Why work at Youth ChalleNGe?

The New Mexico National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Academy, located in Roswell, NM, prides itself in taking struggling 16-18 year olds from all over New Mexico and giving them the opportunity to change their lives for the better. Through training, discipline, and mentoring, Academy Staff provides the education, leadership, character development and life coping skills to New Mexico's youth so they may become productive citizens.

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Current Openings

Cadre

Cadre provide daily supervision, leadership, guidance, and direction to Cadets enrolled in the New Mexico National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Academy, a free 17 ½ month program for at-risk youth ages 16-18 that starts with a demanding 22-week quasi-military residential phase in which Cadets from all over the state live in Roswell. Cadre are responsible for ensuring Cadet compliance with policies and procedures in areas such as, physical training, academics, health & hygiene, military protocol, service to the community, and daily living while on campus.

Case Manager

The Case Manager is responsible for supporting an appropriate number of cadets by collecting, maintaining, recording, and entering data into the NMNGYCA database for tracking purposes. During the residential phase, the Case Manager is responsible for providing classroom instruction to cadets on goal setting and assisting the cadet with the development of a Post-Residential Action Plan (PRAP) to ensure the cadets' future success. Upon completion of the residential phase, the Case Manager is responsible for maintaining contact with the cadets and their assigned mentor throughout the twelve (12) month post-residential phase via phone, mail, or email to track and monitor the cadet's success and ensuring the mentor relationship is meeting program criteria. The Case Manager often tracks three (3) class cycles of cadets at one time (current, recently graduated, and final phase).

Mental Health Counselor

A Mental Health Counselor provides short-term and ongoing counseling for cadets enrolled at the NMNGYCA during the residential phase (two (2) class cycles per year) and ensures that the cadets are integrating appropriately during the critical first few weeks, and then provides additional support leading up to graduation. Cadets may come from backgrounds where they have experienced emotional and/or physical trauma and/or drug abuse. Having access to mental health counseling is a crucial part of their long-term success. A Counselor implements program standard operating procedures, evaluates referrals, and conducts intake assessments for the Counseling department. This position leads training classes and is responsible for ensuring the curriculum for the Program's Core Components of Life Skills and Responsible Citizenship are being implemented in accordance with the National Guard Bureau requirements. A Counselor also provides education counseling for all cadets enrolled in the program.

Lead Mental Health Counselor

The Lead Counselor supports the ongoing mental health of the cadets enrolled in the NMNGYCA. The position requires the ability to assess behavioral problems and identify the challenges and obstacles faced by cadets. It is a supervisory position that oversees the Counseling Department and provides direct supervision for the program's two (2) full-time counselors. The incumbent will conduct employee performance evaluations and on-going training and ensure National Guard Bureau standards and requirements are met for the Program. A Mental Health Counselor provides short-term and ongoing counseling for cadets enrolled at the NMNGYCA during the residential phase (two (2) class cycles per year) and ensures that the cadets are integrating appropriately during the critical first few weeks, and then provides additional support leading up to graduation. Cadets may come from backgrounds where they have experienced emotional and/or physical trauma and/or drug abuse. Having access to mental health counseling is a crucial part of their long-term success. A Counselor implements program standard operating procedures, evaluates referrals, and conducts intake assessments for the Counseling department. This position leads training classes and is responsible for ensuring the curriculum for the Program's Core Components of Life Skills and Responsible Citizenship are being implemented in accordance with the National Guard Bureau requirements. A Counselor also provides education counseling for all cadets enrolled in the program.

Mentor Coordinator

The Mentor Coordinator ensures all criteria for the NMNGYCA Mentor Program are met and assists with the coordination of job/school placement for cadets in the ChalleNGe Program. The Mentor Coordinator will screen and interview individuals who are interested in mentoring New Mexico Youth Challenge Academy (NMYCA) cadets and will also coordinate and conduct community presentations providing information about the NMYCA Mentoring Program to civic groups and other organizations to establish a support system and identify resources for cadets after graduation. The position also plans alumni events throughout the state to create networking opportunities with cadets who are in the post-residential phase of the program. Additionally, the Mentor Coordinator certifies that all mentors remain in contact with their respective mentees throughout the post-residential phase, enters all contact information into the MentorPRO application and provides a monthly report to the NMYCA Placement Manager. The Mentor Coordinator manages cases from multiple class cycles synchronously (future, current and prior cadets) for up to two (2) years after graduation.

To join our team go to careers.share.nm.gov and search "Youth Challenge"

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