ACH Child and Family Services
Location
Fort Worth, Texas
The Youth Care Specialist oversees the daily supervision of clients and provides a therapeutic environment to meet their needs. They assist clients with daily living tasks, provide behavioral support, and maintain a safe and therapeutic environment.
A high school diploma or GED is required, with a preference for a bachelor's degree in a human service field. Six months of direct care experience with youth or families is preferred, along with effective communication skills and an understanding of children in crisis.
The Youth Care Specialist (YCS) oversees the daily supervision of clients and provides a therapeutic environment to meet client needs, including physical, mental, academic, medical, relational, spiritual, and emotional care. The Youth Care Specialist assists clients with daily living tasks, learning daily living and self-care skills, providing behavioral support and guidance to achieve service plans goals. The Youth Care Specialist is also responsible for maintaining a safe and therapeutic environment that provides for the overall safety of clients in care and maintains the physical care of the facility in accordance with minimum standards. The YCS provides supportive learning experiences, behavioral support, and empathic adult guidance to clients. The YCS delivers services within a Trauma-Informed Care framework, assisting clients to achieve their goals and family reunification (unless alternative placement is necessary). The YCS works with clients to build on the client’s strengths, assisting them to create solutions, and discovering hope for their future. The YCS may be instructed to work in other units, as needed, at the direction of their supervisor or on call. The YCS is sensitive to the service population’s cultural and socioeconomic characteristics.
High school diploma or GED. Bachelor’s degree in a human service field from an accredited college or university preferred.
Six months of direct care and positive guidance experience of youth, young adults, or families in a residential or professional setting, preferred. Effective listening and communication skills. Understanding of children, youth, and families in crisis.
Must currently have a valid drivers license and maintain a Texas driver’s license within 90 days of establishing Texas residency. Must have an acceptable driving record and be willing to transport clients. Must be able to successfully complete behavioral management de-escalation course.
Exposure to children with behavior problems, including possible physical aggression. Exposure to illness and blood. Residential programs run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Residential programs do not close for holidays or inclement weather. Extended walking and standing daily. Must always be physically able to use authorized crisis intervention techniques.
Maintain confidentiality and follow policies related to personnel records and client records.
Core Competencies Professionalism (including, but not limited to, consistent and reliable job performance, awareness, and use of professional ethics to guide practice) Applied Positive Youth Development (PYD) approach (including, but not limited to, skills to develop a Positive Youth Development plan and identifying the client’s strengths to best apply a Positive Youth Development framework) Cultural and human diversity (including, but not limited to, gaining knowledge and skills to meet the needs of clients of a different race, ethnicity, nationality, religion/spirituality, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation) Applied human development (including, but not limited to, understanding the developmental needs of those at risk and with special needs) Relationship and communication (including, but not limited to, working with clients in a collaborative manner) Developmental practice methods (including, but not limited to, utilizing methods focused on genuine relationships, health and safety, intervention planning) Trauma-Informed Care (including, but not limited to, understanding trauma and the capacity to implement the most effective and current trauma informed interventions within assigned programs) Ability to move and work in other units as needed at the direction of their supervisor or on call.
Community Relations Establish a respectful relationship with persons served to help them gain skills and confidence. Work collaboratively with other personnel and/or service providers and professionals. Build strong and collaborative relationships with volunteer organizations and their members. Always represent ACH in a professional manner. #ACH1
The above noted job description is not intended to describe, in detail, the multitude of tasks that may be assigned but rather to give the employee a general sense of the responsibilities and expectations of his/her position. As the nature of business demands change so, too, may the essential functions of this position.
Education: High school diploma or GED. Bachelor’s degree in a human service field from an accredited college or university preferred.
Six months of direct care and positive guidance experience of youth, young adults, or families in a residential or professional setting, preferred. Effective listening and communication skills. Understanding of children, youth, and families in crisis.
Must currently have a valid drivers license and maintain a Texas driver’s license within 90 days of establishing Texas residency. Must have an acceptable driving record and be willing to transport clients. Must be able to successfully complete behavioral management de-escalation course.
Market context
In Texas, Youth Care Specialist roles are typically in steady demand because providers need staff who can support children and adolescents across all shifts. These positions are competitive when candidates bring direct youth or family care experience, strong communication skills, and comfort working with children in crisis; a high school diploma or GED is required, and a human service bachelor’s degree is preferred. Review the AI-summarized requirements and benefits on this platform to save time, then tailor your application to highlight any hands-on care experience and crisis-response examples.