Youth Specialist

Peckham, Inc.•Ann Arbor, MI

11d

About The Position

The Peckham Youth Specialist plays a vital role in supporting youth referred by the Washtenaw County Juvenile Court as they work toward personal growth, skill development, and successful program completion. This position partners closely with court-involved youth to help them identify goals, overcome barriers, and build the skills needed to move forward with confidence. Youth Specialists facilitate the Jobs for Michigan’s Graduates curriculum and a variety of life-skills programming, creating engaging, relevant learning experiences that align with each young person’s strengths and objectives. Through consistent, supportive relationships, the Youth Specialist serves as a key source of encouragement, accountability, and guidance as youth navigate academic, career, and personal milestones. This role also involves close collaboration with families, court officers, and wraparound service teams to ensure youth receive coordinated, comprehensive support tailored to their individual needs. Using strength-based and evidence-informed approaches, the Youth Specialist motivates youth, reinforces positive decision-making, and supports the development of new skills that contribute to long-term success. If you are looking for a meaningful job making a life changing impact, come and join our team!! This position is offered as a three-year contract through Washtenaw County, with the possibility of renewal.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a related field and one to two years of related experience and or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience
Must pass and maintain security background checks
Must have access to reliable transportation
Maintain an unrestricted driver’s license and a clear driving record (in accordance with company insurance policy) to drive a company vehicle

Nice To Haves

Experience leading groups of youth and experience with behavior management utilizing a strength-based philosophy
Understanding of trauma and the impacts and strategies to reduce triggers and provide thoughtful supports

Responsibilities

Complete intake assessment and determine suitability for Youth Career Academy Enrollment.
Deliver multiple curriculums including Jobs for Michigan’s Graduates, Cognitive Behavioral Skills lessons, The Kitchen Project curriculum, and other life-skills curriculum
Coordinate career counseling activities and establish student objectives leading to the attainment of an industry recognized credential, phase objectives, and other milestone achievements.
Organize the establishment of a high motivational, career-oriented student led organization for the purposes of developing leadership, community service and teamwork skills
Provide mentoring and refer to school or community-based services as needed to overcome the barriers to successful completion of individual objectives
Attend JMG staff development experiences and staff meetings.
Assist with special events or peer-based training as needed.
Complete and regularly maintain all paper and electronic documentation as required by Peckham and stakeholders
Organize and plan incentive trips for students
Organize and plan family engagement events on a quarterly basis
Work with the Youth Career Academy Team to ensure all students are progressing through the phases using motivation strategies and mentoring.
Create weekly, monthly, and quarterly reports to highlight outcomes and status of youth enrolled in program
Attend court hearings regularly to advocate for youth and update judicial team on student’s progress.
Network with the community to secure community resources and additional programming/counseling/support for youth enrolled in the Youth Career Academy.
Crisis intervention as needed.
Assess student academic levels and coordinate remediation and or tutoring required for students to improve their basic education skills towards graduation
Enter data into Workday and other databases for record keeping and data analysis
Enter case notes on a regular basis and sure all files are up to date, weekly
Develop and execute incentive structure for classroom behavior management
Maintain a safe and clean work environment
Promote Peckham’s vision values and services to all customers and stakeholders
Assist in maintaining organizational wide quality standards
Other related duties as assigned