Position Description –Youth Therapist
Reports to: Clinical Director
Position Summary: The Youth Therapist is responsible for identifying and responding to the
needs of LGBTQ+ youth, including victims of violence, by providing direct support and advocacy
services, developing and delivering youth programming, and facilitating culturally responsive
community services. The Youth Therapist is responsible for providing individual, group, and
family therapy to participants. The Youth Therapist also develops and advances relationships,
partnerships, and collaborative projects to meet program outcomes and maximize service
impact. This is a 100% in-person position based in Milwaukee. A Master's Degree in Social
Work, Counseling, or related human services field and clinical licensure (LPC, LCSW, LMFT) in
the State of Wisconsin for mental health and substance abuse are required.
Responsibilities:
● Screen youth (ages 13-24) for client-based services; Connect individuals and families to
information and community-based resources; Provide trauma-informed counseling,
advocacy, and support to youth impacted by sexual assault and abuse, intimate partner
violence, domestic and family violence, physical assault, bullying, harassment, stalking,
human trafficking, and hate and bias-motivated crimes.
● Engage with law enforcement, criminal justice systems, and resources available to crime
victims; Provide safety planning skills to youth and young adults.
● Participate in leadership and delivery of the Center’s youth drop-in program and other
youth-specific groups, activities, and events, and supervise the engagement of
volunteers in this work. Participate in service delivery and program assessment-related
activities.
● Identify and develop educational workshops and resources addressing the needs of
youth program participants.
● Develop and advance organizational partnerships and collaborative projects in support
of client needs.
● Provide training, education, and outreach to various service providers, community
members, and those interested in accessing youth program services.
● Generate written documentation of work including client case notes, outreach and
program activity summaries, and grant-related reports.
All Staff General Responsibilities:
● Serve as an ambassador and Center spokesperson regarding the Center’s mission,
philosophy, programs, and services including at community events and Center
functions, and on select committees/work groups.
● Create a welcoming, inclusive and safe environment for visitors to the Center.
● Participate in staff meetings and weekly check-ins with direct supervisor.
● Support organizational fundraising efforts.
● Other role-related duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications:
● A Master's Degree in Social Work, Counseling, or related human services field and clinical
licensure (LPC, LCSW, LMFT) in the State of Wisconsin for mental health and substance
abuse are required.
● Experience working with youth and providing counseling or advocacy to individuals;
Applied experience in a dynamic, urban youth-serving setting preferred. Familiarity with
Milwaukee-area social service resources.
● Experience in case management, and proficient knowledge of ethical and legal standards in
regard to protecting client's and participant's confidentiality and rights including but not
limited to HIPPA guidelines.
● Experience managing volunteers or supervising the work of others.
● Knowledgeable about the diversity of LGBTQ+ identities, cultures, and communities,
intersectionality, social and other indicators of LGBTQ+ individuals’ mental health and
holistic well-being, human development, identity development, and the provision of
trauma-informed services to individuals and groups.
● Understanding and ability to effectively articulate clinical issues, concerns and needs of
LGBTQ+ youth impacted by interpersonal violence including sexual assault and abuse,
intimate partner violence, domestic and family violence, physical assault, bullying,
harassment, stalking, human trafficking, and hate and bias-motivated crimes.
● Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills; demonstrated ability to
communicate cross-culturally and work effectively with individuals and groups, including
those with socially marginalized identities and experiences. Experience with public
speaking, delivering educational training, and facilitating group activities
● Ability to inspire trust and respect among colleagues and external partners; Able to
maintain privileged client information.
● Ability to embody a commitment to cooperation, collaboration, and mutual respect.
● Ability to work independently and as part of a team within the parameters of the program,
and to work in a changing environment where there is frequent exposure to stressful/crisis
situations.
● Organized and reliable; Proficient with current technology and communication systems as
well as common office software and computer functions.
● Ability to work a variety of hours, including at night and during the weekend to meet client
and agency needs.
● Experience in grant writing, management, and reporting a plus as is experience providing
clinical services virtually or via telephone.
● Ability to speak and/or translate written content into Spanish or other language(s) a plus
Salary and Benefits: This is a full-time salaried position and comes with a base salary range
of $50-60K annually to start, commiserate with experience and required skill sets, and
negotiable upon offer of employment. Benefits include (but are not limited to) majority
employer-provided health and dental insurance; long-term disability and life insurance; 13
paid holidays per year; 12 paid sick days per year; 6 paid personal days per year, and a
generous paid vacation benefit.
To Apply: Please send a cover letter and resume to Deputy Director Angelique Rogers at
arogers@mkelgbt.org. Please, no in-person or over-the-phone inquiries.
Process: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and we will begin the outreach
process for interviews as soon as we feel we have a qualified and diverse pool of applicants
to choose from. It is our desire to fill this position no later than January 1st of 2023. If you
are not selected to participate in the interview process, you will receive notification via
email at which time we have filled the position.
If you are selected as a potential candidate for a first interview, the first step will be a brief
meet-n-greet call to review the job description and ask questions geared towards
determining if you will move to the first interview.
If you are selected for a first interview, this will take place via Zoom (video conference), and
with a committee of staff and directors.
Candidates who are selected for a 2nd interview may be asked to prepare a brief
presentation, writing sample, or another form of skills test prior to the 2nd interview to
present/review with the hiring committee during the 2nd interview. You will also be asked
to provide 3 references. The 2nd interview will most likely be in person but may happen via
zoom pending the availability of hiring committee members to appear in person.
The Milwaukee LGBT Community Center is an equal opportunity employer and will recruit, hire and promote
qualified persons into all job classifications without regard to race, color, religion, national origin or citizenship
status, sex, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, sexual orientation, age, disability, or military status.