Why did you choose to work at Youth Villages?
I talked to several Youth Villages employees before starting my job, and the stories they told about helping troubled youth moved me. I knew I could make a difference. It was a challenge I was looking forward to.

What positions have you held?
I began as a teacher-counselor at the Center for Intensive Residential Treatment (CIRT), a closed facility for children and youth with very serious emotional and behavioral problems. Six months later, I was promoted to supervisor and held that position for two years. I am now a residential counselor at the center.

What do you love about your current job?
I love the fact that I don’t only get the opportunity to help an individual but the entire family.

What does a typical day in your current position look like?
You never know in advance. You just come in expecting there to be some sort of surprise, but there are always meetings, individual and group sessions, consultations and treatment teams to attend and documentation to complete.

What were some of the biggest challenges you faced in your first year at Youth Villages and how did you overcome them?
The center was a practically new program when I began working here. Most of my colleagues were freshly out of college, just as I was. We were faced with the challenge of trying to teach and provide counseling to residents with difficult problems, and these young people were not much younger than we were. We bonded as a team, learned to delegate duties and responsibilities, and were able to provide one of the safest courtyards at the center.

What benefits or advancement opportunities have you taken advantage of?
I’ve worked my way from a teacher-counselor to a counselor during my time here. Thanks to our great management team at the center, I was able to pursue a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling. Now that I am preparing for licensure, I am taking advantage of the tuition reimbursement program.

What is one piece of advice you would give someone who is considering working for Youth Villages?
Hang in there. The hard work does pay off.

What is a success at work?
When residents at the Center for Intensive Residential Treatment learn to find joy in each day.

What has been the most rewarding experience so far at Youth Villages?
I have seen residents come to the center with very serious problems. Over time, I saw them grow and make important changes in their behavior. Seeing them be able to discharge was the most rewarding experience. That showed me that, no matter the position, what we do truly makes a difference.