Volunteers of America Minnesota and Wisconsin·Blaine, Minnesota
Provide direct care, supervision, and therapeutic support to youth in a residential treatment setting. Facilitate daily routines, structured activities, and crisis response using trauma-informed de-escalation techniques.
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!
$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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Must be at least 21 years old with a valid driver's license and a high school diploma. Experience working with youth in residential, school, or behavioral health settings is preferred.
Market context
Behavioral health openings in Minnesota often reflect steady demand in community, residential, and outpatient settings, especially for candidates who can meet licensing, safety, and transportation requirements. These roles can be competitive because employers look for reliability, CPR/First Aid certification, a valid Minnesota driver’s license, and a clean DHS background check. Review the AI-summarized requirements and benefits here to save time, then confirm your certifications and driving record before applying.