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Center for Youth Services
Rochester, NY, US

School-Based Chemical Dependency Prevention Counselor

CounselorFull-Time

Listed compensation

$20-$22/hr

Listing transparency1 of 6 stated

Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations and weekend coverage.

Employment & setting
Full-Time
Call expectations
Not specified
Weekends
Not specified
Posted 15m ago · Verified live

Job Description

The Center for Youth: Started BY YOUTH FOR YOUTH. We partner with youth to realize their full potential, by creating opportunities, removing barriers and promoting social justice.

Overview

The CD Prevention Counselor is responsible for providing school-based crisis intervention, prevention counseling (individual, family and group) and case management services to youth.

They are responsible for conducting comprehensive assessments with the student that may identify any issues related to substance use/abuse, problem gambling and other risk factors that inhibit healthy youth development, and provide support for problem solving and referral services.

Based upon assessment, the Counselor will develop an Individual Service Plan with a youth that includes the direct services provided by the Counselor, school staff, as well as referral linkages to other community agencies and school services.

The Counselor will work with faculty, staff and partner agencies to assure quality services are provided. The Counselor will attend school meetings, referral meetings, and when appropriate, school events. The Counselor will also coordinate and facilitate groups, workshops and trainings as needed and requested.

SCHEDULE: Full time, 35 hours per week, 11-month position

Location: TBD

  • ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND EXAMPLE OF DUTIES:
  • Intake and Assessment, Individual and Family Prevention Counseling, Assessment of substance use/abuse, problem gambling and other risk factors
  • Crisis Intervention/Triage

Case Management

  • Agency Ambassador and Liaison at Referral Team Meetings, Partner Meetings, Open Houses, Health Fairs
  • Youth Advocacy
  • Transportation for program participants when necessary and consistent with agency and school policy
  • Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

Bachelor's Degree with minimum one year of counseling experience or equivalent combination of education and experience. Note: A Master's degree, CPP/ICSP/CASAC, advanced training in chemical dependency prevention-related areas is preferred.

  • PAYRATE: $20-$22 per hour
  • The Center for Youth provides equal opportunities for employment.
  • (Rev. 08/26)

Key Responsibilities

The counselor provides school-based crisis intervention, prevention counseling, and case management services to youth. They are responsible for conducting comprehensive assessments and developing individual service plans to support healthy youth development.

Qualifications

Education
Master's degree (postgraduate degree)

Key Skills

Substance use assessmentProblem gambling assessmentIndividual service planningReferral coordinationGroup facilitationWorkshop facilitationInterdisciplinary collaboration

Counselor Career Context

In New York, the Counseling weighted monthly median benchmark on WeekdayDoc is ~$75k (14 salary observations; 54 listings), vs ~$76k nationally (115 salary observations; 470 listings). Monthly aggregates cover 2026-03-01 through 2026-09-01; these are not the modal's selected comparable-job medians.

Of the 50 active Counseling listings this role was benchmarked against, 44% are remote, 42% have no call, 60% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for New York is 107.9 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$44k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $40k in an average-cost state. 64.6% of New York clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Top Counselor Jobs

39 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution39 jobs · 30 employers

12
<$80k
13
$80k-95k
6
$95k-110k
7
$110k-125k
1
$125k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks29 jobs

401k / retirement match
83%
CME allowance
38%
Sign-on bonus
31%
Loan repayment
14%
PSLF eligible
7%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

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Work-life snapshot

3.0/ 10
Listing-based score

Living in Rochester

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$247k
Typical market rent
$1,476/mo
Residents’ average commute
19 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
97.0
State income tax
Up to 10.9%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Aug 2026), Zillow market rents (Aug 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

BEA 2024 · Rochester, NY metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

City-level figures. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.