Most of the positions involving direct work with children and families require bachelor's or master's degrees in a social services field. Review these areas of direct care below to help you decide what type of Youth Villages job might be right for you:
In-Home Services
Counselors have small caseloads – four to six families – so they can work intensively with each case. Counselors visit each home at least three times each week at times convenient for child’s parents, and focus their therapy on family issues. Counselors also help families resolve issues in the school and neighborhood. Therapy lasts from three to nine months, depending on the needs of the family.
Residential Treatment
Youth Villages provides residential treatment for children aged 7 through 18 with serious emotional and behavioral problems on residential campuses located in Tennessee and Georgia and in group homes in the Memphis and Nashville areas. Counselors work with a small group of children, of similar ages, who have similar problems, providing direct care including recreation, teaching life skills and appropriate behaviors, as well as providing individual group and family therapy.
Intensive Residential Treatment
Youth Villages provides intensive residential treatment for both boys and girls with severe emotional and behavioral problems at separate centers located on the Bartlett campus just outside Memphis. These state-of-the-art centers provide care and therapy for children, aged 7 to 17, who live and go to school in the self-contained, secure settings. Some children may have conditions that are complicated by serious medical issues.
- Learn more about our Intensive Residential Treatment Centers for Boys and Girls
Foster Care
Through our program, children with emotional and behavioral problems receive help from specially trained parents in foster homes. Our foster care counselors work with each child to resolve issues so that the child can be quickly reunited with parents or relatives. Counselors work in schools and classrooms to help children resolve academic issues. They coordinate with state case managers and accompany children to court sessions when needed. If a child's plan does not call for reunification, child counselors work with adoption staff to help the child achieve permanency through a caring adoptive home.
Transitional Living
Young people aging out of state custody are at extreme risk of poverty, homelessness or institutionalization without help. Since 1999, the Youth Villages Transitional Living Program has provided assistance to children who age out of state custody or foster care so that they can go on to successful independent adulthood. Transitional Living counselors work with youth aged 17 through 21, helping them secure affordable housing, obtain health care, continue their educations and find jobs. Each counselor handles eight to 10 cases concurrently.
Specialized Crisis Services
The Youth Villages Specialized Crisis Services program provides help to Tennessee children who experience psychiatric emergencies. Counselors respond to emergency calls, going into homes, schools, hospitals, residential and detention centers. They evaluate the child's need for services and make appropriate referrals. Counselors work specific shifts and answer calls in particular geographic locations throughout the state of Tennessee.
Mentoring
Mentors have been a part of the lives of Youth Villages children for more than 10 years. Mentor liaisons help recruit, train and match mentors with children receiving help on our residential campuses or those in foster care throughout the state of Tennessee. Mentor Liaisons work closely with volunteer mentors, supporting them as they work with the children.