Youth Counselor III

About the Hope Forward Campus

Aspiranet’s Hope Forward Campus in Turlock is undergoing a transformation that once complete in 2026 will offer the next generation of therapeutic residential care. The expanded campus is designed to meet the varying levels of behavioral health and crisis needs for children and youth in the Central Valley. Designed with open community spaces, and advanced trauma-informed resources, the campus brings together innovative programming, family engagement, and integrated behavioral health services.

Key Responsibilities

• Informs and supports the implementation of future-focused, strength-based, trauma-responsive treatment, transition, and discharge plans and interventions.
• Implements the daily cottage/group home schedule, adhering to routines and rhythms and honoring the individual rituals, spiritual, and cultural customs of each youth in Aspiranet’s care.
• Acts as the senior experienced youth counselor, and may serve in a temporary capacity as administrator in absence of Core Program Supervisor or Manager.
• Stages appropriate therapeutic activities, including transportation.
• Ensures a clean, safe, and welcoming cottage/group home environment through daily checks, monitoring supply levels, and submitting orders as needed.
• Safeguards the compliant distribution of self-administered medication and conducts periodic reviews of medication and documentation.
• Models, coaches, and mentors junior youth counselors (TYCs) while completing written documentation and contact notes to program and funder standards.
• Applies, models, coaches, and mentors staff with Aspiranet’s identified models of practice including the Aspiranet Core Practice Model, Attachment Regulation and Competency (ARC), Youth Thrive / Strengthening Families Protective Factors Framework, Community Resiliency Model (CRM), Life Space Coaching and Crisis Intervention (LSCI), Professional Assault Crisis Training (ProAct), and Motivational Interviewing (MI).
• Sustains a youth-centric focus by assisting youth in bringing forward their voice throughout the treatment process.
• Develops engaging and supportive relationships with youth, families, referring parties, collaborative partners, and community providers.
• Maintains the success and barriers of interventions and reports incidents and program concerns to team lead.
• Supports the agency in leading crisis intervention support in compliance with agency and regulatory requirements, coaches and engages staff in documentation, and debriefs post-crisis planning and remediation.
• Influences the development and implementation of strength-based, trauma-informed plans and interventions and advocates for the youths' best interests.

Qualifications

• A BS or BA degree in Psychology, Sociology, Social Work, Counseling, Criminal Justice, or a related field, AND three (3) full-time equivalent years of experience in a behavioral health related field.
• The following qualifications are preferred, and may be eligible for a salary premium: Mental Health Rehabilitation Specialist (MHRS) qualifications which include a BS or BS degree in Psychology, Sociology, or Social Work, or a related field AND four (4) full-time years of experience in a behavioral health related field.
• Up to two (2) years of graduate professional education may be substituted for the experience requirement on a year-for-year basis, OR Up to two (2) years of post-associate arts clinical experience may be substituted or the required educational experience in addition to the requirement of four years’ experience in a mental health setting.
• Prior experience in a residential setting or as a youth counselor/TYC II is desired.
• Willingness and ability to lead, coach, and train staff.
• Proficiency using a computer and Microsoft Word, and Outlook.
• Must meet all state required conditions of employment as set forth by Community Care Licensing and DHCS for a licensed community care facility, i.e. Fingerprint and Child Abuse Index Clearance, TB/health physical, and a valid California driver’s license and clean driving record.

Your Rewards

• Growth potential
• 14 paid holidays (including birthday & diversity holidays)
• 10 vacation days + 10 sick days in the first year
• 100% employer-paid medical & dental premiums
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer match
• Medical & dependent care FSA plans
• Life, AD&D, and disability insurance
• Accident, critical illness & hospital gap plans
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – 24/7 confidential support
• Training and advancement opportunities
• Professional development, training, and advancement opportunities
• Supportive, inclusive, and mission-aligned culture
• Small-group model (max 4 youth per cottage) allows for meaningful, individualized care.

Physical Demands

This position typically operates in a standard office environment. The noise level is generally quiet and remains within OSHA’s established safety levels at all times.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Aspiranet is an equal opportunity employer that recognizes the value of diversity. We believe a diverse workforce within a culture of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) increases creativity, innovation, problem-solving, and teamwork for the youth and families that we serve and the organization as a whole. Aspiranet strives to provide our employees with a workplace that is welcoming, inclusive of differing world views, cultures, and lived experiences.