Youth Villages offers a continuum of programs and services designed to help children with emotional and behavioral problems overcome their challenges and live successfully at home. Many of the careers at Youth Villages require bachelor's or master's degrees in a social science field. Most positions involve direct work with children and families, but actual working environments vary. Often individuals interested in our organization find themselves unsure of Where to Start or how to Match Their Qualifications to the right program.  Here, its made simple, you can learn more in these program synopses and in the actual job descriptions that you'll see in the application process.

Residential
Youth Villages provides residential treatment for children aged 7 through 18 who have serious emotional and behavioral problems on three residential campuses and in seven group homes. Counselors work with a small group of children, of similar ages, who have similiar problems, providing direct care including recreation, teaching life skills and appropriate behaviors, as well as providing individual group and family therapy.

(read more about our residential programs)

Intensive Residential
Youth Villages Center for Intensive Residential Treatment has provided help to children with severe emotional and behavioral problems since 2003. A new state-of-the-art Girls Center for Intensive Residential Treatment will open in January 2009. Counselors and support staff at the intensive centers provide care and therapy for children, aged 7 to 17, who live and go to school in the self-contained, secure settings. Some children may have conditions that are complicated by serious medical issues.

(read more about our intensive residential treatment programs)

In-Home Services
Youth Villages is a national leader in offering intensive in-home services for children who have serious emotional and behaivoral problems and their families. Counselors have small caseloads -- four to six families -- so that they can work intensively with each case. They go into the home at least three times each week at times that are convenient for the parents, focusing therapy on family issues.  Counselors also help families resolve issues in the school and neighborhood. Therapy lasts from three to nine months, depending on the needs of the family.

(read more about our in-home services)

Foster Care
Through Youth Villages' Treatment Foster Care Program, children with emotional and behavioral problems receive help from specially trained parents in foster homes. Our Foster Care Counselors work with each child to resolve issues so that the child can be quickly reunited with parents or relatives. Counselors work in schools and classrooms to help children resolve academic issues. They coordinate with state case managers and accompany children to court sessions when needed. If a child's plan does not call for reunification, child counselors work with adoption staff to help the child achieve permanency through a caring adoptive home.

(read more about our foster care program)

Transitional Living
Since 1999, the Youth Villages Transitional Living Program has provided assistance to children who age out of state custody or foster care so that they can go on to successful independent adulthood. Transitional Living counselors work with young people aged 17 through 21, helping them secure affordable housing, obtain health care, continue their educations and find jobs. Counselors have caseloads of about eight to ten young people who they help in the community each week.

(read more about our transitional living program)

Specialized Crisis Services
Since 2003, Youth Villages Specialized Crisis Services program has provided help to Tennessee children who experience psychiatric emergencies. Counselors respond to emergency calls, going into homes, schools, hospitals, residential and detention centers. They evalaute the child's need for services and make appropriate referrals.  Crisis Counselors work specific shifts and answer calls in particular geographic locations.
 
(read more about our crisis services)

Adoption
The Youth Villages Adoption Program helps children in our programs who are eligible for adoption find caring adoptive parents. Adoption Specialists are responsible for every step of the adoption process from recruiting parents to match a child's needs to filing final paperwork. Adoption specialists work closely with state case managers, attend meetings that focus on the child and help with pre-adoption counseling.

(read more about our adoption program)

Mentoring
Mentors have been a part of the lives of Youth Villages children for more than 10 years. Mentor liasons help recruit, train and match mentors with children receiving help on our residential campuses or those in foster care throughout the state of Tennessee. Mentor Liasons work closely with volunteer mentors, supporting them as they work with the children.

(read more about our mentoring program)