A member of the Nexus family treatment programs, Nexus-Onarga Family Healing is located approximately 90 miles south of Chicago and only a few miles off of I-57 on a historic site in Onarga, IL. Nexus Onarga provides boys ages 10 to 20 years old a structured, homelike environment where they can safely address their unhealthy sexual behaviors and their emotional and behavioral issues.

At Nexus, we believe in changing the course of a child’s life by stabilizing families and strengthening mental health through trauma-informed care. We are a large nonprofit within the human services, mental health, and behavioral health sectors. Nexus is a growing, innovative organization focused on transforming our level of impact through a heightened focus on family expertise, healing complex trauma, and supporting high-stress youth and families.

The Youth Care Professional is responsible for providing reliable and timely support and reinforcement of all therapeutic programing by providing guidance and direction to clients in their daily living activities by utilizing trauma informed practices to maintain a safe environment, while ensuring the client’s needs are met.

Primary responsibilities:

Daily Youth Care Support Monitors and coach’s clients to achieve activities of daily living such as personal hygiene, grooming, upkeep of living areas and laundry. Serves as a mentor and role model by demonstrating compassion and understanding for feelings, and experiences of staff and clients; communicates in an honest, positive, and respectful manner. Plans and participates in creating daily scheduling, activities, treatment planning, guidance plans, and safety protocols. Treatment Planning & Protocol Administers medications accurately per established protocols; ensures the documentation and recording requirements of client record is accurate and compliant. Engages in therapeutic interventions with clients within treatment parameters, while always maintaining healthy and appropriate boundaries with clients and families. Facilitates or co-facilitates educational groups that support treatment plan goals, and therapeutic programming. Client & Family Reinforcement Plans, participates, and successfully carries out off-campus client activities as designed while effectively managing the group, and providing appropriate supervision of client/s. Assists in the transportation of clients for home visits, doctors’ appointments, planned recreational activities, etc. as required. Fosters balance and accountability by creating safe space with client; holds clients accountable to their actions while continuing to focus on the greater picture of supporting social and emotional growth and development. Maintains a trauma-informed care approach when working with clients and staff; infuses and applies restorative practices with clients by supporting accountability. Client Safety & Agency Policy & Procedures   Ensures compliance with all safety policies and procedures involving living areas, buildings campus grounds and while attending off-campus locations and activities. Performs First Aid/CPR procedures and responds according to established protocols in the event of an emergency. Remains calm and demonstrates positive and effective de-escalation techniques and strategies in conjunction with crisis management training. Agency and Team Collaboration Maintains positive team interactions, and regularly attends and actively participates in staff meetings, positively representing and advocating for the needs of clients (and their families as applicable). Partners and assumes responsibility in managing the milieu in the absence of the Milieu Lead or Milieu Supervisor as requested. Participates in the onboarding, training and development and assumes mentorship role for new staff.

Required Education and Licensure:

Minimum 21 years of age High School diploma or GED is required. Valid driver’s license required. Must meet state regulating agency and Home Office driving requirements

Work Schedule & Salary:

Salary starts at $19.60 per hour Flexible Schedule offered with available hours ranging from 6:30a-10pm on weekdays & weekends 

Work Environment:

Must be able to lift to 50 pounds unassisted and up to 100+ pounds with assistance. Must be able to stand and walk for extended periods of time (2-4 hours). Must be able to twist, bend and stretch in a manner conducive to the execution of daily activities within the residential program. Must be able to assist in proper restraining of client. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as desktop and/or laptop computers, photocopiers, and smartphones.

At Nexus Family Healing, our voices and actions are focused on recognizing, affirming and respecting people of every race, ethnic background, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, gender expression and faith.

Our ICARE Values:

Innovation: Leading the way and implementing creative, cutting-edge ideas and approaches Compassion: Listening, honoring differences, and showing respect, kindness, empathy care, and concern Agility: Exhibiting flexibility and adapting quickly Responsiveness: Being quick, positive, and accurate Excellence: Demonstrating quality results that surpass ordinary standards

APPLY TODAY TO BE CONTACTED BY OUR RECRUITING TEAM! When you work at Nexus, you have the opportunity to change lives — including your own!

Keywords: “Mental Health Counselor" , "Youth Counselor" , "Youth Care" , "Mental Health Technician", "Direct Support Professional", "Youth Mentor"