Counselor - YCA FT Gordon

The purpose of the Georgia Youth Challenge Program (GaYCP) is to provide education, leadership, character development, and life-coping skills to Georgia's youth so they may become successful members of society. The voluntary program targets 16-18 year old youth who are at-risk of not completing high school. The GaYCP seeks to provide a new environment for youth so that they can focus on completing their academic goals while also enhancing their personal strengths and resiliency.

The GaYCP mirrors a U.S. Army basic training environment. The military structure of the program provides a structured environment and teaches discipline, self-control, and motivation. In addition, the program develops the whole person by focusing on  8 core components that supports each cadet’s personal development: academic excellence, life coping skills, job skills training, responsible citizenship, leader/followership, health and hygiene, physical fitness, and  service to community.

All GaYCP staff serve as mentors and role models for the cadets, demonstrating what “right looks like.” Academy staff work together to provide the structure, academic, social-emotional, and supervisory support needed by cadets during the 22-week residential phase.

During the 12-month Post-Residential Phase, most GaYCP graduates continue their post-secondary school education, vocational-technical training, full-time employment, military enlistment, or some combination of these. With academies at Fort Stewart in Hinesville and Fort Gordon in Augusta, Georgia’s Youth Challenge Program has graduated over 20,000 cadets since the program’s inception in 1993.

SPECIFIC JOB DUTIES:

The YCA Youth Counselor provides educational and personal counseling, guidance and assessment services to cadets at YCA Ft. Gordon. Provides assistance in the social, emotional, educational and vocational development of cadets who exhibit complex personal problems and adjustment difficulty. Provides the instruction of life skills and the coordination of supplemental student activities that are designed to improve work habits and to enhance the ability of students to live independently after graduation. Participates in extracurricular activities as needed (such as a weeklong camping trip each class cycle). 

The selected candidate must be willing to work a flexible schedule when needed, which may include evenings and weekends.  

Preferred Qualifications:

Preference will be given to those applicants who, in addition meeting the minimum qualifications have completed three (3) Master’s level courses in counseling (or a related area of study) AND have one (1) year of full-time professional level experience in providing educational/career planning services or counseling;
OR
Applicants who have a graduate degree in counseling or social work from an accredited four-year college or university;
OR
Applicants who possess licensure as a professional counselor from an accredited state or national certifying association.

Further consideration may also be given to those applicants who, in addition to meeting the minimum or preferred qualifications, also possess a combination of the following:

1. Job experience working with “at-risk” youth
2. Basic computer software usage skills
3. Possession of a valid Georgia Commercial Driver's License (CDL)

GA Department of Defense Employment Benefits for Full-Time Employees

Paid Leave
Vacation: 10 hours per month (15 days each year)
Sick Leave: 10 hours per month (15 days each year)
Holidays: 13 paid holidays authorized by the State of Georgia
Retirement
401(k) plan with a matching employer contribution
ERS Defined Benefit Pension Plan
Optional 457 Retirement Plans
Available Elective Insurance
Medical
Dental                                
Vision
Legal
Critical Illness
Short and Long-Term Disability
Accidental Death and Dismemberment
Life & Dependent Life Insurance
 
Tax Deferred Spending Accounts

Healthcare
Childcare
Education

***The GADOD is a Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program Qualified Employer.

Other:

The GADOD allows state employees a maximum of one hour per workday of official time may be used as physical fitness training onsite, dependent upon business needs.

Additional Information:

Selected applicant must pass a pre-employment background investigation, which includes a Georgia criminal records search, a national fingerprint scan, a pre-employment drug test (post-hire will be placed in the pool for the State Random Drug Testing Program), AND a post-employment federal background investigation, which includes a national criminal records search.

 “AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER & DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE”

 Due to the volume of applications received, we are unable to provide information on application status by phone or e-mail. All qualified applicants will be considered, but may not necessarily receive an interview. Selected applicants will be contacted by the hiring agency for next steps in the selection process. Applicants who are not selected will not receive notification.

This position is subject to close at any time once a satisfactory applicant pool has been identified.