Youth and Community Engagement Coordinator (300017)

Lutheran Services Florida • Miami, FL

4d

About The Position

The Youth and Community Engagement Coordinator is a direct-care community liaison who connects and engages youth in positive experiences, resources, and supports to help decrease involvement in dependency or child welfare systems. The role requires travel between the Miami and Homestead locations and includes nonclinical counseling, prevention activities, social-skills instruction, advocacy, and support for clients and their families.

Working with the Program Director, the Coordinator develops a community engagement program with agreed goals and priority audiences. The role builds relationships with local organizations, faith and community groups, schools, families, young people, and other stakeholders; identifies barriers to services and ways to address them; and involves community members in service development. The Coordinator promotes LSF programs, shares current service information, seeks and acts on feedback, organizes community and volunteer activities, and reports to internal and external stakeholders as required.

The position also includes maintaining accurate client records and statistical reports, participating in training and meetings, following agency policies and safeguarding requirements, and providing rotating on-call services. The Coordinator must carry and maintain an agency cellular phone 24 hours a day and may provide house coverage during emergencies. Reports to the Shelter Program Manager and/or Clinical Director.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED required.
• One to three years of experience in adolescent and family counseling, facilitating group sessions, and conducting intake and psychosocial, suicide, or risk assessments.
• Experience working with troubled youth and their families.
• Good time-management and organizational skills.
• Strong verbal and written communication and interpersonal leadership skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with clients, parents, coworkers, volunteers, government agencies, other agencies, and the general public.
• Demonstrated dependability, discretion, and good judgment.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and effective interactions with young people.
• Ability to maintain good working relationships with colleagues, partners, and stakeholders.
• Sensitivity to the cultural and socioeconomic characteristics and needs of the service population.
• Ability to drive, travel, use a phone, sit for long periods, write case notes, and file.

Nice To Haves

• Some post-secondary education or a degree in a human services field such as social work, counseling, psychology, or education.

Responsibilities

• Provide nonclinical counseling to individual youth and facilitate group counseling, prevention activities, and social-skills instruction.
• Provide education and support to clients in social skills, life skills, and parenting skills.
• Provide rotating on-call services and carry and maintain an agency cellular phone 24 hours a day.
• Recommend appropriate and effective curricula and program supplies.
• Advocate for clients with community agencies, courts, the Department of Juvenile Justice, schools, and other providers.
• Maintain accurate client records and complete required administrative duties and statistical reports in a timely manner.
• Provide house coverage as needed in emergencies.
• Participate in and provide staff or professional training; attend one-to-one supervision and team meetings.
• Work with the Program Director to develop a community engagement program, including agreed goals and priority target audiences.
• Identify, maintain, and strengthen relationships with local organizations, community and faith groups, and stakeholders.
• Identify barriers to accessing local services and formulate strategies to overcome them.
• Find ways to involve local community members in developing services related to advice, welfare, and housing.
• Organize workdays for volunteers recruited from community agencies, outside bodies, and corporate organizations.
• Involve local and wider communities in events and activities; develop learning or fundraising events and promote weekend learning activities for school-age children and youth groups.
• Prepare an annual work plan of initiatives and targets.
• Visit local groups and services and make short presentations when requested.
• Identify appropriate community connections for clients and foster long-term relationships with young people, teachers, parents, and other stakeholders.
• Promote LSF programs and services and clearly communicate offerings, availability, and waiting times to stakeholders and internal staff.
• Seek feedback on services, provide ways for young people to comment or raise concerns, and ensure feedback is acted upon.
• Follow agency policies, governance, and delivery philosophy; maintain relevant training and professional development, particularly in safeguarding, risk, and safety.
• Adhere to licensing and quality assurance standards and agency policies and procedures.
• Travel between Miami and Homestead locations.
• Perform other duties as reasonably assigned.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• 24/7 online access to doctors through telehealth.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Employer-paid life insurance equal to one times salary.
• 13 paid holidays and one floating holiday.
• Generous paid time off policy starting at 16 working days per year; Head Start employees may have a different paid-time-off and holiday schedule.
• 403(b) retirement plan with a 3% discretionary employer match or 3% student loan repayment reimbursement.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Growth opportunities within the organization.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED