Youth Prevention Specialist

SAFESPACE INC•Stuart, FL

7d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Youth Prevention Specialist utilizes an empowerment-based, trauma-informed, survivor-centered service model to provide prevention programming, awareness, and education to young people, adults, community partners, professionals, and community members. The Youth Prevention Specialist promotes healthy, safe, and equitable relationships in our community by facilitating evidence-based curricula to prevent domestic violence, dating violence, and teen dating violence. Prevention programming is facilitated at various locations throughout Martin County in partnership with the school district, afterschool programs, and parenting youth serving centers. The Youth Prevention Specialist represents the agency’s mission and values by actively engaging in community fairs and resource events, awareness events, professional training sessions, community meetings, workshops and presentations throughout the tri-county service area.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in social work, education, social science, or related field and one year of experience serving youth and families, child advocacy, youth mentorship, youth education, youth intervention and/or prevention initiatives education. May substitute for High School diploma/ GED and 3 years of equivalent experience.
Must be able to work flexible hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays.
Experience providing supportive services, referrals and information, intervention services and/or advocacy to young people who have experienced Domestic Violence, Teen Dating Violence or life changing events.
Ability to engage, promote, and peer model healthy, equitable, and safe relationships.
Ability to safely de-escalate a crisis, conflict, and critical event utilizing a trauma-informed de-escalation approach.
Ability to engage and motivate young people and adults to prevent domestic violence, dating violence, and teen dating violence.
Ability to work independently with strong organizational skills, accountability methods, and effective time management.
Experience with data collection and working knowledge of computers and programs such as PowerPoint, Microsoft, and Outlook.
Excellent public speaking skills to present to large groups adults and/or youth.
Ability to communicate efficiently utilizing verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
Must maintain and protect the confidentiality of the program participants and shelter locations within agency guidelines and state statutes.
Must adhere to SafeSpace ethics, policies, procedures, and contractual standards.
Must be willing to support the emergency disaster team in the event of a national disaster or weather emergency.
Must be able to pass a level two background screen.
Must maintain a valid driver’s license with reliable transportation to work at various locations including both emergency shelters and outreach locations.
Ability to be flexible and provide coverage when needed to meet SafeSpace Outreach needs, including nights, weekends and holidays, as needed.
Must be organized and detail-oriented to report and collect accurate data and information.
Must be able to handle and prioritize emergencies and unexpected needs of program participants.
Ability to be self-motivated and work as part of a collaborative team.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual language skills are preferred.

Responsibilities

Facilitate weekly group sessions to young people attending Martin County schools and other youth serving organizations throughout the service area.
Facilitate and attend awareness events and educational presentations on domestic violence/teen dating violence that focus on prevention strategies that promote healthy relationships.
Mentor and empower youth to build upon their peer leadership skills to develop awareness projects, positive messaging, and/or youth-led events.
Remain current on research, policy, and best practices relating to teen dating violence and youth education. Serve as SafeSpace's public representative and expert on the issue of teen dating violence and teen healthy relationships (as directed).
Work with the Director of Outreach Programs to develop, produce, update, distribute, and evaluate prevention education materials, including curricula, videos, public education campaigns, policies, and toolkits.
Deliver approved prevention programming and administer evaluation tools to obtain outcomes and project deliverables. Evaluate and report outcomes to measure change and program effectiveness.
Attend community meetings and work collaboratively with MOU partners, school systems, youth serving agencies, community organizations, local stakeholders, and other community partners to represent the agency and implement prevention strategies throughout the service area.
Build and maintain professional relationships with school administrators and youth serving organizations to recruit students and access programming opportunities.
Work collaboratively with SafeSpace Advocates to inform, design, and provide educational sessions to program participants on the topics of healthy relationships, healthy parenting, and teen dating violence.
Provide age-appropriate safety planning and supportive advocacy services when needed for young people who have experienced or witnessed domestic violence or teen dating violence.
Maintain an organized and accurate filing system for the documentation of sign-in sheets, evaluations, process notes, agendas and program activities.
Compile and submit monthly, quarterly, mid-year and annual reports to funders, community supporters, and collaborative partners in accordance with grants, DCF, and SafeSpace standards.
Enter, update and maintain current and appropriate statistical data and service notes regarding all program activities and events attended in the agency’s client management database system in accordance with SafeSpace and DCF standards.
Participate in other projects and assist with additional duties as requested by the Supervisor, including supporting the emergency disaster team in the event of a national disaster or weather emergency.