Living an abundant life is a big deal here.

Bachelor’s and Master’s level counseling and social work internships available in each of the Kindred Life Ministries’ locations for teen mothers, teen fathers and extended family members. 20-21 Internships will include one-on-one, family and group counseling and/or program service provision in a Christian environment.

Responsibilities Include:

1. Providing services for 15-20 teen mothers, teen fathers and their families.
2. Facilitating a monthly Life Education Group Night
3. Attending Kindred Life Ministries’ training and staff meetings where appropriate

Supportive environment to learn and serve. Supervision provided by a licensed social worker. Kindred Life Ministry locations are easily accessible.

Position Type: Part-time, Hourly (20–25 hours per week)

Location: Kindred Life Gurnee Office

Reports To: Supervising Program Director

Mission:

The Program Director oversees and delivers direct services to teen parents and their families, empowering them to grow and thrive through a structured program including mentorship, education, and targeted support. This role involves program development, client engagement, volunteer coordination, and community outreach.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Teen Parent Support

• Recruit, interview, and assess prospective teen parents for program suitability.

• Maintain a group size of eight teen families and their children, including fathers when appropriate.

• Complete intake process within three weeks of initial contact.

• Build supportive relationships through one-on-one and group meetings.

• Connect teen parents with volunteer mentors and counselors within three weeks of acceptance.

• Guide monthly review of goals in collaboration with mentors and counselors.

• Maintain and update organizational files for each teen parent monthly.

• Track and report client data monthly using designated reporting tools.

• Plan and participate in key events (e.g., teen retreat, appreciation celebrations, volunteer training).

2. Family Engagement

• Encourage co-parents and grandparents to participate in program activities and counseling.

• Collaborate with the Program Team to enhance support for extended family members.

3. Life Education Group Facilitation

• Plan, evaluate, and execute the annual curriculum theme in collaboration with the Program team.

• Lead and manage weekly group meetings following the Kindred Life curriculum schedule.

• Create a safe and positive environment for clients and volunteers.

• Recruit and prepare Life Education Group volunteers, ensuring completion of necessary paperwork and file maintenance.

4. Volunteer Management

• Recruit, interview, and orient volunteers.

• Provide training, supervision, and ongoing coaching and support throughout the program year.

• Conduct end-of-year evaluations and identify enrichment opportunities.

• Maintain accurate volunteer records and track hours monthly.

• Recognize and appreciate volunteers regularly and during the annual appreciation event.

5. Community Outreach & Recruitment

• Promote Kindred Life at local churches, schools, and community organizations in collaboration with the Outreach Director.

• Represent Kindred Life at church and community fairs, presentations, and recruitment events.

• Network with schools, government agencies, and referral organizations to provide resources for teen parents and extended families.

6. Organizational Responsibilities

• Follow all policies outlined in the Kindred Life Employee Handbook.

• Attend bi-weekly staff meetings and monthly supervisory meetings.

• Collect and record client information (e.g., Storybank, Prayer Requests, Donor Receipt Letters) monthly for ministry communications and development.

• Collaborate with the Corporate Team to support fundraising and ministry events.

Qualifications:

Education and Experience

• Degree in a social science field or minimum three years of relevant ministry work.

• Experience working with youth or family-focused programs preferred.

• Proficient in Google Suite and social media platforms.

Faith Commitment

• Strong Christian faith with active involvement in a local church.

• Working knowledge of the Bible and ability to integrate Christian values into service delivery.

Personal Competencies:

• Teamwork – Collaborates effectively with staff, volunteers, and clients to achieve shared goals.

• Communication – Strong verbal and written skills; able to express ideas clearly and compassionately.

• Self-Management – Works independently with integrity, initiative, and accountability.

• Time Management – Prioritizes tasks and manages workload to meet program timelines.

• Relationship Building – Develops trust and partnerships with families, volunteers, and community contacts.

• Teaching/Facilitation – Confidence in leading groups and providing education to young parents.

• Professional Presence – Maintains a respectful, approachable, and trustworthy demeanor.

The Counselor is a Masters Level Clinician, licensed or in process, who provides mental health support and treatment to Kindred Life teen parents and their families, empowering them to thrive socially and emotionally healthy lives.

The Counselor works in partnership with the Program Director at the respective program site to coordinate the provision of individual counseling weekly or bi-weekly and group counseling monthly to teen or young adult clients.

The Counselor schedules and provides both individual and monthly group counseling to clients and maintains case records and notes that meet the community standard. The Counselor also maintains the confidentiality of client records at all times.

The Counselor provides a three year mental health curriculum in the course of individual and group counseling which provides an understanding of good mental health practices, how to address challenges, and transitioning to successful independence, all relevant to the population served.

The Counselor assists with training site location staff and volunteers on client-related issues when needed.

The Counselor attends staff meetings and completes ministry personnel forms and timesheets as needed in a timely fashion.
The Counselor represents the organization in a professional manner, advocating for the agency and mission whenever possible.

The Counselor position requires the following qualifications;

• A Master’s Degree in Counseling, Social Work, or a related field.
• Licensure is required at a professional level; a clinical level license is preferred but not required.
• Spanish-speaking is preferred but not required.
• The ideal candidate would have a strong, Christian faith and be able to integrate Christian principles in their counseling and address a client’s faith issues as desired by the client.
• The Counselor would be committed to weekly attendance at the program meeting unless otherwise arranged with the supervising therapist. The counselor would also provide an abbreviated counseling schedule during the summer months of June, July, and August.
• A candidate would need to be able to function well in a multi-disciplinary setting with both paid staff and volunteers.
• Strong verbal and written skills, proficiency in Microsoft Office and Google preferred.
• The position is a part-time position serving one or two sites, approximately 4-6 hours weekly at each site during the months of September through May, and approximately 4-6 hours monthly during the summer months of June, July, and August.
• The Counselor assists with training site location staff and volunteers on client-related issues when needed.
• The Counselor attends staff meetings and completes ministry personnel forms and timesheets as needed in a timely fashion.
• The Counselor represents the organization in a professional manner, advocating for the agency and mission whenever possible.