Youth Development Specialist
About The Position
The Youth Development Specialist (YDS) is responsible for ensuring children receiving residential services are physically and emotionally safe while receiving support, empathy, feedback and direction. YDS will serve the population of children who may exhibit: non-compliance with authority, physical aggression, may use self-harm as a means for coping, may be nonverbal, may require assistance with hygiene and other activities of daily living. YDS are responsible for providing effective and therapeutic responses to the challenging emotions and behaviors that led to the need for placement. YDS staff help children and adolescents develop critical internal and external assets to facilitate and support healthier behaviors and emotional regulation, in accordance with individual treatment plans developed by program therapists.
Requirements
- High school diploma required.
- Positive acceptance of supervision.
- Ability to work with a variety of people both within and outside the Agency.
- Ability to promote a positive image for the Agency in the community and in relationships with other Agencies and their personnel.
- Valid driver’s license and a good driving record.
- Reliable vehicle available at all times.
- Understanding and sensitivity to the client’s socioeconomic characteristics.
- Personal qualities of warmth with the ability to establish meaningful relationships with people from various cultures.
- Capacity to make sound decisions.
- Effective oral and written communication skills.
- Good organizational skills.
- Competence in computer use and keyboarding skills.
- High frustration tolerance level.
- Assertiveness and self-direction.
- Must pass a central registry clearance check and criminal background check.
Nice To Haves
- Experience working with children and youth with emotional and behavioral challenges strongly preferred.
- Experience working with developmentally disabled and cognitively impaired youth (can include youth with classic autism spectrum disorder that exhibit severely restricted functioning levels).
- Experience working with youth with or without substance use or dependency symptoms.
- Some college education in psychology, social work, sociology, youth and family studies or related field preferred.
Responsibilities
- Ensuring children receiving residential services are physically and emotionally safe.
- Providing support, empathy, feedback, and direction to children.
- Providing effective and therapeutic responses to challenging emotions and behaviors.
- Helping children and adolescents develop critical internal and external assets to facilitate and support healthier behaviors and emotional regulation.
- Working in accordance with individual treatment plans developed by program therapists.
Benefits
- Medical, Dental, Vision.
- Life Insurance.
- Paid Holidays Off.
- Paid Time Off.
- 403B Retirement Opportunity.
- Flexible Scheduling.
- Opportunity to learn and grow from working with a diverse population of children and families.
- Access to a robust training system.
- Reimbursement for trainings.
- Support from our robust EAP (emotional, organization skills, financial planning, etc.).
- Work within an environment of creative problem solvers.
- Regular supervision.
- Working within a collaborative division with a wide variety of experience and knowledge.
- Work within a trauma informed environment supported by the Sanctuary Model (trauma informed organizational change model).
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What This Job Offers
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
High school or GED
