School Youth Specialist - Junior High School

Project Oz•Bloomington, IL

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

We partner with young people to build a foundation that promotes safety, opportunities, and well-being in their lives. Project Oz is looking for an excellent communicator to partner with students from diverse backgrounds in high-risk situations to help them stay in school and successfully overcome barriers that may prevent them from promoting to the next grade or graduating. This caring person works full-time in a local junior high school assisting youth, families, and school administration to develop positive relationships. Restorative practices and intervention skills are used to promote academic achievement and school attendance, represent student/parent concerns to school officials, reduce behavioral interruptions, and assist students in developing life and coping skills. A trauma-informed approach is used to incorporate opportunities for positive youth development.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree in social work or related field.
Reliable personal transportation, valid Illinois driver’s license, and satisfactory driving history, along with documentation verifying current automobile insurance.
Must be flexible and able to occasionally travel and work weekend and evening hours.
Must pass required criminal and character background checks.
Act as a Mandated Reporter as outlined by DCFS rules and regulations.
Crisis-intervention and restorative practices training.
Job may require travel via commercial transportation and/or driving motor vehicles.
Must occasionally drive in heavy traffic and/or inclement weather conditions.
Must be able to stand, walk, and sit.
May occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.

Nice To Haves

Related professional experience working with youth of diverse backgrounds.
Ability to recognize trauma symptoms and support healing and recovery for youth exposed to trauma.
Knowledge of childhood trauma and/or experience working with youth that have been exposed to trauma.
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Strong negotiation and mediation skills.
Ability to solve practical mathematical problems.
Knowledge of Microsoft® Teams software and/or Outlook, Excel, and Word.

Responsibilities

Provide services for crisis interventions using a restorative practice model to both strengthen the community in the school and repair harm when conflict occurs.
Communicate with students, faculty, and parents, understanding that individuals may have been exposed to trauma.
Educate youth from diverse backgrounds in life skills with intent of stabilizing behavior (e.g. safety, health, decision making, setting parameters, communication, and anger management).
Assist youth to maximize ability to attend, participate, and achieve in school.
Refer students to and promote student attachment through participation in school functions, extracurricular activities, and/or clubs that provide a positive influence on behavior or in development.
Attend school activities and locations frequented by youth to support their participation.
Function as a neutral advocate to address student or faculty concerns.
Address the concerns or complaints of students, faculty, administration, and parents using best practices intervention techniques for a positive and professional outcome.
Assist school administration, assistant principals, and guidance counselors in developing individual action plans to reduce truancy and suspensions.
Identify students with challenging behaviors to administration to reduce school violence and improve school climate.
Refer to proper authorities those issues that threaten the safety or welfare of students, faculty, administration, law enforcement, or the public.
Provide in-home support to families by conducting home visits and connecting to useful resources.
Assist for continued progress of student intervention casework in the coordination and transition levels within the school system.
Complete and submit time logs and other agency reports, forms, and logs by agreed upon dates.
Participate in community outreach, panels, and other committee meetings as directed by leadership.
Act as a professional and ethical Project Oz representative and as a community resource.
Attend all required staff meetings and weekly program meetings.
Perform other duties as assigned by program director or executive team.
Act as a Mandated Reporter as outlined by DCFS rules and regulations.