Youth and Family Counselor

About Us:

Lighthouse MI is a growing non-profit, established in 2019 when Lighthouse of Oakland County and South Oakland Shelter joined forces to offer a stronger collective response to poverty in our Metro Detroit community. With over 80 years of combined experience, Lighthouse serves as a beacon of hope to our neighbors who need it most by offering assistance with emergency basic needs alongside housing programs and supportive services designed to support long-term economic stability. Lighthouse owns and operates Spero Housing Group, a subsidiary non-profit dedicated specifically to developing and operating high quality affordable and supportive housing for persons of low and moderate income, as well as HandUp, a community and crowdfunding platform serving 100+ homeless service agencies and their clients across the United States.

Position Summary

The Counselor is an at-will position that reports to the Program Manager. This position will work within the Family Shelter and Teen Path Program supporting the clients and operations of each program. The Family Shelter provides shelter to families with minor children in 18 private apartment style units. The Family shelter houses up to 61 individuals at a time. Each family is provided services and short term sheltering up to 120 days. The Teen Path program provides shelter to young women ages 18-24 in an apartment building with 12 apartments. Teen Path provides services/shelter to these young women for up to 2 years. This position will perform family, group, and individual counseling for both programs, Family Shelter and Teen Path. Counseling services within both programs is optional for the participants. The Counselor will also participate in treatment planning, educational training, consultation, community and court advocacy, aftercare, and follow-up referrals. Services will be geared toward adults and their families to help them develop behavioral, emotional, and coping skills; identify and process trauma; and build healthy relationships.

Responsibilities:

• Provide individual, family, group, and conjoint counseling to assigned individuals/families. Expected to provide services for up to 20 individuals and families at a time in the Family Shelter and Teen Path program

• Develop an individualized plan of service in conjunction with the individual, the family (when appropriate), and team at the Family Shelter or Teen Path

• Understand and appropriately use strengths of the individual/family

• Demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to provide the appropriate care for the specific clinical needs of the individual/family served

• Work in tandem with staff to support 24-hour intervention with assigned individuals/families.

• Complete all paperwork as required by regulatory bodies and contractual agreements.

• Consult with the treatment team on the progress of each individual in fulfilling their goals (Weekly for Family Shelter families/individuals and monthly for Teen Path families/individuals)

• Develop and make appropriate referrals.

• Create transition plans and/or assist in connecting families with longer-term counseling support as needed beyond enrollment in the Family Shelter or Teen PATH projects.

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date documentation and files securely.

• Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

Other Core Responsibilities

• Foster and coordinate inter-agency collaborative solutions and referrals to help clients connect with shelter, meet their goals, and attain long-term stability.

• Ensure the proper maintenance of client-related files and records.

• Continuously improve and consistently implement various case management and data collection tools.

• Comply with attendance and punctuality policies and all other Lighthouse policies and procedures.

• Enforce program rules, policies, and procedures and uphold agency values to maintain a safe, client-centered, and inclusive environment for clients, staff, interns, and volunteers.

• Collaborate with the SEHS Counseling Center and Coordinator

• Comply with and complete all duties otherwise required by funding partners

Requirements:

• Minimum Qualifications

  • Master’s Degree in Social Work, Counseling, or Psychology

  • Licensed in the State of Michigan (LLMSW, LMSW, LLPC, LPC, TLLP, LLP).

  • All Limited License Master Social Workers (LLMSW), Limited License Professional Counselors (LLPC), and Temporary Limited License Psychologists (TLLP) must receive their permanent license (LMSW, LPC, LLP) within 5 years from the issue date of the original limited/temporary license as published in the State of Michigan LARA system to continue their employment.

    • Maintain individual credentials and participate in education and training as necessary to maintain licensure

  • Minimum of one (1) year of experience providing counseling services to teens, young adults, and families

  • Maintain own Professional Liability Insurance

  • Experience with short-term out-patient therapy techniques

  • Trauma-informed principles and values in a clinical treatment environment.

  • Ability to pass a rigorous background check, including child welfare screenings and clearances

  • Reliable transportation and maintenance of automobile insurance

  • Valid driver’s license, Lighthouse reserves the right to require a driving record check for any employee where driving is an essential function of the position.

  • Knowledgeable in Microsoft Office Suite and Google Apps,

  • Flexibility and the capacity to prioritize tasks in a rapidly changing environment

  • Ability to multitask effectively in a fast-paced environment

  • Ability to work with a challenging and diverse population

  • Ability to work evenings and/or weekends

  Preferred Qualifications

  • Lived or professional experience working with people experiencing homelessness or extreme poverty levels in the US.

  • 2+ years’ experience in a youth counseling role

  • An understanding of the social constructs impacting those experiencing economic instability,

  • Knowledge of the social services landscape in Oakland County and surrounding areas

  • HMIS experience

  • Ability to self-regulate and work independently while coordinating with other staff

  • An appetite for innovation and creative problem-solving

  • Harm Reduction, Trauma Informed Care, Housing First, and SPDAT training

  • Proven ability to work effectively with racially and ethnically diverse clients and teams

  • Experience in managing and leading teams

  • Ability to build consensus and resolve conflict; willingness to have difficult conversations.

  • Exceptional communication ability, both written and oral.

  • Ability to listen and accept feedback constructively.

  • Possess high emotional intelligence skills.

  • Unwavering personal integrity.

  • Ability to work in a fast-paced, demanding, constantly changing environment

Excellent benefit package including medical, dental, vision, life, matching 401(k), and more.