Youth Coach

Center for Alternative•New York, NY

12d•$55,000•Hybrid

About The Position

CASES is looking for a Youth Coach, are you: Looking to work with young people by engaging them in meaningful conversation, setting goals, and providing support and encouragement? An outside-the-box thinker who can employ creative approaches? Someone who believes that change is possible? Passionate about working from a strengths-based, trauma-informed, youth development lens? Becoming a Youth Coach at CASES could be what you are looking for. As a Youth Coach, you will: Be part of a successful, innovative, and collaborative movement that is changing the landscape of child welfare and the juvenile legal system. Join a community of over 500 passionate professionals across organizations. Make an immediate impact in the lives of young people by helping them carve out a pathway to success, as they define it.

Requirements

A minimum two-year commitment to this role, reflecting the importance of young people having consistent, caring adults in their lives, as well as the significant investment our team makes in supporting and developing Coaches.
One of the following qualifications:
A bachelor’s degree and at least two years of experience working with young people; or
An associate degree or other accredited vocational degree and at least three years of experience working with young people; or
A credible messenger (with lived experience in foster care, the criminal legal system, or other systems involvement), some post-secondary education (e.g., some college), and significant professional experience (four or more years) working with young people in a paid role.
Lived experience is a major plus.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual Spanish & English
Ability to form collaborative, working relationships with parents/families, school and agency staff.
Consistent and reliable.
Able to maintain healthy boundaries.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Strong time-management, organizational skills, and attention to detail.
Ability to troubleshoot, advocate, and navigate obstacles where there is not always a clear-cut pathway.
Ability to use trauma-informed techniques.

Responsibilities

Build relationships with up to 10-15 young people. Coaches employ creative, out-of-the box approaches to engaging youth and do not give up if they are not responsive.
Build relationships and collaborate with the key adults in the young person’s life to support their goals and well-being, including other agency staff (e.g., Case Planners and Specialists), foster parents, school/program staff, and other significant adult figures.
Help young people explore their interests and expose them to opportunities in line with their interests.
Work 1:1 with young people to develop individualized academic and career development goals based on their interests/strengths and take measurable steps towards their goals.
Connect young people to quality schools, programs, resources, and opportunities in line with their goals.
Help young people persist in academic/career settings, navigate any challenges that arise, celebrate successes, and plan/prepare for the next step on their journey.
Connect young people to peer group supports and build positive relationships.
Ensure young people who are aging out can access and maintain stable, affordable housing and build independent living skills.
Use an online platform each week to track contacts, young people’s goals, steps taken towards goals, and other key data. Full support will be provided on how to use Care4 database.
Participate in weekly staff meetings.