Performing Arts Youth Engagement Specialist
About The Position
The Performing Arts Youth Engagement Specialist is a part-time (0.50 FTE) direct-service role within HeartShare St. Vincent’s Services, supporting youth in foster care and child welfare programs across New York City. The position provides trauma-informed, culturally responsive performing arts programming using theater, movement, voice, storytelling, and creative expression to support emotional regulation, identity development, communication skills, and positive engagement. Programming is intended to strengthen youth well-being and engagement in care, and align with NYC Administration for Children’s Services expectations for youth development, safety, and permanency supports. The specialist designs and facilitates weekly workshops, provides structured instruction, and adapts activities to participants’ developmental, emotional, and behavioral needs. The role also includes building trusting relationships with youth, collaborating with child welfare teams, keeping records and submitting reports, complying with agency policies, and supporting approved community arts experiences. Programming takes place at foster care program sites in Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island. Evening hours may be needed, weekend programming may be required, and travel between sites is required.
Requirements
- High school diploma or GED.
- Experience working with youth in community-based, residential, or child welfare settings.
- Demonstrated experience in performing arts instruction or facilitation, such as theater, movement, voice, or spoken word.
- Familiarity with trauma-informed care, youth development, or restorative practice approaches.
- Strong group facilitation and classroom or group management skills.
- Trauma-informed youth engagement practice.
- Strong facilitation and creative instruction skills.
- Ability to build trust and rapport with youth in care settings.
- Emotional intelligence and de-escalation capability.
- Cultural humility and responsiveness.
- Strong communication, collaboration, and documentation skills.
- Flexibility in a dynamic, high-need environment.
Nice To Haves
- Bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or equivalent.
- Experience working with youth in foster care or child welfare systems.
Responsibilities
- Design and facilitate weekly performing arts workshops for youth in HSVS foster care programs.
- Deliver structured instruction in theater, improvisation, movement, voice, spoken word, and devised performance.
- Create safe, consistent, trauma-informed creative spaces that support engagement and emotional expression.
- Adapt activities to diverse developmental, emotional, and behavioral needs within group settings.
- Support youth in developing original or collaborative performance work, including monologues, ensemble pieces, storytelling, spoken word, and devised theater.
- Use arts-based strategies to promote emotional regulation, self-expression, communication skills, and positive identity formation.
- Provide opportunities for informal showcases or presentations of youth work when appropriate.
- Use youth-centered, strengths-based, and culturally responsive programming.
- Apply trauma-informed approaches and creative modalities to support regulation and engagement; build trusting relationships and remain aware of safety, triggers, and group behavioral dynamics.
- Coordinate with case planners, residential staff, and HSVS program teams to support youth engagement goals.
- Model arts-based engagement strategies informally for staff who work directly with youth.
- Communicate attendance, participation, and engagement observations to supervisory staff as required.
- Maintain accurate attendance records and submit timely activity summaries, participation reports, and other program documentation.
- Support grant, contract, and internal reporting requirements.
- Comply with agency policies regarding confidentiality, consent, media releases, and mandated reporting.
- Support youth participation in selected arts and cultural experiences approved by HSVS leadership, and provide follow-up creative or reflective activities.
- Ensure external activities are structured, supervised, and aligned with youth safety protocols.
- Perform other job-related duties consistent with the position’s scope and applicable laws, regulations, and organizational policies.
Benefits
- Paid vacation, sick, personal days, and holidays.
- 403(B) retirement plans with employer contribution.
- Health, dental, vision, and life insurance.
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
- Flexible spending account for dependent care, medical, parking, and transit.
- Employee Appreciation Programs and Events.
- Tuition Assistance Program.
- Professional Development opportunities.
- Wellhub discount.
- Verizon Wireless discount.
- BJ’s membership discount.
- Discounts on Broadway tickets, movie tickets, theme parks, sporting events, gift certificates, and more.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Part-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
High school or GED
