Youth Villages logo
Youth Villages
Chattanooga, Tennessee

PRN Crisis Hotline Counselor

CounselorPer Diem

Listed compensation

$20-$22/hr

The week · per this posting

Schedule not stated in this posting — no days, weekends, call or nights given.

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

Posted 2h ago · Verified live

Job Description

For over 35 years, Youth Villages has transformed the lives of children and families nationwide through innovative, research-based programs focused on preserving and restoring families.

As a national leader in children’s mental and behavioral health, we serve more than 47,000 youth, young people, and their families annually across 29 states and Washington, D.C. Our proven treatment models drive long-term success in child welfare, juvenile justice, and mental health systems. At Youth Villages, we do what works — partnering with others to expand our impact and advocate for meaningful, lasting change.

We're seeking purpose-driven individuals who are passionate about making a difference. With a dedicated team of more than 5,000 staff, Youth Villages is committed to investing in and supporting our employees by offering opportunities to build a fulfilling career through professional growth, personal development, and a mission that matters— helping children and families live successfully.

For more information, please visit youthvillages.org

Program Overview

Youth Villages’ Specialized Crisis Services (SCS) Program provides rapid, effective assessment and intervention for youth up to age 18 who are experiencing a psychiatric emergency, such as suicidal or homicidal thoughts, severe depression, physical aggression, psychosis, or acting in a destructive or uncontrollable manner.

The program offers thorough, strength-based assessments and crisis management to ensure the safety of the youth and others involved. Families, community members, and providers can reach out for support regardless of whether the youth is currently receiving services from Youth Villages.

SCS staff work closely with the youth, their family, and key community partners to evaluate risk factors and develop an immediate plan for stabilization. Services are provided in the home or community to offer timely, accessible support during a crisis. In addition to crisis assessment, the program provides ongoing treatment and intervention to help maintain family stability until appropriate long-term services can be secured.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The PRN Crisis Hotline Counselor

  • Manages the 24-hour triage crisis hotlines
  • Dispatches counselors into the community to respond to calls
  • De-escalates and screens conversation for safety concerns
  • Preserves the dignity of those we serve and works cooperatively with the community
  • Attends 3 weekly meetings (individual, team, and clinical consultation) for professional development and quarterly booster training sessions to enhance clinical skills
  • Completes accurate and timely documentation in an electronic medical record system (EMR)
  • Performs other duties as assigned

Additional Information

  • Schedule is flexible and non-traditional as it is based around the availability of youth and families served.
  • Applicants must possess a current, valid driver’s license, an automobile for work purposes, and proof of auto insurance.
  • Community-based staff will be reimbursed for applicable mileage.

Salary

$20 - $22 per hour based on education and clinical license

Qualifications

Master’s degree in a social services discipline (required)

Degrees that can be considered include: social work, drug and alcohol education or counseling, psychology, criminal justice, guidance counseling, or marriage and family therapy (others subject to review)

Applicants who are provisionally licensed (LMSW, LCSW, LPC, LMFT) or working towards licensure (strongly preferred)

  • Experience working with at-risk youth and/or families in a volunteer, internship, or paid position (preferred)
  • One year of clinical experience (preferred)
  • Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
  • Excellent written, verbal, and oral skills
  • Ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously
  • Basic computer knowledge
  • Ability to maintain a flexible schedule
  • Youth Villages Benefits
  • Medical, Dental, Prescription Drug Coverage and Vision
  • 401(k)

Time Off

  • 2 week paid vacation (full-time) / 1 week paid vacation (part-time)
  • 12 paid sick days per year
  • 11 paid holidays
  • Paid Parental Leave
  • Mileage & Cell Phone Reimbursement (when applicable)
  • Tuition reimbursement and licensure supervision
  • Growth & development through continuous training

Clinical and Administrative Advancement Opportunities

*Benefits are excluded for variable status employees.

Youth Villages is an equal opportunity employer and provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Youth Villages is committed to not only advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace but also in our work with children and young adults.

We know that children, families and young people of color can face inequity in child welfare and justice systems, and we train our employees to build the skills they need to work with the communities that we serve, as well as, other employees from different cultures and backgrounds.

Youth Villages is opposed to racism in any of its forms and is committed to inclusion, equity, and diversity. We believe that respect for each other is crucial in the work that we do each day.

Key Responsibilities

The counselor manages 24-hour crisis hotlines and dispatches staff to provide rapid assessment and intervention for youth in psychiatric emergencies. They are responsible for de-escalating safety concerns and maintaining accurate documentation in the electronic medical record system.

Qualifications

Education
Master's degree (postgraduate degree)

Key Skills

Crisis interventionDe-escalationRisk assessmentClinical documentationCase managementMental health counselingStabilization planningCommunication skillsComputer literacy

Counselor Career Context

The cost-of-living index for Tennessee is 91.9 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$44k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $48k in an average-cost state. 58.6% of Tennessee clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Of the 40 active Mental Health Counseling listings this role was benchmarked against, 48% are remote, 13% have no call, 85% require no weekends.

Mental Health Counseling pay on WeekdayDoc is up 18.1% vs. the prior quarter (through Sep 2026).

Location & Logistics

Tennessee has no state income tax, which can significantly increase take-home pay compared to high-tax states. At the posted ~$44k midpoint, that is roughly $2k–$3k a year versus a typical 4–7% state rate.

Top contract/1099 Counselor Jobs

40 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution17 jobs · 16 employers

7
<$50k
3
$50k-60k
4
$60k-85k
3
$85k+

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks23 jobs · 16 employers

401k / retirement match
100% this job
CME allowance
61%
Loan repayment
30%
PSLF eligible
30%
Sign-on bonus
22%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

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#4

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+ 38 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.0this job 4.8
Better work-life than 40% of Mental Health Counseling listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 752 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Living in Chattanooga

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$327k
Typical market rent
$1,513/mo
Residents’ average commute
19 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
91.5
State income tax
None
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Chattanooga, TN-GA metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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

Youth Villages logo

About Youth Villages

Mental Health Care
Memphis, Tennessee
51-200 employees

Benefits & Perks

Medical, Dental, Prescription Drug Coverage and Vision
401(k)
Paid vacation (1 week part-time)
12 paid sick days per year
11 paid holidays
Paid Parental Leave
Mileage & Cell Phone Reimbursement
Tuition reimbursement and licensure supervision