Founded in 1970 by a behavioral health hospital and incorporated as a nonprofit in 1983, The Lincoln Center for Family and Youth is an entrepreneurial social enterprise committed to transforming lives and communities.

Headquartered in Audubon, TLC operates across multiple states, providing K-12 alternative education, comprehensive mental and behavioral health services, coaching, counseling, and trauma-informed training.

The Lincoln Center for Family and Youth collaborates with school districts, universities, hospitals, police departments, and nonprofit organizations, offering consultation services to secure federal and state grant funding.

The following positions are available:

Full-Time Substance Abuse Counselor

This position will provide substance abuse counseling services to students in the Cheltenham and Springfield School Districts.  The Seeking Safety curriculum will be utilized as part of the services.

Direct Student Services

• Counsel students/clients in individual or group sessions by listening to their stories, concerns, or issues and providing feedback, including teaching them coping techniques and offering advice on their current situations.
• Educate students/clients on treatment options, methods, and techniques to ensure the student/client understands the process when they are completing the intake procedures.
• Maintain records for student/client tracking, along with personal files for your use as you work with the student/client and create the treatment plan.
• Work with other professional staff to collaborate on treatment methods and plans for students/clients and to assess suitability for counseling services or referrals to other treatment centers.
• Encourage and monitor the progress of students and use information to adjust counseling strategies.
• Communicate necessary information regularly to students and school staff regarding students’ progress and needs.
• Utilize Seeking Safety curriculum and other counseling modalities.

Coordination and Collaboration

• Collaborate and coordinate with district personnel, school staff, and GEAR UP partners to provide services and resources to participating cohort students.
• Act as the liaison between the TLC and School District staff.

Data Collection and Tracking

• Track all student/client-level activities.
• Maintain accurate documentation of service objectives and outcomes.

Meetings and Conferences

• Attend required meetings, training/education, including conferences as requested.

Skills and Knowledge

• Strong relationship- and team-building skills.
• Ability to communicate clearly.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Ability to be flexible and meet deadlines.
• Experience in individual and group counseling.
• Understanding of DSM-V diagnosis.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree required in counseling, psychology, or related field. 
• LSW (Licensed Social Worker) or School Counseling Certification desired.

Find out more about the Full-Time Substance Abuse Counselor position.

Full-Time School-Based Counselor

The School-Based Counselor in Ardmore will provide early intervention therapy and counseling services in the Coatesville School District, case management and mental health support services at the school/schools and in the homes of at-risk students, and consultation services to school personnel, liaison support to community agencies, in order to meet the requirements of the Coatesville School District’s STOP School Violence Grant.

The multi-year grant, funded by the U.S. Department of Justice, provides funding to improve efforts to reduce crime in K-12 schools and their respective communities.

Duties and Responsibilities: Services to Students
• Identify students in need of trauma support and provide prevention, screening, referral, and treatment services to students potentially in need of services.
• Provide trauma-informed therapy and counseling interventions (group, individual, and/or family) for at-risk students.
• Provide mentoring and other intervention models to children and their families who have experienced trauma or are at risk of experiencing trauma, including those who are low-income, homeless, in foster care, involved in the criminal justice system, unemployed, experiencing a mental illness or substance abuse disorder, or not enrolled in or at risk of dropping out of an educational institution.
• Provide case management for students and families requiring multiple resources.
• Provide quality trauma support and behavioral health care services.
• Provide home-based services to the families of students who have experienced or are at risk of experiencing trauma, including those who are low-income, homeless, involved in the child welfare system, or involved in the juvenile justice system.

Duties and Responsibilities: Services to School Personnel
• Assist teachers with behavior management strategies.

• Provide staff with essential information to better understand factors (cultural, societal, economic, familial, health, etc.) affecting a student’s performance and behavior.
• Train school staff on trauma-informed approaches to education to develop safe, stable, and nurturing learning environments that prevent and mitigate the effects of trauma.

Duties and Responsibilities: Service to Districts

• Provide consultation regarding school law and school policy, including IDEA and Section 504.
• Assist in developing positive behavioral intervention strategies.
• Assist in developing and implementing educational programs, including programs on safety and bullying.
• Develop alternative programs for drop-out, truancy, delinquency, etc.

Duties and Responsibilities: Services to Parents/Families

• Work with parents to facilitate their support in their children’s school adjustment.
• Alleviate family stress to enable the child to function more effectively in school and the community.
• Assist parents in accessing and utilizing school and community resources.
• Work with those problems in a child’s living situation that affect the child’s adjustment in school (home, school, and community).

Duties and Responsibilities: School-Community Liaison

• Obtain and coordinate community resources to meet students’ needs.
• Provide health services and intervention strategies by coordinating the services provided by eligible applicants and coordinated care organizations, public health entities, nonprofit youth service providers, and community-based organizations.
• Foster and promote communication between the school entity, community, and law enforcement.
• Increase access to quality trauma-informed support services and behavioral health care by linking the community with local trauma support and behavioral health systems.
• Help school districts receive adequate support from social and mental health agencies.
• Advocate for new and improved community/school service to meet the needs of students and families.
• Mobilize family, school, and community resources to enable the child to learn as effectively as possible in his or her educational program.
• Help school districts receive adequate support from social and mental health agencies.

Skills & Knowledge: Leadership and Soft Skills

• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to work effectively on a multi-treatment team.

Technical skills:
• Proficient in numerous clinical interventions.
• Knowledge of and ability to access community resources.

Education & Experience:
• Education: Master’s degree required, preferably in counseling or social work

Find out more about the Full-Time School-Based Counselor position.

Full-Time Student and Family Engagement Specialist

The Student and Family Engagement Specialist, working in the Chester city area, plays a critical role in promoting student attendance and engagement through a comprehensive approach that includes direct intervention, stakeholder 
engagement, and community collaboration.

The ideal candidate will be deeply committed to addressing and eliminating truancy, conducting home visits, and developing tailored solutions to support student attendance and family engagement.

Essential Responsibilities:
•  Develop and implement strategies to eliminate truancy and improve student attendance.
•  Conduct home visits to engage with students and families, understanding their challenges and 
needs.
•  Engage stakeholders, including students, families, school staff, and community partners, to foster 
a supportive environment for student success.
•  Identify and connect students and families with resources to address barriers to attendance and 
engagement.
•  Provide case management services to support students and their families, including making 
appropriate referrals to community resources.
•  Maintain effective communication with school staff, providing updates and collaborating on 
student attendance improvement plans.
•  Complete and monitor Student Attendance Improvement Plans, ensuring they are tailored to meet 
the needs of individual students.

Education & Experience:
•  Master’s degree in Social Work, Education, Counseling, or a related field is preferred.
•  Experience in case management, social work, or a related field, particularly within an 
educational setting.
• Bilingual a plus (Spanish/English).
•  Strong understanding of the challenges and barriers that can affect student attendance and 
engagement.
•  Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage effectively with 
students, families, and school staff.
•  Ability to work independently and as part of a team, demonstrating initiative and 
problem‐solving skills.
•  Knowledge of community resources and services that can support students and families.
•  Experience working with diverse populations and a commitment to equity and inclusion.
•  Valid driver’s license and ability to conduct home visits.

Find out more about the Full-Time Student and Family Engagement Specialist position.

See all the available job openings at The Lincoln Center for Family and Youth.