Nexus-Onarga Family Healing is located approximately 90 miles south of Chicago, only a few miles from I-57 on a historic site in Onarga, IL. Nexus-Onarga provides boys, ages 10 to 20, a structured, homelike environment where they can safely address their problematic sexual behaviors and their emotional and behavioral issues. Nexus-Onarga is part of Nexus Family Healing, a national nonprofit network of mental health agencies providing innovative, customized help for children and families struggling with emotional, behavioral, and mental health issues.    

Position Summary:

The Foster Care Aide is responsible for supporting and reinforcing the individual treatment and transition plans of youth in the Treatment Foster Family Homes by providing guidance, assistance and supervision of clients in their daily living activities.

Required Education and Licensure

High School diploma or GED required. Minimum 21 years of age. Valid driver’s license required. Must meet state regulating agency driving requirements, maintains auto insurance with liability coverage, and pass corporate insurance eligibility standards.

Nice to Have:

Associates degree or Bachelor’s degree preferred. Experience working with youth is preferred.

Work Schedule & Salary:

Schedule: 

Sunday Day Shift & Monday-Thursday 11:30am-8pm Evening Hour availability to meet the needs of the youth in the TFFH program

Salary: Starts at $17.80 per hour 

Primary responsibilities include:

Provides mentorship, role-modeling and assistance to clients in developing daily living skills and activities that will help them obtain a healthy and age-appropriate sense of self. Assists in implementing the individualized/client specific treatment interventions that have been determined by the treatment team. Serves as a mentor and role model by demonstrating compassion and understanding for feelings, opinions, and experiences of others, and communicating and interacting in a manner that is honest, positive, respectful and professional. Assists in providing educational assistance/guidance, social skills development, life planning skills development, and therapeutic recreational/leisure activities for the clients as needed. Assists and supports the Treatment Foster Family Parent in establishing and enforcing the guidelines, procedures and house rules which are designed to ensure safety and structure within the home. Reinforces adherence to daily schedules and activities established for the treatment foster family home including attending school and school events, therapy sessions, doctor appointments, family visits, planned recreational activities and other external appointments, etc., and provide transportation and supervision as needed. Reinforces the structure of the home environment with focus on enabling clients in developing age appropriate life skills in areas such as self-care, completion of household duties, meal preparation, recreation and leisure, money management, vocational readiness and employment. Monitors the clients’ medical needs and communicate medical concerns to appropriate staff; administer medications per established protocols and by document information as required. Supports the foster parent by providing direct supervision of the client during daily living activities, during the implementation of individualized treatment plans and during other therapeutic events as needed. Provides assistance in teaching, collaborating with, and supporting the clients’ families in order to achieve their permanency goals. Responsible for providing regular transportation and supervision for the youth to ensure their safety to a scheduled location in an assigned company vehicle or personal vehicle. Engages in therapeutic interventions with clients within treatment parameters, while maintaining appropriate boundaries with clients and their families. Ensures client safety and collaborate with co-workers to maintain a therapeutic environment that is clean, safe, positive and respectful. Performs First Aid/CPR procedures and respond according to established protocols in the event of an emergency situation. Upholds all safety and supervision procedures to ensure safety of youth in the home as well as in the community, which includes compliance with safety measures involving the foster family home(s), campus grounds and while traveling to and attending off-campus activities.

Work Environment:

May be required to assist staff in proper restraining of clients. Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds unassisted and up to 100+ pounds with assistance. Must be able to stand and walk for extended periods of time (2-4 hours). Must be able to walk, sit, stand, twist, bend, and stretch in a manner conducive to the execution of daily activities within the residential program. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as desktop and/or laptop computers, photocopiers, and smartphones.

Nexus’ Comprehensive Benefits Include: 

Five weeks paid time off (PTO) in the first year of employment Multiple options for health insurance coverage No-cost life insurance Short/long-term disability insurance 401k match NEW – Talkspace Therapy Benefit for the whole family NEW – Hinge Health Benefit for the whole family NEW – Carrot Fertility Benefit Tuition assistance and training opportunities Advancement pathways and internal promotion And much more!

At Nexus Family Healing, our voices and actions are focused on recognizing, affirming and respecting people of every race, ethnic background, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, gender expression and faith.

Our ICARE Values:

Innovation: Leading the way and implementing creative, cutting-edge ideas and approaches Compassion: Listening, honoring differences, and showing respect, kindness, empathy care, and concern Agility: Exhibiting flexibility and adapting quickly Responsiveness: Being quick, positive, and accurate Excellence: Demonstrating quality results that surpass ordinary standards

APPLY TODAY TO BE CONTACTED BY OUR RECRUITING TEAM! When you work at Nexus, you have the opportunity to change lives — including your own!