY 11385 

Hours:             35 Hours/Week; Exempt

Salary:             $44k - $50k

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 Bushwick Leaders High School, with a goal of stabilizing students so they can remain in school. The Advocate Counselor will work with social work staff to design and/or provide school wide prevention services that seek to promote positive mental health and educational success

Major Duties:

• Provide resource mobilization, advocacy, and follow-up for caseload.
• Monitor student’s attendance and academic progress in school and as well after school enrichment activities.
• Design/provide school wide universal prevention services which promote positive mental health (i.e. assemblies, activities for advisories, presentations in classrooms / cafeteria, self-care,)
• Collaborate with Good Shepherd and Bushwick Leaders staff to ensure coordination of student service
• Conduct individual and group counseling, including classroom groups.
• Plan and implement social supports during and after school, including parent groups and workshops.       
• Coordinate with other Good Shepherd Services team members.
• Lead trips outside of school that may include occasional out-of-city trips and overnight trips for camping or college/educational visits.
• Implement engaging parent involvement activities.
• Maintain a collaborative relationship with DOE partners.
• Provide statistical and narrative reports and database input as required.
• Participate in program evaluation.
• Provide home visits as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Associate's degree and experience working with adolescents required.
• Bilingual in Spanish and English required.
• Experience in mediation and restorative justice techniques a plus.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, in addition to good organization skills.
• Must have a commitment to 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.