1. SUNY at Binghamton
Vestal, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$9,808
Enrollment
13,990
Group homes are often the only place to go for children who cannot be with their families, whether because of disability, problems at home, or other reasons. These children need extra support in order to survive and thrive, and the youth care specialist is part of the team providing that much-needed support.
The day-to-day work of a youth care specialist differs based on the needs of their patients. They could lead seminars about useful topics such as career preparedness, work with children in group or individual treatment plans, and help youth with tasks such as going to school and managing meals. The youth care specialist also communicates with other members of the team, such as social workers.
This is not your typical 9 to 5 job. The youth care specialist is often expected to work around the clock in order to provide children with supervision at all times and may even have to come in during weekends and holidays. This is also a more emotionally taxing job than many office gigs, although, for many youth care specialists, the joy of helping youth in need is worth it.
