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Join our team!
Be a leader in creating a community where all children are treasured and families are strong.

Here are a few perks you'll receive while working to make a difference in the life of a child:

  • Competitive wages – While the nature of our work is the greatest reward, we all have to earn a living!

  • Insurance Benefits – A great variety of options to best suit your needs!

  • 403B Retirement Plan with a generous agency contribution – We’d love to have you stay forever, but you better save some cash for fun during retirement!

  • An abundant amount of Paid time off – Self-care is important. Take some time off; you deserve it!
  • On-site Continued Education Training – to keep you on top of your game (and to keep some cash in your pockets to help avoid off-site training costs)

  • Wellness – It’s all about Fitness 

  • DABSJ is proud to have achieved the Level 1 Endorsement with Partners for a Racism Free Community. Diversity and Inclusion is an Agency value that we take seriously. Our Inclusion Council has been working diligently on this process and we are happy to be associated with this initiative.

  • A work culture like no other – Don’t believe us? Well take a look at what Evan has to say:

“I love my job because of the team of staff I am surrounded by, the support we receive from each other, and genuine desire each member has to help the students we work with, despite the difficult positions we are put in at times.” 

Evan, Therapist

    holding hands

    Why I love Working at DABSJ

    " I love being a therapist at DABSJ because I have a flexible schedule and can work from home, have a small caseload so I can get to know the families,  enjoy a great working relationship with coworkers and believe in the treatment model we use." 

    Janelle, Therapist

    Learn about our services.

    Our talent retention rate is second to no one and we even have a special class of staff affectionately referred to as “boomerangs.” They leave for other employment and eventually come back to the agency.

    Current Job Opportunities

    Third Shift Direct Care Counselor
    Reports To: House Manager
    Beginning Pay: $12.35 hourly

    Full time, counselor role providing direct care for children and youth living in an open residential program.  Counselors see to the physical and emotional needs of the children and youth who have experienced some form of abuse and/or neglect.  Counselors will model and teach appropriate social skills while working closely with a staff therapist to implement individualized treatment plans.  This role demands an individual with strong relationship building skills, physical and emotional stamina and an ability to work in a team environment in order to provide a family like setting. Counselors act in a parental role by meeting basic needs of youth. 

    Qualifications:

    High School diploma or equivalent required. Associates and/or Bachelor's degree in Psychology, Sociology, Social Work, Youth Ministries, Criminal Justice and/or Communications a plus. Valid Driver’s License with a good driving record is required.  Those interested in a career in the child welfare field or those with a desire to help struggling children and teenagers are encouraged to apply.

    More Information Apply Today

    Community Living Support Aide - Cedar Springs, Sparta Area
    Reports To: Community Living Support Aide Supervisor
    Beginning Pay: $12.44 hourly

    Part-time, flexible schedule position working 3-4 days a week, after school hours anywhere between 3:30pm - 8:00pm, with developmentally delayed or severely emotionally disturbed children. Meeting with the child in the family home to teach, train and/or assist the child with his or her needs that may increase or maintain personal self-sufficiency. 

    Qualifications:

    Child welfare experience preferred. Bilingual persons are encouraged to apply. 

    More Information Apply Today

    Second Shift Direct Care Counselor
    Reports To: House Manager
    Beginning Pay: $12.35 hourly

    Full time, counselor role providing direct care for children and youth living in an open residential program.  Counselors see to the physical and emotional needs of the children and youth who have experienced some form of abuse and/or neglect.  Counselors will model and teach appropriate social skills while working closely with a staff therapist to implement individualized treatment plans.  This role demands an individual with strong relationship building skills, physical and emotional stamina and an ability to work in a team environment in order to provide a family like setting. Counselors act in a parental role by meeting basic needs of youth.

    Qualifications:

    High School diploma or equivalent required. Associates and/or Bachelor's degree in Psychology, Sociology, Social Work, Youth Ministries, Criminal Justice and/or Communications is a plus. Valid Driver’s License with a good driving record is required.  Those interested in a career in the child welfare field or those with a desire to help struggling children and teenagers are encouraged to apply.

    More Information Apply Today

    Multi-Systemic Therapist
    Reports To: MST Supervisor
    Beginning Pay: $34,000 - $40,000 salary

    Full-time Master’s level therapist, who is organized and highly engaging, for our MST (Multisystemic Therapy) program.  MST is an evidenced-based therapy program to treat teenagers with delinquent behaviors by working with the parents as the change-agents.  Therapy occurs in the home and community.

    Qualifications:

    LMSW, LPC, LMFT, or LP (limited or full license) is required and a minimum of one year of counseling experience is preferred.  Further information about the counseling model can be found at www.mstservices.com.  Bi-lingual and culturally diverse persons are encouraged to apply.

    More Information Apply Today

    Transportation Aide
    Reports To: Program Manager
    Beginning Pay: $11.00 hourly

    Part-time, Monday-Friday 6 a.m. to 9 a.m., providing transportation for residents of St. John’s Home and foster children to school August through end of June.

    Qualifications:

    Excellent driving record and experience working with children and youth required.  Position requires good organizational skills, timeliness, and high energy. Bilingual persons are encouraged to apply.

    More Information Apply Today

    Foster Care Worker
    Reports To: Foster Care Supervisor
    Beginning Pay: $30,000 - $34,000 salary

    Full-time Foster Care Worker position to provide case management services for children who are under court supervision/jurisdiction due to neglect a/o abuse. Individual must possess a high level of personal strength as well as sensitivity with a passion for foster care.

    Qualifications:

    Bachelor’s degree in Social Work or similar degree with experience in child welfare required. Experience in foster care, adoption or foster home licensing is preferred. CWTI trained also preferable. Bi-lingual and culturally diverse persons encouraged to apply.

    More Information Apply Today

    Foster Care Case Aide
    Reports To: Foster Care Case Aide Supervisor
    Beginning Pay: 11.00 Per Hour

    Part-time (variable hours) position in our Foster Care program, Monday-Saturday, for 15-25 hours per week (mostly afternoon to early evening) transporting foster children, supervising family visitations, light clerical work. Good driving record required and childcare experience preferred. Bi-lingual and culturally diverse persons encouraged to apply. Please send resume and cover letter, along with wage preference.

    Qualifications:

    Good driving record required and childcare experience preferred.

    More Information Apply Today

    Early Childhood Attachments Therapist
    Reports To: ECA Supervisor
    Beginning Pay: $35,000 - $39,000

    Full time position providing therapy to families with children ages zero to five in our Early Childhood Attachments Services program. Position requires providing clinical therapy, education and support to families in the areas of Infant Mental Health, attachment, child development and trauma. Services are provided in the home setting and some evening hours are required. 

    Qualifications:

    Limited or Fully Licensed MSW or related human service degree required.   Must obtain Level 2 Endorsement as an Infant Mental Health Specialist with the Michigan Association of Infant Mental Health within two years of hire. Experience working with culturally diverse populations, attachment theory and the foster care system preferred.  Bilingual persons are encouraged to apply.

    More Information Apply Today

    Foster Care Supervisor
    Reports To: Foster Care Coordinator
    Beginning Pay: $39,000 - $50,000

    Full-time Foster Care Supervisor position to provide supervision of foster care staff.  Supervisor will educate, train, guide, support, and evaluate the foster care workers.  The Supervisor will assist in ensuring Agency compliance with state regulations as well as Agency goals.  Supervisor will also maintain a minimal caseload. 

    Qualifications:

    Master’s Degree in Social Work or related field with 3 years child welfare experience in foster care, adoption or licensing preferred; or Bachelor’s Degree with 4 years same experience. 

    More Information Apply Today

    Community Living Supports Aide
    Reports To: Community Living Supports Aide Supervisor
    Beginning Pay: $12.44

    Part-time position working 2-3 days a week, after school hours with developmentally delayed or severely emotionally disturbed children. Meeting with the child in the family home to teach, train and/or assist the child with his or her needs that may increase or maintain personal self-sufficiency. Child welfare experience preferred. Bilingual persons are encouraged to apply.

    Qualifications:

    Must have valid driver's license.

    More Information Apply Today

    Letter of Inclusion from our President/CEO

    D.A. Blodgett - St. John’s Responds

    “I wish I could say that racism and prejudice were only distant memories. We must dissent from the indifference. We must dissent from the apathy. We must dissent from the fear, the hatred and the mistrust. We must dissent because America can do better, because America has no choice but to do better.” 

    ~ Thurgood Marshall
     

    “Yeah, I love being famous. It's almost like being white, y'know?” 

    ~ Chris Rock
     

    Despite its modern subtlety and progress since the Jim Crow era, the current strain of racism infecting our society is unlikely to be self-healing. Our culture is still deeply infected with anti-black bias, even with an African-American president in office. National surveys continue to reveal commonly held stereotypes of African Americans as less hardworking and less intelligent than whites. A number of powerful psychological experiments show the extent to which blackness for Americans is closely tied to images of violence and danger.

    The core values of D.A. Blodgett-St John’s (DABSJ) strongly support inclusion and racial justice as a common thread uniting all of our programs, clients, staff, and volunteers. Being inclusive and eliminating discrimination does not happen without intention and effort, however. To that end we are working with Partners for a Racism Free Community (PRFC) to establish a workplace that:

    • Reduces cultural barriers by identifying and addressing unconscious bias.
    • Implements best practices towards embracing a racism-free culture.
    • Cultivates an environment where all feel respected and valued, creativity thrives, confidence grows, and performance excels.
    • Drives accountability and continuous improvement.

    We are in the early stages of becoming a Level 1 partner with PRFC. Level 1 assessment focuses on six target areas: leadership engagement, internal policies and processes, external collaborations, vendor and supplier practices, and client practices. We plan to achieve a Level 2 partnership. Level 2 is a deeper dive into goal measurement and results. Successful goal attainment will earn DABSJ the coveted PRFC accreditation and community wide recognition.       

    Jim Paparella

    President and CEO

    Partners for a Racism Free Community

    D.A. Blodgett – St. John’s is proud to announce that we have achieved the Level 1 Endorsement with Partners for a Racism Free Community. Diversity and Inclusion is an Agency value that we take seriously. Our Inclusion Council has been working diligently on this process and we are happy to be associated with this initiative.