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Mental health

Residential - Direct Care Youth Specialist (Full-Time)

Family & Children Services$16.5–$18/hrKalamazoo, MIFull time, Part timePosted 1mo ago
  • Driver's license
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About the job

Hiring evenings 3pm-11pm & 7am -3pm, weekends and overnights only. Must be available for these shifts .

BENEFITS: Health, Dental Insurance, Vision Insurance, generous Paid Time Off, 9 paid holidays plus 1 floating holiday, 401(k)plan, Short Term Disability Insurance, free Employee Assistance Program, and other benefits.

SUMMARY

This position provides individualized, and milieu residential services focused on assisting youth in stabilizing emotionally and behaviorally by developing new skills for improved functioning at home and in community settings or placements. This program is in a home setting and serves up to six youth at time. Youth served have experienced trauma and will display trauma reactions through their behavior. Responsibilities include monitoring program services to assure safety and that services are helping the youth reach his/her individual goals as needed. As a Residential Youth Specialist, you will be expected to develop therapeutic, professional relationships with residents and offer insight into their functioning and achievement of treatment goals.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Welcomes and orients youth to programming and notes any emergent issues regarding physical or emotional needs to address safety concerns.
  • Supports implementation of the youth individualized treatment plans, addressing behavioral issues in a trauma-sensitive manner.
  • Establishes positive relationships with youth and staff in the program, providing regular oversight of youth's progress toward goals.
  • Develop and teach Social Emotional Learning, Emotional Regulation and Skill groups.
  • Oversee the residents' daily routines to include but not limited to mealtime, study time, outings, bedtime, assigned jobs, and other residential activities.
  • Reviews and completes program documentation, i.e. completing service notes, providing feedback on progress; documents all case related activities to fulfill program requirements.
  • Provides scheduled on-call staff shift coverage for times when a scheduled staff is absent.
  • Assists Program Supervisor in ensuring program licensing or contract requirements are met, as directed.
  • Deliver, at a minimum annually, a DCS training on topics related to best ways to interact with the youth.
  • Attend Monthly Meetings with Team/Supervisor and attend monthly individualized meeting with supervisor to discuss job performance, and/or issues or concerns.
  • Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a pre-employment drug screen, background check, reference verification, and required child welfare clearances

Requirements

REQUIRMENTS

  • Must be at least 18 years of age.
  • Valid, unrestricted driver's license
  • Maintain a reliable automobile with adequate insurance coverage to meet agency requirements.
  • Prior experience working with youth in a residential setting is preferred but not mandatory.
  • Must be reliable with time sensitive deadlines and tasks.
  • Must be able to pass required medical examinations and have the physical ability to fulfill the essential job functions, including physical restraints of a resident.
  • Successfully pass an annual TB test and document preference to receive or decline Hepatitis immunization.
  • Must be able to work effectively as a member of a multi-disciplinary treatment team.
  • Occasionally required to move, lift, items up to 50 pounds in weight
  • Pass a criminal history screen, including state and local child protection agency registries.
  • Ability to pass a 10-panel drug screen.
  • Positions requires prolonged sitting, standing and use of fingers. Specific vision abilities required by this job include distance vision, peripheral vision, and depth perception.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

  • Bachelor's degree in a human services field or a high school degree/GED and two or more years' experience working with youth in a residential setting.
  • Relevant experience working with youth with developmental disabilities and serious emotional disturbances preferred.
  • Education, training, and/or knowledge of the impacts of trauma on individuals, children and families is desired.
  • Trained or willingness to be trained in First Aid, CPR, and AED

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

  • Trained or willingness to be trained in Mandt, First Aid, CPR, and AED
  • Trained or ability to be trained in medication administration.
  • Crisis intervention training OR the ability to become certified/trained as assigned.

From Family & Children Services's job posting, checked Oct 21, 2026. The employer's own page is the final word on requirements and availability.

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About Family & Children Services

Family & Children Services hires mental health staff and caregivers in Kalamazoo and Battle Creek in Michigan.

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