Part-Time Youth Program Specialist

Sacred Path Indigenous Wellness Center•Long Beach, CA

About The Position

The Youth Program Specialist provides culturally responsive, strengths-based support to American Indian, Alaska Native, and Indigenous youth, promoting positive development, cultural identity, resilience, educational success, behavioral health, and overall well-being through mentoring, advocacy, and community engagement. The role recruits and engages youth in services at Sacred Path Indigenous Wellness Center and receives instruction in the Motivational Interviewing and Culture for Native American Youth (MICUNAY) curriculum, which the specialist facilitates in virtual and in-person workshops for youth ages 12–17 and 18–26. The specialist also provides mentoring and peer support. Working collaboratively with youth, families, Tribal communities, elders, schools, behavioral health providers, and community partners, the specialist supports young people in achieving their goals while honoring Indigenous values, traditions, and cultural practices. The position upholds cultural humility, trauma-informed care, and community-centered service delivery. The specialist develops workshop content and materials, leads interactive workshops, supports youth goal-setting and leadership development, and helps plan cultural events and activities. The role also involves outreach and recruitment, social media engagement, relationship-building with community partners, program documentation and compliance, collecting feedback, and tracking outcomes. Flexible work-from-home options are available.

Requirements

Must be between 18 and 26 years of age due to a funding source requirement.
Strong interpersonal, communication, and relationship-building skills, including the ability to create a positive and inclusive learning environment.
Flexibility to adapt to different learning styles, participant backgrounds, and unexpected challenges.
Effective organizational and time-management skills.
Knowledge of positive youth development and trauma-informed care principles.
Understanding of historical and contemporary experiences impacting American Indian, Alaska Native, and Indigenous communities.

Responsibilities

Establish trusting, supportive relationships with American Indian, Alaska Native, and Indigenous youth.
Develop workshop content, agendas, and learning materials aligned with intended outcomes and the target audience.
Order workshop materials and food when applicable, and secure a site when necessary.
Lead interactive workshops, encourage discussion, and manage group dynamics.
Ensure workshops follow required procedures, including sign-in sheets and surveys.
Communicate workshop objectives, expectations, and guidelines to participants.
Provide individual and group mentoring and peer support.
Help youth identify personal, educational, career, cultural, and wellness goals.
Promote youth leadership, self-advocacy, life skills, and healthy social, emotional, spiritual, and cultural development.
Support youth participation in cultural, traditional, and community activities.
Incorporate Indigenous values, traditions, and cultural practices into services and strengthen cultural identity, community connections, and belonging.
Collaborate with elders, cultural practitioners, Tribal representatives, and community leaders on programming.
Assist with planning and facilitating cultural events, workshops, and youth activities.
Promote respect for cultural diversity and community traditions.
Assist with grant and contract data collection and reporting, and track program outcomes and performance measures.
Collect participant feedback, evaluate workshop effectiveness, and make improvements.
Maintain confidentiality and comply with policies and applicable regulations; keep supervisors informed of concerns or challenges.
Work with Youth Services Program Coordinators to support outreach through social media, including creating and posting content and interacting with the community.
Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with schools, Tribal organizations, and community partners.
Work with subcontractors to support workshop facilitation, order materials, help ensure procedures are followed, and attend workshops as needed.
Conduct outreach and recruitment within Indigenous communities.
Represent Sacred Path at community meetings, events, and cultural gatherings as needed.
Perform additional duties in support of Sacred Path’s mission.