Youth Specialist

Family Services Inc. • Poughkeepsie, NY

2d • $20 • Onsite

About The Position

The Youth Specialist will work with youth, ages 11 – 18, within the City of Poughkeepsie community to provide recreation and enrichment activities for youth who engage in the FSI Youth Programming at the Family Partnership Center. The Youth Specialist will work alongside the Recreation Specialist and Youth Social Worker to plan and implement activities that help develop athletic, creative, academic, workforce and social skills. Their primary role will be to assist with both recreational and non-recreational activities, while supporting the program function through other necessary tasks..
The ideal candidate will have a passion for working with middle and high school aged youth and will enthusiastically support Family Services’ mission and statement of values.

Requirements

• A passion for working with middle and high school youth.
• Must be able to pass all background checks for working with youth.
• Connection to the City of Poughkeepsie community.
• Ability to work irregular/flexible hours.
• High School diploma or its equivalent and two years’ direct experience working with youth required.
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of supervision of adolescents.
• Cultural competence and ability to relate to a wide variety of audiences.
• Community organizing abilities.
• Crisis management, trauma-informed and restorative justice practices.
• Compassion and empathy for participants’ needs and possess strong advocacy skills.
• Knowledge of public, private and community agencies that may be utilized to serve participants of the program.
• Aptitude for completing administrative tasks and ‘out of the box’ thinking and resourcefulness.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written required.
• Ability to work independently and in a collaborative team environment.
• Upon hiring, must be able to complete online Positive Youth Development 101, Mandated Reporter, First Aid/CPR, and Trax Solutions trainings.
• Upon hiring, must complete Mandated Reporter training administered by OCFS.
• Must be onsite during program operating hours.
• Established cell phone and willing to use for work with effective coverage for Dutchess County.
• Must be reachable outside of office hours if needed.
• NYS Driver's License and possession of a reliable vehicle required.
• Strong computer skills, particularly with the Microsoft Office suite.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States without work sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

• Associate degree or bachelor’s degree in human services (sociology, social work, etc.) preferred.
• Prior experience playing or coaching basketball, boxing or other recreational activities is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Under the direction of Youth Services Social Worker, assist in implementation of activities that engage middle and high school youth including athletic, creative, academic, workforce and social skills development activities.
• Attend weekly staff meetings and participate effectively by discussing and planning programming, youth concerns, restorative justice action plans, incentive and behavioral programming, outreach, and Youth Advisory Council decisions.
• Conduct outreach in the community to encourage youth participation in programs at the Family Partnership Center.
• Learn and utilize the Trax Solutions database for tracking youth registration, attendance, and reviewing required documentation from guardians and youth to ensure completion (training included).
• Maintain active and ongoing communication with their direct supervisor.
• Ensure the respectful treatment of property, keeping the spaces used by the program clean and organized, and restoring rooms at the conclusion of daily program activities.
• Complete all administrative tasks as assigned on a timely basis.
• Maintain active and ongoing communication with their direct supervisor.
• Supervise the youth in programs; intervene and mediate conflicts that could result in escalation and/or violence using de-escalation, trauma-informed and conflict resolution skills (trainings included).
• Expertise and ability to be a leader in implementing basketball activities, including but not limited to: drills, scrimmaging, assessment of individual and team skills.
• Participate in ongoing trainings as assigned.
• Ensure that youth attending programming have meals, snacks, and water, through pick-up purchases and ordering.
• Other duties assigned, based upon the needs of the program.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer match up to 5%.
• Generous paid vacation, holiday, sick and personal time package (2 weeks’ vacation to start, 13 paid holidays per year, 12 sick days per year and 4 personal days per year).
• Employee assistance program (EAP).
• Access to Family Services’ Compassionate Leave Program where employees can donate/receive unused time off.
• Group term life and long-term disability insurance.
• Supplemental life insurance & accidental death and dismemberment coverage (AD&D), supplemental insurance through Aflac.
• Pet insurance.
• In our commitment to professional growth and development, full-time Clinicians receive 12 hours of paid professional development time annually to attend training or conferences that meet their individual learning needs and interests.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED