Inclusion Specialist (Cross Island YMCA)

YMCA of Greater New York•Queens, NY

8d•Onsite

About The Position

The YMCA of Greater New York is seeking an Inclusion Specialist for the Cross Island YMCA Afterschool program. This role is crucial in shaping a positive and supportive environment for young people, helping them thrive socially, emotionally, and physically. The Inclusion Specialist will guide students in making positive choices and building confidence, working with a compassionate team to create an enriching experience for every child. This position involves fostering mutual respect and cooperation through engaging activities and support systems for children with diverse abilities. The YMCA of Greater New York is committed to empowering youth, improving health, and strengthening community, serving over half a million New Yorkers through its 24 branches. They cultivate a culture of learning, leading, and collaboration, with a people-first approach that fosters trust, inclusion, growth, and development for all.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education, Social Sciences, Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or related field required.
ME, MSW/MHC student or graduate preferred.
Minimum of two (2) years of experience working with children under the age of 13.
General knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Strong interpersonal skills, leadership qualities, and comfortable working with diverse youth and adults.

Nice To Haves

Current Pediatrics CPR or First Aid certification preferred.
Ability to speak multiple languages preferred.

Responsibilities

Actively welcome and develop programming in partnership with the Content Specialist to serve a diverse group of participants, ensuring our program is accessible to everyone in the community.
Develop and implement creative, inclusive outreach strategies to connect with and engage individuals who may face extra barriers to participation, including physical barriers.
Foster a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment where all young people and their families feel valued, respected, and heard.
Manage participants’ Individualized Accommodation Plans.
Maintain student behavioral support plans and logs.
Support the implementation of systems for tracking student behaviors and collaborate with staff, caregivers, and teachers to identify individual behavior support techniques for students experiencing challenges.
Partner with the Program Director to ensure social-emotional development and behavior management are infused into programming.
Guide staff on how to effectively implement behavioral strategies in the learning environment.
Communicate with DYCD about needs for specialized supports that are beyond the program’s capacity.
Ensure staff are familiar with common mental health support needs (i.e., depression, anxiety, trauma, substance abuse, etc.) and a trauma-informed programming approach to support all participants and families.
Support the creation of a resource center for stakeholders to ensure ongoing support for topics and issues as they arise.
Provide reliable information about available resources and make relevant referrals for mental health services and additional services as needed.
Respond appropriately when time-sensitive mental health services are needed, such as suicide prevention, grief, and loss due to the death or incarceration of a family member.
Implement lessons and training on how to provide additional support and services to enable full participation for those with special needs, both physical and cognitive.
Conduct technical assistance with YMCA staff in programming related to behavior challenges, engagement, and social-emotional development.
If applicable, provide task management with social work interns to provide purposeful roles that support the behavioral, emotional, and physical needs of the participants.
Adhere to all Office of Children and Family Services, Department of Health, New York City Public Schools, YMCA of Greater New York, and funder standards, expectations, and regulations.