Youth Counselor

Mission & About Us

Hale Kipa provides opportunities and environments that strengthen and encourage youth, their families and communities to actualize their potential and social responsibility.

Since 1970, Hale Kipa has championed Hawai'i's youth and children. We provide youth outreach, independent living facilities, therapeutic foster care, a haven for runaways, and more. Our founders recognized a need for a nonprofit to step in to assist this deserving population and we are still doing that critical work today, on O'ahu, Kaua'i, and the Island of Hawai'i. Learn more about Hale Kipa's programs .

Role Overview

Hale Kipa is looking for Youth Counselors to work with youth between the ages of 12 and 17, who are placed in the Hale Ho'opakele, (a type of Emergency Shelter) because they have been identified as having some kind of involvement with sex trafficking. Youth can be referred by various referral sources and the length of stay in the emergency shelter is anywhere from 1 day to 30+ days, while youth await return home or another more permanent placement.

Youth Counselors need to be able to manage crisis situations appropriately and help youth work through issues they are experiencing. They need to provide a stable, safe, structured, and nurturing environment, that encourages youth to participate in a program structure that includes: chores, meals, bedtime, quiet time, study time, meetings, and participation in planned activities and outings. Youth Counselors also need to spend time discussing issues with youth to assist and support them in their emotional processing, encourage adaptive positive coping skill-building and solidify/set limits.

In addition to working with the youth, Youth Counselors are also responsible for understanding and handling intake processes and procedures accurately, as well as submitting required documentation in a timely manner. Having some computer knowledge and being able to navigate the electronic health record is essential to the role. Working as part of a team and possessing good communication skills, both verbal and written; and representing Hale Kipa in a professional manner when working with collaterals, parents/guardians, and youth are imperative to the Youth Counselor position.

Schedule: Youth Counselors are required to work one weekend shift per week and will work with the Program Manager to determine their schedules based on the following shifts:

• Swing shifts: Mon-Fri 2:30pm-10:30pm
• Overnight Awake shift: Mon - Thurs 10:00pm-8:00am; Sun & Sat: 10:30pm-8:30am
• Weekend shift: 8:30am - 10:30pm (

Qualifications:

• High School diploma or GED
• Experience or training in working with youth who have been abused and/or neglected is highly preferred
• Experience working with youth who have been involved in sex trafficking is highly preferred

Requirements:

• A valid driver's license
• Ability to drive the agency van during youth outings

Benefits

• Medical/Drug/Vision/Dental
• Flexible Spending Account
• Paid Time Off (PTO) / 6 Paid Holidays
• 403(b) Retirement Plan
• Group Term Life Insurance
• Access to voluntary insurance plans

Salary:

• $17.00 - $20.00 per hour
• Retention Bonus: $500 after 1 year of employment

An EEO Employer