Residential Counselor 1 - Avanti

Come join our life-changing team building hope, resilience and well-being as a Residential Counselor at Avanti in Blaine!

We are offering a generous retention bonus of $1,000 based on performance!

Shift Details: FT or PT available - 8-hour shifts. Days and Evenings, and Overnight shifts available

• Four weekend shifts per month required
• Tuesdays from 8:30am-11:30am for team meetings required

Compensation: $18.50/hr starting, plus $2/hr shift differential for overnights, $1 differential for PM shifts and weekends!

Location: 10300 Flanders St NE, Blaine, MN 55449

Retention Bonus: $1,000, based on performance and paid in increments, every 3 months for the first year of employment

About the job:

Avanti Center for Girls offers a continuum of shelter, evaluation, and residential treatment services. Provide direct care, supervision, and therapeutic support to youth during morning and evening hours, ensuring safety, dignity, compassion, professionalism, accountability, and trauma-informed, whole-person support.

Essentials:

Morning Routine Support:

• Support youth with daily routines and programming, using calm, encouraging, and predictable approaches.
• Provide coaching for morning regulation and readiness for the school day.
• Ensure youth transition to breakfast, medications (if trained), and school safely.
• Communicate morning concerns or successes to the team and document appropriately.

Evening Routine Support:

• Support youth with returning from school or programming with relational, compassionate engagement.
• Facilitate structured activities, chores, and recreation while modeling healthy skills.
• Facilitate programming groups, skill-building, or therapeutic activities as directed.
• Assist with evening hygiene, transitions to quiet time, and bedtime preparation.
• Promote consistency, predictability, and trauma-responsive routines.

Therapeutic Milieu Support:

• Contribute to a structured, trauma-informed, healing-centered environment.
• Model and teach health communication, problem-solving, social skills, and emotional regulation.
• Support positive peer interactions and intervene early to prevent escalation.

Crisis Response & De-Escalation:

• Respond to emerging conflicts or crises using trauma-informed de-escalation techniques.
• Use verbal, relational, and environmental interventions before physical strategies.
• Implement safety holds only if required and trained, following all policies.
• Participate in post-incident debriefs, documentation, and restoration.

Other Duties as Assigned:

• Support cross-team activities or program needs.
• Assist with group facilitation, outings, or enrichment activities.
• Complete administrative duties that support program effectiveness as assigned.

Job Highlights:

• Room for professional advancement
• Entry-level position into the mental health career field
• Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance
• 403(b) Retirement Plan
• HSA & FSA Programs
• Employer Paid Life Insurance and Long-Term Disability
• Quality training, continuing career education and leadership programs
• Paid Time Off (Vacation, Holiday & Sick Days)

Required Qualifications

• Must be 21 years of age or older; Must pass criminal background checks; Must have a current and valid Driver's License.
• High School diploma required; Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Human Services, Psychology, Social Work, Education, or related field preferred.
• Experience with youth in residential, school, recreation, or behavioral health setting, preferred.
• CPR/First Aid, crisis intervention, and other mandated trainings as provided by VOA.

About Us:

Avanti is part of Volunteers of America MN/WI which serves as an affiliate of the Volunteers of America parent organization.

Volunteers of America Minnesota/Wisconsin is a nonprofit health and human services organization that annually serves more than 25,000 children, adolescents and their families, older adults, students, persons with disabilities and special needs, and adults completing incarceration. Since 1896, we have helped people gain self-reliance, dignity, and hope.

Take pride in helping others and join us today!

At VOA, we celebrate sharing, encouraging and embracing diversity. Equal employment opportunities are available to all without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, physical and mental disability, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, military and veteran status, and any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We believe that blending individual strengths and unique personal differences nurtures and supports our organizations' shared commitment to our mission and creates an inclusive and diverse environment where everyone feels valued and has the opportunity to do their personal best.