Youth Engagement Specialist

Oak Park Township•Oak Park, IL

1d•$65,000 - $72,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Youth Engagement Specialist builds collaborations between systems and agencies to assist youth in Oak Park and River Forest Communities. The Engagement Specialists conducts individual counseling with youth, group counseling with youth, mentoring, and community outreach. The Engagement Specialist assists youth and families, and implement programming geared toward youth in the Oak Park and River Forest Communities. This is an ideal position for recent grads!

Requirements

Master’s in social work, counseling, psychology
Master's (Required)
Knowledge of youth mental health, specifically anxiety and depression, substance abuse, trauma, aggression, and behavioral problems, gangs.
Knowledge of the DSM 5.
Must have good time management skills.
Knowledge of Social Work, counseling, psychology
Knowledge of Criminal Justice and approaches used by law enforcement in local, state, and federal environments; juvenile law and court systems
Knowledge of Ethical standards and codes of conduct in dealing with clients and public
Knowledge of Crisis Intervention Techniques
Knowledge of Conflict Resolution
Skill In: Time management and prioritizing work
Skill In: Verbal and written communication and organization
Skill In: Facilitation and group leadership
Skill In: Mediation and collaboration building
Ability To: Maintain relationships with community organizations and administrators
Ability To: Facilitate presentations and trainings for youth, parents, community associations, and other public groups.
Ability To: Remain calm in stressful and crisis situations
Physical Abilities: Sit, keyboard, read, write, add, hear and speak for extended periods
Physical Abilities: Drive automobile to meet with clients in their homes or other locations, and meetings with other agencies, committees and councils, etc.
Physical Abilities: Lift up to 10 pounds on occasion.

Nice To Haves

Working with youth and families (preferred).
LCSW or LCPC (preferred)
Supervision for LPCs and MSWs available.

Responsibilities

Carries a caseload of 20 individuals for counseling and interventions.
Performs crisis intervention, making social diagnostic assessments, and assists in developing a comprehensive treatment plan for clients.
Run groups during school year that focus on current events, trends, and needs.
Collaborates closely with families, school personnel, mental health professionals, and other agencies associated with client.
See clients in the office, their homes, school, and other areas outside of the office.
Transport youth, if necessary.
Help provide wraparound services by encourage and referring youth, families, parents/ guardians to other community services and activities.
Able to maintain and complete documentation related to job duties in a timely manner.
Initiate and maintain in contact (via phone, email, or in person) with youth, parents/ guardians, families, mentors, therapist, police, and other community agencies involved in youth’s case.
Maintain relationships and partnerships with current agencies and organizations that serve youth in the Oak Park and River Forest Communities
Conduct community outreach events, including but not limited to, park visits, library visits, trainings for partner agencies staff, workshops for parents and youth, partner outreach events, and Township outreach events.
Assists agencies in developing long term community based strategic plans to help with village wide prevention efforts regarding youth; including implementing goals/strategies.
Keeps Manager informed regarding community issues and sensitive topics.
Participate in weekly supervision with Youth Engagement Manager and participate in weekly Youth and Family Services Team Meetings.
Performs other duties as assigned.