Youth Program/Education Assistant I - Wright School

Agency

Dept of Health and Human Services

Division

Wright School

Job Classification Title

Youth Program/Education Assistant I (S)

Position Number

60043533

Grade

MH05

About Us

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is one of the largest, most complex agencies in the state, and has approximately 17,000 employees. It is responsible for ensuring the health, safety, and well-being of all North Carolinians, providing human service needs for special populations including individuals who are deaf, blind, developmentally disabled, and mentally ill, and helping poor North Carolinians achieve economic independence.

Description of Work

We are currently recruiting for a Youth Program Education Assistant I to function as an Evening Teaching Assistant at Wright School in Durham, North Carolina.

The primary purpose of this position is to provide direct services, instructional support and directly implement a therapeutic behavior management system that provides for consistent, safe and therapeutic management of children who may display aggressive, explosive and externalized behavior. Training covers many areas and includes child development and psychopathology, complex behavioral programming, role modeling, counseling at the point of performance, on the spot decision-making, crisis intervention, language and communication modeling, activities of daily living, maintaining a home-like environment, and generalization of skills taught in education and treatment settings.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities/Management Preferences

Salary Range: $37,558.00 - $56,336.00

*A Sign-on bonus of $2,500 may be offered to the successful applicant(s) of this posting, contingent on the 2025-2026 Budget Approval.

Candidates now meet the minimum qualifications of a position if they meet the minimum education and experience listed on the vacancy announcement.

The Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)/ Management Preferences are not required. Applicants who possess the following skills are preferred:

• Ability to establish rapport and respect without undue resort to physical control and authoritative attitude
• Ability to work and plan with clinical staff in assessing child behavior and planning and implementing treatment plans
• Physical ability to manage disruptive children and youth without harm to students or staff
• Experience in Re-education program
• Experience in behavioral management, preferably with children and youth with emotional disturbance or mental disability

Conditional Requirements: ADA requirements will be discussed during the interview process.  However, at a minimum, must pass pre-employment CPI Physical Requirements Testing and maintain all required training requirements.  

This is an evening shift position with normal working hours Monday through Thursday; 12:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

This is a full-time position and eligible for the full state benefits package.

*Eligibility for Sign-on Bonus

To qualify for the Sign-on Bonus, a newly hired permanent full-time or permanent part-time employee must work 30 to 40 hours per week to be eligible. Those who are eligible and working less than 40 hours a week will receive a prorated rate.

An employee is not eligible for a sign-on bonus if:

• The employee has held a position in the North Carolina State government, including the judicial system, or the University of North Carolina system, within the last 12 months (the employee shall remain ineligible for 12 months from the separation date)
• The employee has previously received a sign-on bonus from any State agency
• DHHS has paid any contract placement or recruitment fees.

All Sign-on Bonuses are contingent upon budget and final eligibility determination as of the effective date of hire. Additional information regarding the Sign-on Policy can be found here.

About the Facility:

Wright School delivers treatment services using the Re-Education philosophy, model and related staffing pattern. Rather than a medical model where treatment services are delivered by a variety of specialist (nurses, occupational therapists, recreational therapists, art therapists, play therapist, rehabilitation therapist, etc.) the primary agents of change at Wright School are Teacher/Counselors, supported by the EDA staff. Educational and mental health professionals are cross trained and the methodology, vocabulary laws and regulations of both disciplines. Treatment services are planned and delivered by the milieu team of Teachers/Counselors and EDAs and include social skills training, cognitive behavioral therapy, group problem solving, individual and group behavior management programs. Treatment services to families are also delivered by Liaison Teacher/Counselors who provide a variety of skill-based training to families and how to meet children’s special needs at home.

Compensation and Benefits: The state of North Carolina offers excellent comprehensive benefits.  Employees can participate in health insurance options, standard and supplemental retirement plans, and the NCFlex program (numerous high-quality, low-cost benefits on a pre-tax basis).   Employees also receive paid vacation, sick, and community service leave.   In addition, paid parental leave is available to eligible employees.   Visit the NC DHHS Benefits and Wellness website for more information.  

Supplemental Contact Information:

DHHS uses the Merit-Based Recruitment and Selection Plan to fill positions subject to the State Human Resources Act with the most qualified individuals.  Hiring salary will be based on relevant qualifications, internal equity, and budgetary considerations pertinent to the advertised position.

Positions in the Division of State Operated Healthcare Facilities shall be subject to pre-employment drug testing and criminal record background checks. Also, the use of tobacco products of any kind including vapor products are prohibited from our campuses. All employees are required to adhere to the facility's Vaccination Policy.

Application Process
 Be sure to complete the application in its entirety.   Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing this application.

• Information should be provided in the appropriate areas, to include the following: Education, including high school and all degrees obtained, Work Experience, and Certificates & Licenses. It is critical to our screening and salary determination process that applications contain comprehensive candidate information.
• Answers to Supplemental Questions are not a substitute for providing all relevant information within the body of your application. To receive credit for the supplemental questions, you must provide supporting information within the "Work Experience" section of the application, to support your answers.

• The posting will close at 11:59 p.m. the night before the end date.
• Due to the volume of applications received, we are unable to provide information regarding the status of your application over the phone. To check the status of your application, please log in to your account.  Upon the closing date, applications are "Under Review" and will be screened by Human Resources for the qualified applicants. The hiring process may take several weeks.
• Degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.  Transcripts and degree evaluations may be uploaded with your application. The State of North Carolina/Office of State Human Resources uses the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) as a referral resource for applicants who need to have their credentials certified as equivalent. For a list of organizations that perform this specialized service, please visit the NACES membership website at https://www.naces.org/members. 

 Veteran’s and National Guard Preference

• Applicants seeking Veteran's Preference must attach a DD-214 Member-4 Form (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to their applications.
• Applicants seeking National Guard Preference must attach an NGB 23A (RPAS), along with the state application if they are a current member of the NC National Guard in good standing.
• Applicants who are former member of either the NC Army National Guard or the NC Air National Guard, with honorable discharge and six years of creditable service, must attach a copy of the DD 256 or NGB 22, along with the state application.

 ADA Accommodations

Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), DHHS is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, DHHS will ensure that people with disabilities, or known limitations covered by the PWFA, are provided with reasonable accommodation.  If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact the person indicated below.

Applicants will be communicated via email only for updates on the status of their application. If there are any questions about this posting other than your application status, please contact HR at 919-764-7200

Minimum Education and Experience

Some state job postings say you can qualify by an “equivalent combination of education and experience.” If that language appears below, then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience, OR a combination of both. See the Education and Experience Equivalency Guide for details.

Associate’s degree in human services or related degree from an appropriately accredited institution; or High school or General Educational Development (GED) diploma and two years of directly related experience;

or

an equivalent combination of education and experience.

EEO Statement

The State of North Carolina is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and dedicated to providing employees with a work environment free from all forms of unlawful employment discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. The state provides reasonable accommodation to employees and applicants with disabilities; known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; and for religious beliefs, observances, and practices.

Recruiter:

Theodora Bumpass Ramsey

Contact:

DHHS Workday Support Form