Lead Therapist/Clinician Caminos Program

Are you passionate about supporting youth who have recently migrated to the United States? Do you want to help create a safe, therapeutic environment where young people can experience stability, reunite with family, and pursue their education? Were currently seeking a compassionate and experienced Lead Therapist to join our Caminos Program at Cunningham Childrens Home.

About Cunningham Childrens Home the Caminos Program
Cunningham Childrens Home is a nonprofit child welfare and educational services agency dedicated to providing compassionate support and trauma-informed care to children, youth, adults, and families. Our programs include residential treatment, special education, foster care, and community-based services.

The Caminos Program serves unaccompanied immigrant children, providing safe housing, clinical support, and family reunification services. We create opportunities and open doorsoffering a place that feels like home and a path toward hope and healing. The Lead Therapist plays a key role in ensuring high-quality clinical care for all youth in the program.

Position Summary
The Lead Therapist provides leadership within the Caminos Program by overseeing all clinical services, supervising and developing clinical staff, and ensuring services align with best practices and regulatory standards (DCFS, ORR). This role combines administrative oversight with the provision of direct therapeutic care.

Key Responsibilities of the Lead Therapist

• Supervise and support clinical staff, including onboarding, training, and evaluations


• Oversee clinical documentation, assessments, and treatment/discharge planning


• Ensure compliance with trauma-informed care practices, licensing, and federal standards


• Provide individual, family, and group therapy as needed


• Participate in on-call rotation and crisis response


• Collaborate with program leadership, external partners, and stakeholders


• Promote fidelity to evidence-based practices and lead program development efforts

The Lead Therapist is also responsible for fostering a supportive, culturally responsive environment that meets the needs of unaccompanied youth.

Qualifications

Required:

• Masters degree in Social Work, Counseling, or a related field


• Clinical license in Illinois (LCSW or LCPC), or license-eligible within 6 months of hire


• Minimum of 2 years post-graduate clinical experience


• Supervisory experience


• Valid drivers license and ability to pass all required background checks

Preferred:

• 5+ years of clinical experience in residential, school, or therapeutic settings


• Bilingual in English and Spanish (spoken and written preferred)


• Approved to provide clinical supervision for social workers or counselors


• Experience with youth, trauma-informed care, and co-occurring/substance use disorders

This role is ideal for a Lead Therapist who is dedicated to promoting growth, resilience, and success for youth in a therapeutic residential program.

Benefits We Offer

• $3,000 Sign-On Bonus


• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance


• Holiday Pay and Paid Time Off


• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Dependent Care Assistance (DCA)


• Short-Term Disability, Accident, and Critical Illness coverage


• 401(k) retirement plan with up to 6% employer match


• Employee Wellness Program


• Relocation assistance


• PSLF resource, BenElevate, to help navigate the loan forgiveness process

Cunningham and the Community:
Urbana is part of the twin cities of ChampaignUrbana in east-central Illinois, about 140 miles south of Chicago, 125 miles west of Indianapolis, and 170 miles northeast of St. Louis. Home to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the area combines the energy of a college town with the warmth of a close-knit community. Residents enjoy diverse dining, parks, festivals, and a rich cultural scenemaking it an ideal place to live, work, and grow.

Founded in 1895, Cunningham Childrens Home is a leading child welfare and educational services agency, supporting more than 977 youth and families each year through residential treatment, special education, and community-based programs.

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