Youth Services Worker

The State of Iowa is hiring a Youth Services Worker for the Bureau of State Training School in Eldora, IA. This full-time position involves providing supportive counseling and behavioral health treatment for young men aged 12-18. Responsibilities include assisting with daily activities, maintaining order, and ensuring safety. The role requires physical control techniques and offers opportunities for advancement. Benefits include health insurance, retirement plans, and access to on-campus gym facilities.
The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Division of State-Operated Specialty Care, Bureau of State Training School (STS) is seeking a Youth Services Worker (YSW) to join our team! STS in Eldora provides supportive counseling and behavioral health treatment for young men, ages 12-18, who were adjudicated delinquent. This is a full-time opportunity with a 10-hour shift/4 days per week typically consisting of evenings and weekends. In addition to the base pay, there is an available shift differential of $0.90 per hour for second shift and $1.00 per hour for third shift. We also offer opportunity for advancement, growth, and development.

YSWs assist with the daily activities of students and maintaining order in their living units. These positions provide leadership and structure through regular interaction, guidance, and monitoring. YSWs portray good role modeling skills in areas of language, behavior, and attitude. YSWs work with students during recreation and leisure time activities, teaching sportsmanship, fairness, decision-making, and emotional control. This position escorts students to programs on campus, communicates effectively to facilitate and participate in various aspects of treatment programs, and provides transportation for students if needed. YSWs help create a safe environment and ensure that students receive emergency medical assistance when needed. YSWs are critical in helping maintain a safe and secure living environment using visual observation, hearing, and effective awareness skills. Staff in this position will perform physical control and restraint of students using trained techniques and methods, assist in searches for missing students, monitor contraband, document headcounts, report security lapses or breakdowns, and perform other actions as needed for the safety of students and staff.

Applicants will be required to complete a background check to be considered for this position.

If you enjoy rewarding yet challenging work, helping young men find stability in their lives and security in their future, this is this the right job for you. Your work at STS has the potential to help pull these young men together and change their future.

We have a great total compensation package, including:
• Iowa Public Employees' Retirement System (IPERS) (Employee contributes 6.29%/State of Iowa contributes 9.44%)
• Retirement Investors Club (RIC) (Employer Sponsored Retirement Plan) (State of Iowa matches up to $75/month)
• Health, Dental and Vision Insurance (See below for additional information)
• Vacation Leave (96 hours/year to begin, and increases with years of service)
• Sick Leave (144 hours/year)
• Paid Holidays (9 days/year)
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Life Insurance ($20,000 paid for by the State of Iowa)
• Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Free On-Campus Workout Facilities

Working at STS comes with a special perk! This location offers access for staff to the impressive on-campus gym during off student hours. This includes 3 full size basketball courts, two fully stocked weight rooms with machine and free weights, showers, and lockers. We also provide a cardio room for staff only featuring exercise mats and advanced treadmills and stationary bikes. Usage of these resources is completely free for all STS staff.

For additional information on benefits click here.

Click here to see how we compare with other employers or offers by using our Total Compensation Calculator.

Eldora Highlights

STS is located in Eldora, a quaint community with a population of approximately 2,800 residents, located in north central Iowa. Eldora is an Iowa River Greenbelt Community and the Iowa River Greenbelt Scenic Drive winds through a picturesque landscape of valleys, woods, and streams. With easy access to the Iowa River and Pine Lake, outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy hiking, kayaking, canoeing, hunting, and fishing, as well as the many educational opportunities, cultural activities, and entertainment events nearby, including a picturesque 9-hole golf course surrounded by Pine Lake State Park.

Eldora is 45 minutes away from Ames and Cedar Falls, 30 minutes from Marshalltown, and only 20 minutes from Iowa Falls. Des Moines, Iowa’s capital, is just 1 hour and 15 minutes away.
• Ames, Iowa is the home of Iowa State University, featuring one of the nation’s premier Engineering schools and leading Veterinary and Agricultural programs. https://www.iastate.edu/
• Cedar Falls is the home of the University of Northern Iowa, https://uni.edu/
• Iowa Falls is the home of Ellsworth Community College. https://ecc.iavalley.edu
• Des Moines has one of the nation’s finest State Fairs and is home to the Iowa Cubs, Wells Fargo Arena host site of NCAA Basketball, premier concerts, and Lauridsen Skatepark, the nation’s largest skatepark.

The State of Iowa is an EEO/AA Employer

HHS values those with “lived experience” and encourages adults who were fostered as youth, foster parents, and/or parents who were in the HHS system to apply. Minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply (Hearing and Speech Impaired – Relay Iowa 1-800-735-2942 TDD).

Our agency uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.e-verify.gov.
Graduation from high school or G.E.D.;OR
experience equal to two years of full-time work in a youth service program working directly in the treatment of adjudicated, at risk, or other youths needing service or assistance.

For additional information, please click on this link to view the job description and minimum qualifications.Designated positions in this job class require applicants and/or incumbents to possess a valid driver's license.