Early Intervention Specialist

Youth Advocate Programs, Inc.•Philadelphia, PA

About The Position

Youth Advocate Programs, Inc. (YAP) is a nonprofit organization that provides community-based services to support youth and families involved in child welfare, juvenile justice, and other social service systems. YAP focuses on keeping individuals in their homes and communities by offering advocacy, mentoring, and wraparound support that promotes positive development, stability, and long-term success. The Early Intervention Specialist will be a primary service provider and will meet all the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs requirements for the Counselor position. This individual will help to provide evidence-based services to young people for them to recognize the harmful consequences of high-risk substance use and/or addiction. The Early Intervention Specialist must develop community wide response to growing substance use issues among young people and their families. Also, the Early Intervention Specialist must provide young people at high risk of addiction with protective factors, which will help them to make positive decisions concerning substance use.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, special education, psychology, social work, or related field is required.
One (1) year of clinical experience (a minimum of 1,820 hours) in a health and human services agency, preferably in a drug and alcohol setting. If experience was not in place with drug and alcohol setting, the individual’s written training plan shall specifically address a plan to achieve counseling competency in chemical dependency issues.
Experience working with young children, children with developmental disabilities or experience working with youth with drug or alcohol dependency.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to build relationships with families and professionals.
Familiarity with assessment tools and techniques used in early intervention.
Experience in community work and knowledge of community resources.
Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite.
Position requires reliable transportation, valid driver's license, and current automobile insurance coverage.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree is preferred.
Experience using an Electronic Health Record System is a plus.
Bilingual (Spanish Speaking) is a plus.

Responsibilities

Provide evidence-based services to young people to help them recognize the harmful consequences of high-risk substance use and/or addiction.
Develop a community-wide response to growing substance use issues among young people and their families.
Provide young people at high risk of addiction with protective factors to help them make positive decisions concerning substance use.