What does a juvenile counselor do?
Juvenile counselor responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real juvenile counselor resumes:
- Case managing, intakes, group and individual session, treatment plans, OASAS standards
- Certify to administer adult and child CPR.
- Remain non-denominational, open, flexible and ecumenical in service to patients while also providing additional resources from local spiritual communities.
- Conduct new inmate orientation including serving as a PREA educator for the unit.
- Organize and lead regular youth and college bible studies, teaching about prayer and promoting spirituality.
Juvenile counselor skills and personality traits
We calculated that 14% of Juvenile Counselors are proficient in Behavioral Issues, Rehabilitation, and Mental Health. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Emotional stability, and Organizational skills.
We break down the percentage of Juvenile Counselors that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Behavioral Issues, 14%
Provide consultation to community regarding delinquency and behavioral issues with referrals to outside agencies if warranted.
- Rehabilitation, 12%
Document program activities, monitors security operations, and performs a variety of administrative duties designed to facilitate juvenile rehabilitation.
- Mental Health, 11%
Provided referrals for children and families experiencing mental health crisis or needing additional support to various community services.
- Crisis Intervention, 7%
Restrain juveniles according to the non-violent crisis intervention training taught by certified Crisis Prevention Institute instructors.
- Substance Abuse, 6%
Provided Family Preservation therapy aimed at reducing substance abuse, reducing recidivism, and increasing pro-social alternatives.
- Direct Care, 6%
Provided custody, supervision, direct care to juveniles generally within the ages of 10-16 within a residential secure facility.
Most juvenile counselors use their skills in "behavioral issues," "rehabilitation," and "mental health" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential juvenile counselor responsibilities here:
Communication skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a juvenile counselor to have is communication skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "probation officers and correctional treatment specialists must be able to effectively convey information to different types of people, including clients and their families, lawyers, judges, and treatment providers." Juvenile counselors often use communication skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "developed communication, interpersonal and listening skills by counseling at-risk youth in the non-secure care program. "
Organizational skills. juvenile counselors are also known for organizational skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to juvenile counselor responsibilities, because "probation officers and correctional treatment specialists must be able to manage multiple cases at the same time." A juvenile counselor resume example shows how organizational skills is used in the workplace: "demonstrated group leadership and organizational skills. "
Interpersonal skills. While "interpersonal skills" is last on this skills list, don't underestimate its importance to juvenile counselor responsibilities. Much of what a juvenile counselor does relies on this skill, seeing as "probation officers and correctional treatment specialists must be able to develop relationships with different types of people, including those who may be hostile or challenging." Here is a resume example of how this skill is used in the everyday duties of juvenile counselors: "provided crisis intervention with client family and/or interpersonal conflicts. "
The three companies that hire the most juvenile counselors are:
- State of Georgia: Teachers Retirement System of Georgia96 juvenile counselors jobs
- Sheltering Arms8 juvenile counselors jobs
- Rings Levin A Atty2 juvenile counselors jobs
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Compare different juvenile counselors
Juvenile counselor vs. Counselor internship
When it comes to Counselor Internship, among the primary responsibilities is to assist in dealing with various activities such as preparing and verifying necessary documentation, observing consultations and outreach programs, guide clients and help develop multiple helpful strategies, and provide assessments. Furthermore, one can conduct counseling and consultation only under supervision. It is also essential to track the information gathered and coordinate with assigned personnel to adhere to the company's regulations and policies.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a juvenile counselor are more likely to require skills like "rehabilitation," "mental health," "substance abuse," and "direct care." On the other hand, a job as a counselor internship requires skills like "intake assessments," "substance abuse issues," "mental health issues," and "group therapy sessions." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Counselor interns earn the highest salaries when working in the finance industry, with an average yearly salary of $51,629. On the other hand, juvenile counselors are paid more in the government industry with an average salary of $51,356.The education levels that counselor interns earn slightly differ from juvenile counselors. In particular, counselor interns are 7.0% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a juvenile counselor. Additionally, they're 0.3% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Juvenile counselor vs. Alcohol and drug counselor
A drug & alcohol counselor treats addicts in either one-on-one or group settings. They help by educating and developing possible treatment plans for patients to support them in coping with their addictive personalities. A drug and alcohol counselor will evaluate to determine the progress has been successfully made towards recovery. They help patients better understand and overcome their addictions. Counselors help through offering support, rehabilitation, and guidance by using various techniques. Drug & alcohol counselors seek to help an addict find the source of their addiction.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real juvenile counselor resumes. While juvenile counselor responsibilities can utilize skills like "behavioral issues," "mental health," "substance abuse," and "direct care," alcohol and drug counselors use skills like "patients," "social work," "substance abuse treatment," and "treatment services."
Alcohol and drug counselors earn a higher average salary than juvenile counselors. But alcohol and drug counselors earn the highest pay in the professional industry, with an average salary of $44,333. Additionally, juvenile counselors earn the highest salaries in the government with average pay of $51,356 annually.In general, alcohol and drug counselors achieve higher levels of education than juvenile counselors. They're 9.6% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.3% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for juvenile counselors in the next 3-5 years?
Debra Minsky-Kelly
Director of Field Education / Clinical Assistant Professor of Social Work, Carthage College
Juvenile counselor vs. Program counselor
A Program Counselor is an essential part of a school's faculty. It's the counselor's responsibility to ensure that students are benefiting from the school's educational curriculum. This person is also tasked to help students resolve issues and problems that may hinder any educational progress. They are also part of the disciplinary team intended to instill good morals, ethics, and decency in students. The Program Counselor is one of the teacher or professor who has expertise or has a high educational degree in a particular subject or field.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, juvenile counselors are more likely to have skills like "rehabilitation," "mental health," "direct supervision," and "detention facility." But a program counselor is more likely to have skills like "developmental disabilities," "patients," "community integration," and "social work."
Program counselors make a very good living in the health care industry with an average annual salary of $41,845. On the other hand, juvenile counselors are paid the highest salary in the government industry, with average annual pay of $51,356.When it comes to education, program counselors tend to earn similar degree levels compared to juvenile counselors. In fact, they're 2.9% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.5% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Juvenile counselor vs. Addictions counselor
An Addictions Counselor helps patients overcome personal addiction problems, such as dependence on drugs, alcohol, and other substances. They evaluate the condition of their client through examining, asking questions, and recommending the proper treatment options.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between juvenile counselors and addictions counselors, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a juvenile counselor might have more use for skills like "behavioral issues," "mental health," "substance abuse," and "direct care." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of addictions counselors require skills like "patients," "social work," "chemical dependency," and "substance abuse treatment. "
The non profits industry tends to pay the highest salaries for addictions counselors, with average annual pay of $47,326. Comparatively, the highest juvenile counselor annual salary comes from the government industry.In general, addictions counselors hold higher degree levels compared to juvenile counselors. Addictions counselors are 14.7% more likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.2% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of juvenile counselor
Updated January 8, 2025
