Center for Youth Services logo
Center for Youth Services
Rochester, New York

Community-Based Prevention Counselor

Counselor / TherapistNo weekendsFull-Time

Listed compensation

$20-$21/hr

The week · per this posting · Monday – Friday

Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, nights and shift pattern and time off.

Posted 24m ago · Verified live

Job Description

*Sign on Bonus of $1,000*

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 Community-Based Counselor is responsible for providing ongoing individual and family counseling to youth/families seeking Center services. The Community-Based Counselor will complete the comprehensive assessment begun by the triage/intake counselor. The average caseload of a Community-Based Counselor is 15/20 cases.

Community-Based Counselors provide crisis intervention, family counseling, and information and referral services as needed. This position will deliver Prevention Counseling services throughout the various Runaway and Homeless Youth Programs at The Center for Youth and other community partner programs.

Schedule

Full time 35 hours per week. 12-month position. Monday - Friday, 10 am - 6 pm. Counselors must occasionally work outside their regular hours to meet the needs of the youth served.

Responsibilities

  • Assessment and Intake
  • Individual and family counseling
  • Assessment of substance use/abuse, problem gambling and other risk factors
  • Crisis Intervention
  • Referral Readiness and Referral
  • Provide chemical dependency and gambling prevention counseling, groups, and activities
  • Youth Advocacy
  • Parent Group Facilitation (research/science-based curricula)

Maintenance of Client Confidentiality

  • Community outreach and networking with other agencies/providers Individual and Group Supervision Participation
  • Transportation of Clients, when required

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's Degreen in Human Services or related field AND 2 years' related experience OR equivalent combination / Master's Degree preferred

  • CPP/ ICPS/ CASAC or advanced training in chemical dependency prevention preferred
  • A valid driver's license

Skills

Strong knowledge of and experience in providing chemical dependency and problem gambling prevention counseling

Strong Literacy and Communication Skills

  • Strong knowledge of adolescent development including positive youth development, asset development, risk reduction, and protective factors
  • Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office
  • Advanced knowledge of Internet Explorer
  • Pay Rate: $20- $21 per hour

*All Offers may be contingent on a Background check and Driving record & Automobile insurance that meets agency insurance carrier requirements.

The Center for Youth Provides Equal Employment Opportunities

Requirements

Candidates must have a Bachelor's degree in Human Services or a related field with at least 2 years of experience, or an equivalent combination. A valid driver's license is required, and professional certifications like CPP, ICPS, or CASAC are preferred.

Qualifications

Education
Bachelor degree
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Case managementSubstance abuse assessment

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Community-Based Prevention Counselor at Center for Youth Services a 6.4 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the Above average in Counseling — ranked against 13,395 active Counseling listings on WeekdayDoc. Contributing factors include no weekend requirements.

Prevention Counseling — Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Counselor listings this role was benchmarked against, 62% are remote, 38% have no call, 54% require no weekends.

Counselor pay on WeekdayDoc is down 1.8% vs. the prior quarter (through Oct 2026).

Counselor by the numbers
MeasureThis jobMarket
Work-life score6.4 / 10 · above average in counselingranked against 13,395 Counseling listingslisting-based score, 0–10
Listed pay$42k–$44kCounselor median $55k (middle half $52k–$77k)27 comparable listings, Nov 2026
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$40k in purchasing powerNew York index 107.9 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Counselor listings in New York797 active13,380 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 62% remote · 38% no call · 54% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repayment$1k sign-onNew York Counselor listings: 10% state a sign-on bonus (median $5k) · 11% offer loan repayment797 active listings, Nov 2026
Counselor pay trend−1.8% vs prior quarter—through Oct 2026
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index (13,395 Counseling listings), BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Nov 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Top Counselor Jobs

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Salary Distribution

38 jobs · 22 employers
14
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Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

26 jobs · 22 employers
401k / retirement match
88%
CME allowance
35%
Sign-on bonus
31% this job
Loan repayment
19%
PSLF eligible
12%

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Work-life snapshot

median 6.0this job 6.4
Better work-life than 60% of Counseling listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 13,395 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • No weekends
Center for Youth Services logo

About Center for Youth Services

Individual and Family Services
Rochester, New York
201-500 employees

Benefits & Perks

$1,000 Sign-On Bonus

Living in Rochester

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$240k
Typical market rent
$1,454/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 (Sep 2026), Zillow market rents (Sep 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.